Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881

The Daily Northwestern

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Islamic scholar, Medill alumnus discusses treatment of Muslims

By Matt Radler

The Daily NorthwesternAlthough Islamic scholar Amer Haleem’s speech was titled “Abortion, Homosexuality and Embryonic Stem Cell Research: An Islamic Perspective,” none of those topics interested the speaker Monday night at McCormick Auditorium.

During a speech hosted by the Muslim-cultural Students Association, Haleem, Medill ’86, criticized a wide range of targets, from the U.S. political system to the topic of the speech itself to about 150 people.

“I understand that your motivation was relevance, that you wanted to appear pertinent,” Haleem said to the members of McSA in the audience. “I would say that these topics selected you, rather than the other way around. Who cares really in American society what Muslims think about homosexuality or abortion or stem cell research issues?”

Haleem continued to list the wrongs he claimed the U.S. currently commits against Muslims in the Iraq war, describing it as the main problem for the Muslim community.

He also criticized other aspects of modern American society, including loans with interest, premarital sex and adultery, which he referred to as “usury” and “fornication.”

While Muslims are oppressed by the federal government, he said, today’s political parties take no stand and have distracted the population with social issues of no consequence since the 1960s.

“The evangelicals not only did not take up, but opposed the call to social equality in America,” Haleem said. “The liberal secular position, I would hasten to add, has been no more admirable. They settled for the cheap politics of personal choice.”

The solution, he said, lies in the “prophetic stance.” As an example, Haleem cited Northern Irish Catholic hunger-strike protesters in the 1970s.

If Muslims and society in general do not protest the U.S.’s elite leadership, he said, only more violence against Muslims will follow.

“In no way should you interpret me as sardonic,” Haleem said.

“I am gravely serious. We have entered a constellation of crisis. We are now in a fight for the soul of America.”

The speech drew a mixed reaction from McSA leaders and audience members.

Ahmad Salah, McSA co-president and a Weinberg junior, said Haleem’s speech was not what the group expected but that his dismissal of social issues in favor of international politics had merit.

“He got to the root of the issue,” Salah said. “It’s true we’re being subverted by these other issues, divided by these other issues.”

SESP sophomore Nikolai Smith said although he saw Haleem’s point, he found the speech unfair and vague at times.

“If you want open dialogue, you don’t do that by generalizing whole groups of people, especially in terms of U.S. history,” Smith said.

During the question-and-answer session following the speech, Haleem said he cannot separate social issues from the teachings of the Quran and every Muslim’s obligation to them.

“Islam does not compartmentalize,” he said. “What Islam teaches is that there is a moral dimension to every act. We are the bearers of the prophetic message. The time of prophethood has ended, it ended with Muhammad, peace be upon him.”

Reach Matt Radler at [email protected].

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Islamic scholar, Medill alumnus discusses treatment of Muslims