Women for Islamic law
Sir: Douglas Murray’s article (‘After spring, winter’, 26 November) was well written, but it missed a crucial point. What we are seeing in the Arab Spring is an awakening of a political Islam that is neither strictly ‘Islamist’ nor compatible with liberal ideals of freedom. The phenomenon is driven in large part by Muslim women, who want rid of secular autocracy but also believe that government should be run according to Islamic laws and principles. There are many contradictions and tensions within this emerging phenomenon. Yet it is important not to ignore it. Sadly, however, the movement seems invisible to most western journalists — on either side of the political spectrum — who cannot distinguish between Islam and the dark ages. Patronising liberals would rather portray the Arab Spring as an outbreak of enlightenment; while paranoid right-wingers see extremism in every Arab.
Lahki Patel
Reading
Once a revolutionary…
Sir: I do not believe James Delingpole experienced ‘A refreshing weekend of real conservatism’ (26 November) at David Horowitz’s Restoration Weekend gathering in Florida.
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