AUSSIES SHOULD BE SEEN NOT HEARD - CONCENTRATE ON YOUR CRICKET AND RUGBY TEAMS - IF THEY DONT START WINNING AGAIN ALL OF YOU WILL BE HAVING IDENTIY CRISES

Wafa Sultan has never studied the religion, so I don't understand why she thinks she has a right to critisize Islam. If you're going to present yourself as a critic, then at least study the religion. Because she is ignorant in the religion, I wouldn't bother with her.

SHE IS A SMART AND BRAVE WOMEN TO SPEAK THE TRUTH! FADI, MARC, SIMON, #36 AND SO ON. SHE HAS MADE YOU MAD BECAUSE DEEP DOWN YOU KNOW SEE IS RIGHT. AND LIKE ANYONE WITH A BIG INSECURE EGO YOU THINK HOW CAN SHE HAVE ANY VALID POINTS(SHE MUST BE WRONG AND WE'RE ALWAYS CORRECT)YOU ARE ALL PATHOLOGICAL LIARS WHICH MEANS YOU EVEN BELIEVE YOUR OWN LIES!

human weekness the need to belive in something stronger magical wiser than humans pathic and perhaps thousand of years ago nessecery to convince people to fight and give there life for some rich religious leaderds pockets we aperantly havent changed that much in the last 4000 years i ll tell you when well all be together when a bunch of nasty marshans come to take over the earth

I smell a fat waaaaa

I am truly encouraged that there friends who value freedom & respect. It is just sad though that where I grew up, not a single ummah out of the many millions disagreed with the unjust practices. While it may be entertaining to be part of the previleged lot, witnessing others who were made to face the music, it certainly isn't amusing when one of your own encounters a similar fate. Also, can it be the fault of a few rogue clerics when the the entire ummah gave their full backing to these practices? Would a father wish to see his obedient children brutalise the other rebelious ones? A true father will certainly not allow any of his children to be victimised, regardless. Finally, keep it up friends for I saw the human side of both of you. Hope we can make a difference.

Is it possible to “reform” rabid dog? Was it possible to “reform” Nazis in 39? Or Japanese? Is it possible to “reform” rabid dog? Was it possible to “reform” Nazis in 39? Or Japanese? What possible reason for “reform“ got suicide bomber eager to get 72 virgins? All they know is you are the enemy of Mohamed and want to deny him passage to glory, paradise and 72 virgins. There for you are devil or servant of iblis. Go try to “reform” them…

Like any religion bashers, Wafa is not different...she is a pure frustrated bigot looking for some fame. She obviously ignores islam and was upset when some extremist killed her teacher in front of her. I think she needs to get over it, Re-learn Islam and stop bad mouthing this great religion. I agree on one thing that she says...we need courageous leaders to reform Islam but the rest is pur bigotry! Salam...Shalom...Peace

"Let her find out how muslim men are supposed to treat their wives" It is completely IRRELEVANT how they are supposed to treat women, the rub is that they MISTREAT ABUSE and MURDER (for example, by stoning as in Iran and Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and other muslim countries) their wives, sisters and daughters under the cover of the "religion of peace". They are fully allowed to act as such according to the legislation of their countries. They can easily divorce their wives denying them visitation rights and depriving them of their children.

"7:22. Thou wilt not be able to destroy them altogether: lest perhaps the beasts of the earth should increase upon thee. 7:23. But the Lord thy God shall deliver them in thy sight: and shall slay them until they be utterly destroyed." You can find calls for destruction of people in all books, so unless Dr. Wafa is implying that Christianity has transformed (and is thus not the same religion of Christ), then I fail to see her rationale.

We'd best reap peace because the alternative is not pretty. Non-violence and moderation, respect and honour - paths we must take. Have we wronged eachother so much that there is no choice but to self-destruct? Simon, you simply cannot make me angry. Sorry. I will always listen to true logic. "Honest disagreement is a good sign of progress." M. Gandhi

Islam to me has to reinvent itself. Just like Christianity has done, and Judaism has done somewhat.

