The St. Petersburg Declaration by "Secular Muslims"

[zoro]

I was very encouraged by the recent St. Peterbury Declaration, pasted below (copied from http://secularislam.org/blog/post/SI...g-Declaration). I would be interested to learn opinions about this Declaration expressed by other people, especially Muslims. Incidentally, to endorse this declaration, the referenced website provides a convenient email link.

Released by the delegates to the Secular Islam Summit, St. Petersburg, Florida on March 5, 2007

We are secular Muslims, and secular persons of Muslim societies. We are believers, doubters, and unbelievers, brought together by a great struggle, not between the West and Islam, but between the free and the unfree.

We affirm the inviolable freedom of the individual conscience. We believe in the equality of all human persons.

We insist upon the separation of religion from state and the observance of universal human rights.

We find traditions of liberty, rationality, and tolerance in the rich histories of pre-Islamic and Islamic societies. These values do not belong to the West or the East; they are the common moral heritage of humankind.

We see no colonialism, racism, or so-called “Islamaphobia” in submitting Islamic practices to criticism or condemnation when they violate human reason or rights.

We call on the governments of the world to

• reject Sharia law, fatwa courts, clerical rule, and state-sanctioned religion in all their forms; oppose all penalties for blasphemy and apostasy, in accordance with Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights;
  
• eliminate practices, such as female circumcision, honor killing, forced veiling, and forced marriage, that further the oppression of women;
  
• protect sexual and gender minorities from persecution and violence;
  
• reform sectarian education that teaches intolerance and bigotry towards non-Muslims;
  
• and foster an open public sphere in which all matters may be discussed without coercion or intimidation.

We demand the release of Islam from its captivity to the totalitarian ambitions of power-hungry men and the rigid strictures of orthodoxy.

We enjoin academics and thinkers everywhere to embark on a fearless examination of the origins and sources of Islam, and to promulgate the ideals of free scientific and spiritual inquiry through cross-cultural translation, publishing, and the mass media.

We say to Muslim believers: there is a noble future for Islam as a personal faith, not a political doctrine;

to Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Baha’is, and all members of non-Muslim faith communities: we stand with you as free and equal citizens;

and to nonbelievers: we defend your unqualified liberty to question and dissent.

Before any of us is a member of the Umma, the Body of Christ, or the Chosen People, we are all members of the community of conscience, the people who must choose for themselves.


Endorsed by:

Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Magdi Allam
Mithal Al-Alusi
Shaker Al-Nabulsi
Nonie Darwish
Afshin Ellian
Tawfik Hamid
Shahriar Kabir
Hasan Mahmud
Wafa Sultan
Amir Taheri
Ibn Warraq
Manda Zand Ervin
Banafsheh Zand-Bonazzi

[Muezzin]

Hmm, I don't normally approve things from blogs, but this seems to be an exception since it's not reporting an event as such, nor is it truly simply a comment or speculation. I hope people can discuss this in a civil manner, you know, agree or disagree without getting nasty.

[- Qatada -]

I don't agree, they just want us to give up our beliefs the same way the people before us did. May Allaah keep the muslims steadfast, ameen.

[NobleMuslimUK]

People need to learn and so do a lot of muslims that there is no such thing as a secular muslim. You are either a muslim or your not.

Allah SWT knows best

[Umar001]

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

I feel sorry for her.

such as female circumcision

What about male? Hmm.

[Zman]

/Peace To All

They are entitled to their opinions, but, I disagree with them...

[SATalha]

People need to learn and so do a lot of muslims that there is no such thing as a secular muslim. You are either a muslim or your not.

Allah SWT knows best

I agree, the statements that they make goes against many fundemenatal beliefs of Islam. This therfore might be seen as them being out of Islam, But Allah Knows Best

[Ibn Abi Ahmed]

As Shaykh Yasir said: "Progressive Islam is not new or progressive, rather it has been around since the beginning of time, the first example being that of Iblees. They have the same methodology, i.e., my opinion is right."

Listen to the entire lecture by Shaykh Yasir Qadho - Making Progress with the Progressives:
http://muslimmatters.org/audio/yasir...ogressives.wma

May Allaah keep the muslims steadfast, ameen.

Ameen.

[Zulkiflim]

Salaam,

They are moderate muslim much loved by the west.

Those who follow the laws in Islam are extremist.
Those who follow the Quran and Sunnah are extemist.

Alahmdulilah the Quran cannot be changed but man can be chaged thru greed,hyrpocrisy and secular needs.

And i se more and more moderate muslim who toe the western line.

[Umar001]

I wudnt see the point of calling myself muslim if I thought like that.

[north_malaysian]

Salaam,

They are moderate muslim much loved by the west..

They're not moderate Muslims... they're LIBERAL MUSLIMS... Muslims who want to be liberate from Islam.

[north_malaysian]

I was very encouraged by the recent St. Peterbury Declaration, pasted below (copied from http://secularislam.org/blog/post/SI...g-Declaration). I would be interested to learn opinions about this Declaration expressed by other people, especially Muslims. Incidentally, to endorse this declaration, the referenced website provides a convenient email link.

How can Non Muslims like Noni Darwish (she's a Christian) endorsed this declaration?

[syilla]

They're not moderate Muslims... they're LIBERAL MUSLIMS... Muslims who want to be liberate from Islam.

Liberal muslims ...i read in the news two days ago.

[north_malaysian]

Liberal muslims ...i read in the news two days ago.

Actually I dont care whatever they want to think about practicing their religious obligations... how liberal it could be... I just dont care.

But I really, hate it when they're criticising people who are not fond of their version of Islam. People have the right to choose.

[syilla]

How can Non Muslims like Noni Darwish (she's a Christian) endorsed this declaration?

you are right.

[north_malaysian]

you are right.

maybe she is a secular muslim christian?:blind:

[guyabano]

I was very encouraged by the recent St. Peterbury Declaration, pasted below (copied from http://secularislam.org/blog/post/SI...g-Declaration). I would be interested to learn opinions about this Declaration expressed by other people, especially Muslims. Incidentally, to endorse this declaration, the referenced website provides a convenient email link.

absolutely agree !

[rubiesand]

What does a self declared atheist like Ayaan Hirsi Ali (or whatever her real name is) think she is doing declaring what Muslims should believe? If Islam is not good enough for her, she can keep her nose out. What hypocrisy! 'Believe as I say, not as I believe.'

[Pygoscelis]

Could this be an early sign of a reformation, like what happened with Christiainity?

[vpb]

Salam Salam