Islamic terrorist attacks are becoming more and more commonplace. Many hundreds of people have been killed over that last 18 months, all over the world. It’s clear, when we look at the attacks in San Bernardino, Orlando and Paris, that Islamic terrorists can be “homegrown” in nations in the heart of the West.
This means that mere drone attacks, or even full scale assaults, such as the recent one in Iraq, are not enough to fight the War on Terrorism. Although part of the solution, military action is insufficient to root out the threat. Terrorists are fueled by fundamentalist Islam. Autocratic regimes, like those in Iran and the Persian Gulf States, already enforce a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. To succeed in the fight against Islamic terrorism, the Muslim world must undergo a Reformation.
In her July 08 article, “Islam Needs a Reformation”, Linda Chavez says that “President Barack Obama has dangerously refused to acknowledge that a radical, fundamentalist interpretation of Islam drives the terrorists.”
Upon examination the two major sects of Islam, Sunni and Shiite, we see that both have spawned terrorist movements, and share a common enemy: Western values. Both sects denigrate women and force their subjugation.
However, there is hope, which can be seen at the “Free Iran” rally in Paris on July 9.
Ms. Chavez says, “As I have for the past few years, I will be emceeing an event that brings together tens of thousands of opponents of the Iranian regime, in addition to representatives from around the world who oppose Islamic fundamentalism. Addressing the group will be a broad range of dignitaries from various nations, including a bipartisan group of Americans composed of, among others, former governors, Cabinet members, ambassadors and White House officials.”
The event marks the one year anniversary of the U.S.-Iran nuclear arms deal, which infused much-needed cash into the hands of the Iranian regime. Meanwhile, Iran continues to sponsor terrorism and suppress freedom. The chief opposition to the regime is the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), and their president-elect, Maryam Rajavi, who is an outspoken critic of fundamentalism.
Ms. Chavez points to statements made by Rajavi last year, in front of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade. Rajavi stated that, ”A political, religious, and cultural antidote is required to uproot this cancerous tumor permanently,” and followed with, “In absence of an alternative interpretation of Islam … extremist ringleaders will portray the war against fundamentalism as a fight against Islam itself. By doing so, they will then create the most important source of nourishment for this ominous phenomenon.” She has spoken out against mandatory veiling laws and against the mistreatment of women and denial of their rights in the name of Islam.”
Ms. Chavez feels that it is unfortunate that, “the Obama administration not only does not support the efforts of Rajavi and her group but also has opposed them at every opportunity. But equal rights for women and freedom of conscience for religious practice are the best way to combat radical Islamic fundamentalism. We can continue to fight the Islamic State group, al-Qaida, Boko Haram and other fundamentalist groups on the battlefield and from the air. We can capture or kill their leaders and their foot soldiers. But until we battle the ideology that has spread around the world, we will not succeed. And the most effective way to do that is to work with those, like Rajavi, who have been doing it for decades. If she is not afraid to name the danger for what it is, why should we hesitate to say that Islamic fundamentalism is a threat to us all?”
Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others will gather together for the “Free Iran” conference in Paris this weekend.
In other news:
The National: Iran’s regime ‘is weakened and engulfed in real crises’
Toronto Sun: West should push for Iran regime change
Al-Arabiya: Free Iran: Understanding the first opposition group of its kind