Below is the transcript of Dr. Sultan's interview on Al-Jazeera. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/11/international/middleeast/11sultan.html?ex=1299733200&en=d13886daba5e586f&ei=5090&partner=rssus by the way, biblical figures may have been polygamists, but Israel is a secular state and polygamy is not legal. women's rights in Islam: http://answering-islam.org/Silas/wife-beating.htm http://youtube.com/watch?v=fb6D9G4gpW8 http://youtube.com/watch?v=0nUI3TUdFCk&mode=related&search= (plus 20 more where these came from) Not to mention female circumcision. Not to mention khomeini who recommended a girl should be brought to her husband's house even before she has her first period. http://hotzone.yahoo.com/b/hotzone/blogs2986 I am a Jewish woman in Israel. My parents saw to it that I got an academic education. I have a good job, my own bank account, my own credit cards, my own car that takes me anywhere I want everywhere I want. I don't need a male companion anywhere. If I divorce may husband (or he divorces me) I get to keep my children and my husband gets to pay child support. Why should I need islam to take care of my needs, when I MYSELF can take care of myself and of my onw needs? Who was talking about the spreading of Islam? #21, the Libneniyye. Well, dear, it better not spread thisaway, it ain't welcome! I want to stay a free woman and do what I want and what is right for me and my chidren. Don't need no man to order me about. Don't need no male guardianship or tutelage. Oh, and I can take a lover and not be lapidated!

Excuse me Helena and anyone else who would like to go about making generalizations and oh-so-widely researched and well-considered comments: 1- they MISTREAT ABUSE and MURDER (for example, by stoning as in Iran and Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and other muslim countries) their wives, sisters and daughters under the cover of the "religion of peace". True, there are a few verses in the Holy Koraan that discuss the punishments for adultery. This punishment, however, goes to BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. And there are far more verses which call for forgiveness, understanding, and repentance, and verses which repeat time and again that Allah is all-forgiving: "But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" "And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins; and who can forgive sins except Allah? " I do not believe there is a difference here in other religions, or any religion that supports adultery. 2- They can easily divorce their wives denying them visitation rights and depriving them of their children. That is very untrue. In Islam, a man or a woman has to have extremely convincing grounds for getting a divorce, otherwise it will not be permitted. As for depriving them of their children, cases vary. There are always reasons behind the various teachings, and one must not be closed-minded to the interpretations. Furthermore, there is room today in Islam for extending and adapting Islamic law as it is written in the Koraan to meet with modern days and times. So again, lashing out at something ur not entirely sure of bespeaks of a willful ignorance. Islamic clerics have always argued about interpretations and laws, and yes, it is sad that religious institutions have much influence on nation politics, but again, religion is something personal.

Very well said, very well researched. Let us be sad for those with "willful ignorance." Let us also remember that we, also, have the power to grant mercy here on earth, while we still live. Accepting a religion and honouring it's words acknowledges that we are spiritual beings. But we are spiritual beings having an earthly existance. The very good words in all scriptures seem to get lost in the interpretation. Well said. Libneniyyeh of Lebanon.

this is not about making people Mad, it is about talking with sens. you didn't understand what i wrote ,how can understand what she did and what all is about. I think what i said is correct

Listening to her, I am inspired..I imagine that without the radical teachings, Islam would have much to offer in the modern world. Instead its all done with anger and force, people act in fear and respond with fear..there is no live and let live..we hear threats that appear more fervent each day. If you look at amost Arab countries, women and men have been silenced by force..u may have an opinion but be very wary to state it out loud. This attitude of keeping everything under control by force is not working.. We all have one life to live and I wish and pray that a solution is found amongst the Muslim teachers to breed love and respect of other opinions/views outside of their own, and that people are entitled to an opinion, and you dont have to agree with that...its okay but not to take everything to heart, so that a person cannot make a comment without fearing for his life. To all the muslims out there I wish you inner peace, hope that we can gap the bridge between us so that future generations will benefit from our wise choices to be better people who seek freedom of choice and peace, over hatred and killings. SALAM ALEKUM!

You fail to understand what I say. The muslim man usurped mislim women through religion of Islam. Now they are trying to apply the same pattern to non-muslims. Therefore Islam should be reformed. By refusing to understand what she is saying you just expose your fear to loose your power over her as a woman.

