Arsalan Iftikhar
The Economist

The editor and lawyer on the institutionalization of anti-Muslim sentiment and the difference between European and American Muslims. LISTEN HERE.

Sandra Samuel holds Moshe Holtzberg at the Mumbai airport in India on their way to Israel on December 1.

Eboo Patel
Executive Director, Interfaith Youth Core

He reminds me of my son.

That was my first thought when I saw the picture of Moshe Holtzberg — 2 years old, dark eyes, full lips — wearing a green shirt, clutching an orange ball and wailing “Dada.”

My almost-2-year-old son just learned how to say “Dada.” He walks around the house and claps his hands and repeats “Dada” in his own peculiar toddler rhythm. When I leave for work in the morning, he sometimes reaches for me and wails “Dada” with a tinge of sadness in his voice.

But not like Moshe’s sadness. His parents are gone to God. They are not coming back. They were ripped from Moshe by terrorists who perversely believed that Islam is a totalitarian faith, a faith defined by destroying diversity. Mumbai, the city they attacked, is defined by its diversity — a masala of cultures that included Moshe’s family of Hasidic Jews from Brooklyn.

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Editor’s Note: Arsalan Iftikhar is an international human rights lawyer and contributing editor for Islamica Magazine in Washington. He is the founder of TheMuslimGuy.com, a Web site focused on Islamic issues, and is former national legal director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Arsalan Iftikhar says the journalist who threw his shoes at Bush wasn't doing his job.

Arsalan Iftikhar
Special to CNN

Not since Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s famous footwear pounded into a table at an October 1960 United Nations session have we seen a shoe create such a global political firestorm.

Alas, we now have an Iraqi journalist entering into the annals of political history with his contribution to the ongoing historical saga entitled “Shoes Heard Around the World.”

Some regional TV channels in the Mideast have aired the footage from the “shoe” press conference “more than a dozen times in several hours,” according to The Associated Press. The infamous scene has now bounced around Internet networking sites like YouTube and Facebook, showing Iraqi journalist Muntadhar Al-Zaidi standing, hurling both his shoes at President George W. Bush and shouting in Arabic: “This is a farewell kiss, you dog….This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.”

Mr. Al-Zaidi, 29, a journalist for private Iraqi television channel Al-Baghdadia, was swiftly overpowered by Iraqi security forces after he threw the shoes at Bush in a gesture described by Agence France Presse as “the supreme mark of disrespect in the Muslim world.”

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Octavia Nasr
CNN Arab Affairs Editor

It all began with a shoe, the ultimate insult in the Arab world. What followed was a reaction of major proportions, reported on Arab media, discussed on Arab streets, and in chat rooms and message boards across the internet.

The internet is buzzing with several shoe-throwing games and comments in Arabic cheering on the shoe thrower. Special websites have been set up, asking people to show their support for the man “who dared” — as one website describes the Iraqi reporter who threw his pair of shoes at the US president. And a FaceBook group in solidarity — not with the reporter — but his shoe, is drawing thousands of supporters.

But not everyone is cheering for the shoe-thrower. While most callers to Al-Baghdadiya, the shoe-thrower’s employer, hailed him as a national hero, critical voices made it to air as well.

A caller by the name of Nasseem Mansour told the Baghdadiya anchor, “This man abused his role as a reporter and insulted the entire journalism profession. His meaningless act was carried out at the expense of the Iraqi people. Only Iraq loses as a result.”

Media in Iraq and the rest of the Arab world are covering the story from all angles, with guests, anchors and reporters, not sure what to make of this unusual news story. Perhaps political cartoons explain the sentiment best:

In Saudi Arabia’s Al-Wattan newspaper, a political cartoon shows Bush entering the history books with the heavy burden of a shoe while US tanks burn in the distance.

From Qatar, Al-Wattan’s political cartoon has a sign asking reporters to leave their shoes outside the briefing room.

From Lebanon’s Annahar, two simple words, printed on the sole of a pair of worn shoes. summarize the end of Mr. Bush’s era.

An Iraqi shouts as he holds up a slipper and a sign as they protest against yesterday's visit by US President George W. Bush and the arrest of an Iraqi journalist in Sadr City.

