"With another French Muslim, Ghaleb Bencheikh, and a host of Europeans, Samia Labidi tells her story in an edited volume that has just been published in the U.S. These ‘Other Muslims, Moderate and Secular’ speak out under the auspices of Zeyno Baran, a scholar of Turkish origin who lives in the U.S. and directs [a program] at the [Hudson] Institute. They are ‘the’ solution in the face of the growing role of Islamism, the authors proclaim. The French propose the creation of a federation that would regroup all the Muslim associations and could, in this way, represent the Islam of France, not the Islamism of France as the UOIF only does today." —Marianne
“Political freedom, religious tolerance, and economic prosperity are universal values open to all races and creeds. To fight extremism, as this timely book reveals, we must promote Muslims who call for openness. Reform is possible if we heed and help them. This invaluable work of Zeyno Baran is worth reading.” —Jose Maria Aznar, Former Prime Minister of Spain
“The Other Muslims by Zeyno Baran is an important contribution to a better understanding of the complexities, contradictions, as well as more hopeful prospects for the world of Islam. It is especially timely because of the tendency to view Islam in a Manichean perspective.” —Zbigniew Brzezinski, Former U.S. National Security Advisor
“For too long, radical Islamists have claimed to speak for all Muslims. Since 9-11, we have needed moderate Muslims to speak up on behalf of America and against Islamist extremists. They have done so in this book.” —U.S. Representative Sue Myrick, Co-Chair of the Congressional Anti-Terrorism Caucus
“A fascinating and important contribution to the debates about Islam, integration, and democracy compiled and edited by one of the most interesting scholars of Islam in Washington.” —Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize recipient and Washington Post columnist
“How political Islam evolves will be a crucial factor affecting global security. Zeyno Baran’s book deepens our understanding of what it means to be a ‘moderate Muslim’ and offers warnings we dare not ignore.” —Fred Kempe, President and CEO of Atlantic Council and former editor, Wall Street Journal Europe
“Zeyno Baran is a talented and courageous scholar. In this unique collection of essays, she and a rare group of self-described moderate Muslims take on the battle over Islam and the West, and the threat the political ideology of Islamism poses to political and religious freedom. We owe Zeyno Baran a debt of gratitude for tackling an urgent question with candor and discernment. This is a very valuable book.” —Fouad Ajami, Majid Khadduri Professor of Middle East Studies, Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies; and Senior Fellow, the Hoover Institution
“There is nothing like this volume with its gripping personal accounts by moderate Muslims. The authors, from diverse backgrounds, argue compellingly against radical Islamization. They advocate a tolerant form of Islam, and express deep alarm over the hijacking of their faith. As insiders, they warn that well meaning Western authorities are deceived by radical leaders who claim to speak for an entire religion. In Zeyno Baran’s words, ‘The most important ideological struggle in the world today is within Islam.’ This is must reading for anyone trying to understand this critical ideological struggle and its meaning for the Muslim world and for liberal democracies.” —Robert J. Lieber, Professor of Government and International Affairs, Georgetown University
"Some of the best essays in The Other Muslims are testimonies of Muslims who have passed through Islamist phases themselves. Cosh Omar, a British playwright and actor of Turkish Cypriot origins, nicely details his passage from the broad-minded Sufi orientation of his father through involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir (an international group dedicated to reinstituting the caliphate) through his restoration to something close to his father's faith." — Ezine @ Publish