Nobody here is talking about Koran which is holy book. What is said here is what is going on in reality has nothing to do with religion. Somehow muslim men grew to look on women as an inferior. Muslim men is never punished for adultry, we both know that. By the way the superiority of the west above muslims is in active participation and ingenuity of women.

very well said.. thank you.. Muslims like you are a comfort to us in such circumstances..

husband that escaped to lebanon where is impossible to have any practical judicial measure to garantee that she can at least see their children again. The have been brainwashed in order to avoid her as a threaten. The issue is that is impossible to count on the lebanese court authorities for their stand as male moslems wishing to spread the faith at any cost. THIS COMMENT IS JUST TRUE AND COMES FROM SOMEONE WHO IS USED TO ADMIRE THE LEBANESE INFLUENCE AND PRESENCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

Council on American-Islamic Relations: "Islam isn't in America to be equal to any other faiths, but to become dominant. The Koran, the Muslim book of scripture, should be the highest authority in America, and Islam the only accepted religion on Earth." - Omar Ahmad (CAIR co-founder). Addressing a youth session at the 1999 Islamic Association for Palestine's annual convention in Chicago, CAIR founder Omar Ahmad praised suicide bombers who "kill themselves for Islam," http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52184 Guarding and preserving our freedom, and saving American lives is NOT on the U.S. agenda. As U.S. leaders egregiously refuse to guard the freedom and safety of Americans, the U.S. will certainly NOT protect Israelis. We are witnessing the death of Western civilization. WorldNetDaily.com August 18, 2006 Controversial Muslim group gets VIP airport security tour Feds show CAIR latest screening steps, sensitive counterterrorism procedures The Department of Homeland Security took a Muslim group with known past ties to terror organizations on a VIP tour of security operations at the nation's busiest airport at the same time British authorities were working to break up a plot to blow up U.S. airlines. On June 21, a senior DHS official from Washington personally guided Muslim officials from the Council on American-Islamic Relations on a behind-the-scenes tour of Customs screening operations at O'Hare International Airport in response to CAIR complaints that Muslim travelers were being unfairly delayed as they entered the U.S. from abroad. CAIR is a spin-off of the Islamic Association for Palestine, identified by two former FBI counterterrorism chiefs as a "front group" for the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Several CAIR leaders have been convicted on terror-related charges. ...U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents were asked to describe for CAIR representatives various features of the high-risk passenger lookout system. In a meeting, Brian Humphrey, Customs and Border Patrol's executive director of field operations, assured CAIR officials that agents do not single out Muslim passengers for special screening and that they must undergo a mandatory course in Muslim sensitivity training. The course teaches agents that Muslims believe jihad is an "internal struggle against sin" and not holy warfare. Customs agents involved in the CAIR tour at O'Hare tell WorldNetDaily they were outraged that headquarters would reveal sensitive counterterrorism procedures to an organization that has seen several of its own officials convicted of terror-related charges since 9-11. "Isn't that nice of CBP," one agent said, to provide a "group like CAIR with a guided, behind-the-scenes tour of our customs facilities, explaining how programs designed to catch Muslim terrorists work." A Customs and Border Protection supervisor... "It's all about how Islam means peace and tolerance," he told WorldNetDaily. "We're told how to deal with Arabs and Muslims, that they are loving people and not terrorists. That jihad is struggle with sin and has nothing to do with violence." CAIR – which is bankrolled by the Saudis and the United Arab Emirates, two countries that formally recognized the Taliban – also offers religious and cultural sensitivity training about Islam and Muslims to the military... Also in June, CAIR was invited by the Pentagon to a ceremony dedicating the first Islamic center in Marine Corps history at Quantico headquarters outside of Washington. Washington-based CAIR also has regular meetings with the FBI and Justice Department. In fact, FBI case agents complain the bureau rarely can make a move in the Muslim community without first consulting with CAIR, which sits on its advisory board... http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51573