Octavia Nasr
CNN Arab Affairs Editor

He threw his shoes at President George W. Bush at the end of the opening statements of a joint press conference in which Mr. Bush bid farewell to Iraq and sealed the security agreement known as SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement). Although, many elevated the shoe-thrower to the level of “national hero,” some put him in the wrong and called what he did “shameful.”

His name is Munthadar al-Zaidi, a reporter for a new Iraqi station called Al-Baghdadiya (The Baghdadi). The station was founded in 2005 and al-Zaidi has worked there since its inception. On its website, Al-Baghdadiya explains that “it is an independent station that broadcasts out of Cairo with offices in Baghdad and Cairo. It is owned by Iraqi businessman and engineer Aoun Hussein Tashlook and has no affiliations to any persons or groups.”

At the end of the press conference, President Bush shook hands with his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki, then turned around and said in Arabic as he is looking towards the audience, “Shukran Jazeelan” meaning “Thank you very much.”

At this very moment, al-Zaidi stood up held his shoe up, aimed and shot it towards President Bush. The president ducked and avoided the fast flying shoe. Then al-Zaidi threw the second shoe and shouted, “This is a farewell you dog.” as he was pinned down by security personnel present in the room.

The image of President Bush ducking and President Maliki’s hand trying to protect him from the second flying shoe is plastered on the front pages of every major Arabic newspaper with a variety of captions. Ranging from, “A twin-shoe attack almost hits President Bush in the face. This is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people you dog” In Lebanon’s Assafir newspaper, to a headline in the Saudi-owned, London-based Al-Hayat newspaper that reads, “Iraqi reporter throws a pair of shoes at Bush and Maliki. Bush bids farewell to Baghdad stressing that what happened is important for Iraqis to get a taste of freedom.”

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Saudi monarch King Abdullah has called on Muslims to have a honest internal dialogue of Islam after recent events.

Octavia Nasr
CNN Arab Affairs Editor

Saudi Arabia’s monarch is the custodian of Islam’s two holiest shrines, and the host of the yearly pilgrimage called “Hajj” one of the five pillars of Islam.

On this holy occasion for Muslims which brings hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world to pray and cleanse their souls, King Abdullah’s message is about cleansing the Islamic house.

He said this week in a televised address, “Division, ignorance, and fanaticism are obstacles threatening the hopes of Muslims. And terrorism, which has been threatening the whole world and is attributed to Muslims alone, is caused by acts of fanatics who pretend to be Muslims but in fact represent no one but themselves.”

This year’s pilgrimage to Mecca takes place on the heels of a series of terror attacks in Mumbai against Western and Jewish interests. There are allegations that a Pakistani group with links to Saudi-born Osama bin Laden is behind the attacks.

And the King’s message coincided with news from Guantanamo Bay that five detainees, charged with planning the terror attacks of 9/11/2001, told a judge this week that they’re ready to admit their guilt. All five, including the 9/11 alleged mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, said so in front of family members of some of the 9/11 victims.

The Saudi King knows the world is watching and just as he called for interfaith dialogue among all religions earlier this year, he now says, “Today we need an honest dialogue within Islam itself.”

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Hajj pilgrims at Mercy Mountain.

Arwa Damon | BIO
CNN International Correspondent
 
To Muslims, the holiest place on earth is a black-draped, square shrine called the Kaaba in the central courtyard of the vast Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca. According to the Quran, it was built by Prophet Abraham on God’s command. A goal for devout Muslims is to make a pilgrimage here at least once in a lifetime – following the same rituals carried out by Prophet Mohammed centuries years ago. This pilgrimage is known as the Hajj.

I stood staring at the famous al-Haram mosque, seeing it in person for the first time, and mesmerized by the river of pilgrims swirling around the Ka’aba, through the courtyard, into all visible streets, and as far as the eye could see.

As the call to prayer rang out at sunset, the pilgrims formed perfectly straight lines in unison. And prayed.

People from all corners of the globe and all walks of life prayed in perfect harmony, united here for the single purpose of completing the Hajj. It is a breathtaking sight.