U.S. public schools infamous for their hostility to Christianity and Judaism are indoctrinating America's children into Islam. Breaking G-D's commandment: "You shall have no other gods before Me", America's children are being taught to follow a god we and our ancestors never knew. As American soldiers fight and die in Iraq - to spread democracy??? - we have lost our freedom in America. WorldNetDaily.com December 13, 2003 JUDICIAL JIHAD Judge rules Islamic education OK in California classrooms Dismisses suit opposing requirement students recite Quran, pray to Allah Requiring seventh-grade students to pretend they're Muslims, wear Islamic garb, memorize verses from the Quran, pray to Allah and even to play "jihad games" in California public schools has been legally upheld by a federal judge, who has dismissed a highly publicized lawsuit brought by several Christian students and their parents... ...the suit was filed by the Thomas More Law Center against the Byron Union School District and various school officials to stop the use of the "Islam simulation" materials and methods used in the Excelsior Elementary School in Byron, Calif. The World History and Geography class in question is part of a curriculum being taught to seventh-graders all over the state, and is included in the state's curriculum standards required by the state board of education. Although the standards outline what subjects should be taught and will be included in state assessment tests, they don't mandate how they're to be taught. In the three-week course, Excelsior teacher Brooke Carlin had students assume Islamic names, recite prayers in class, memorize and recite verses from the Quran, and had them simulate Ramadan fasting by going without something for a day. The final test required students to critique Muslim culture. The Islam simulations at Excelsior are outlined in the state-adopted textbook "Across the Centuries," published by Houghton Mifflin, which prompts students to imagine they are Islamic soldiers and Muslims on a Mecca pilgrimage. The lawsuit also alleges students were encouraged to use such phrases in their speech as "Allah Akbar," which is Arabic for "God is great," and were required to fast during lunch period to simulate fasting during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. "While public schools prohibit Christian students from reading the Bible, praying, displaying the Ten Commandments, and even mentioning the word 'God,' students in California are being indoctrinated into the religion of Islam..." http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36118

The future of all of Europe, UK and other countries? www.telegraph.co.uk Muslims are waging civil war against us, claims police union By David Rennie, Europe Correspondent (Filed: 05/10/2006) Radical Muslims in France's housing estates are waging an undeclared "intifada" against the police, with violent clashes injuring an average of 14 officers each day. As the interior ministry said that nearly 2,500 officers had been wounded this year, a police union declared that its members were "in a state of civil war" with Muslims in the most depressed "banlieue" estates which are heavily populated by unemployed youths of north African origin. It said the situation was so grave that it had asked the government to provide police with armoured cars to protect officers in the estates, which are becoming no-go zones. The number of attacks has risen by a third in two years... Instead, officers – especially those patrolling in pairs or small groups – faced attacks as soon as they tried to arrest locals... He said yesterday: "We are in a state of civil war, orchestrated by radical Islamists. This is not a question of urban violence any more, it is an intifada, with stones and Molotov cocktails. You no longer see two or three youths confronting police, you see whole tower blocks emptying into the streets to set their 'comrades' free when they are arrested." He added: "We need armoured vehicles and water cannon. They are the only things that can disperse crowds of hundreds of people who are trying to kill police and burn their vehicles."... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/05/wmuslims05.xml

she seems to fall in the latter category based on her claptrap. Showing up on various TV programs and badmouthing Islam, which I don't have any fondness for despite being born into a Muslem family, has become a career move for some bigots, opportunits and dimwits. Sultan would have my respect if she went to Syria or any other place to help the Muslim men and women who are being mistreated by religous extremists instead of running her mouth for mere pulicity. By the way I'm not fond of ANY organized religion.

of coarse you think what you said is correct but your not, you don't understand what she is saying and it is the truth what she has to say try and understand her it will enlighten you more than you know

And to add some more-there is no place in an intelligent and reasonable world for a religion that calls for the murder of those who do not beleive like it. Frankly, there is no excuse for what this ideology/culture calls for and teaches it's followers. Nuff sed

What you say is 100% true. The problem in Lebanon is that such cases as divorce and inheritence are still ruled by the relevant religious courts. You still cannot have a civil marriage in Lebanon for instance. Secular movements (christian and moslem) have been trying for long to change that. Both the Church and the Moslem clergy have been fighting hard to maintain their position.

You make it sound as though the course was an indoctrination of Islamic Beliefs. This is prety much like the international week in elementary school, where children are tought about other cultures, their habits, their language, etc.. Such educational excercices are useful to get young US citizens familiar with Islam, especially given the controvery around it. Had this being about the Jewish or budist religion, it would simply have gone unnoticed. It seems to you this 3 weeks course amounts to showing the children the ways of the "Devil".

You said:"I respect the religious part of Islam as much as I respect any religion". Thank you. IF we would have more balanced Muslima like you - the world would be a BETTER place. The intelligence of the terrorists have been stolen - DUE to their hatred of anything non-Muslim. You should continue to PRAY to the Prophet Mohammed - he WILL guide you thru the murky waters of present-day life. Always think of him - he WILL protect you always. BTW there is life after this present life.