The beautiful spirituality of it aside, covering the Hajj as a journalist is challenging to say the least. While in Mecca, we regularly miscalculated timings and found ourselves stuck in corners during prayer time, when literally human walls are formed blocking the streets. Getting anywhere requires extreme navigation and “crowd weaving” skills, not to mention while carrying (or lugging around) heavy TV equipment because, for example, one of us had the ‘brilliant’ idea to go live from Mount Mercy at Arafat.

It is at Mount Mercy that Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon some 1400 years ago, asking God to forgive the sins of his followers. The moments spent at Mount Mercy define the Hajj for Pilgrims, who spend the day from sunrise to sunset praying for the same forgiveness. Those that have performed the Hajj before say that it is there they felt closest to God, and upon completion were given a second chance at life, a chance to be better individuals – spiritually elevated. The pilgrims dot the hillside, covering it in a blanket of white.

As the sun rises we can clearly see them, arms outstretched, some crying, as they pray. The sea of pilgrims spills down and extends as far as the eye can see.

We failed miserably in our attempt to leave before the pilgrims and found ourselves caught up in the masses, schlepping our gear for hours, sweat pouring, abaya (overgarment) itching, and a headscarf that refused to stay put. These moments reminded me of producer Mohammed Tawfeeq’s words: “you have no idea what you’re getting us into”. He has obviously covered the Hajj before.

Still, it’s an experience like no other. Where else can one encounter such a huge crowd of people from all over the world, the vast majority of whom return home with peace of spirit?

David Ignatius
Washington Post

Let’s try for a moment to read the mind of an al-Qaeda operative in the remote mountains of Waziristan as he listens to the news on the radio. His worldview has been roiled recently by two events — one confounding his image of the West and the other confirming it.

The upsetting news for our imaginary jihadist is the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States. This wasn’t supposed to happen, in al-Qaeda’s playbook. Its aim was to draw the “far enemy” (meaning America) ever deeper onto the battlefields of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Instead, the jihadists must cope with a president-elect who promises to get out of Iraq and whose advisers are talking about negotiating with the Taliban. And to top it off, the guy’s middle name is Hussein.

Before the election, the radical Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradhawi even issued a fatwa supporting John McCain: “Personally, I would prefer for the Republican candidate, McCain, to be elected. This is because I prefer the obvious enemy who does not hypocritically [conceal] his hostility toward you . . . to the enemy who wears a mask [of friendliness].”

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Octavia Nasr discusses the image of women on Arab media.

I grew up in the tiny country of Lebanon, the daughter, grand-daughter and niece of larger-than-life female figures who fought very hard for Arab women’s rights. My mom never missed a parliamentary election because “the right to vote is the only right we have” she used to say. She was convinced that it’ll all change “soon.” Women in Lebanon could vote as early as the 50’s but they can’t, to this day, give their children the Lebanese nationality. A rule that exists in most of the Arab world, changed only recently in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt.

In Saudi Arabia, women can’t even drive a car and they face tremendous pressure if they appear on TV. In many parts of the Arab world, a woman’s testimony is not accepted in court and a woman can’t travel abroad without the permission of her father, her brother or her husband. So, you might think that things didn’t change much in the last few decades; I don’t blame you if you do. The fact is that Arab women have made great strides in education, societal involvement and civic duty; but there are many things still restricting them, even pulling them back.

On one popular Arabic soap opera, two wives compete for the approval of their husband.
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Hesham A. Hassaballa
Beliefnet.com contributor
 
I have voted ever since I came of age at 18. I still remember voting for Ross Perot while I was away at college at Marquette University.

But ever since then, I have been a Republican. I have even been a committeeman and assistant committeeman in my local Republican Party organization. And in 2000, my wife and I both well remember when I left her in labor at the hospital long enough to go and enthusiastically cast my vote for George W. Bush.

I have always been attracted to the GOP and have felt most at home in the party of Abraham Lincoln. After all, I do live in the Land of Lincoln. More importantly, I like the Republican Party’s traditional ideals: Government should not dictate to people what they do in their own personal lives; government should not intrude on people’s privacy; taxes are the people’s money and should be handled with the utmost care. Moreover, my socially conservative views are welcome in the Republican Party, and I do not feel ridiculed as I sometimes do when I engage Democrats in conversation.

But in the past seven years, I have had a tremendous identity crisis as a American Muslim Republican. And after much gut-wrenching contemplation, I have decided to leave the Party.

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