Source: Venn Institute 

By M Zuhdi Jasser

The question of religious freedom for all as it relates to the religion of Islam is one of the most challenging yet important ones of this century. It is understandable that many judge faiths – not just Islam – based on the actions of their leaders and most vocal members. The same stands true for Islam. Sadly, it is undeniable that when it comes to the First Freedom, the fruit of religious liberty, it is undeniable that the overwhelming majority of the current Muslim leadership across the world have demonstrated little respect for the protection of individual religious liberty in Muslim-majority societies and even in Muslim communities in the West. Unfortunately, then, a faith of 1.5 billion adherents becomes represented by a small but vocal group of individuals who would seek to strip not just non-Muslims, but also critically thinking Muslims, of their religious freedoms.

Many scholars and pundits have attempted to determine the cause(s) of the infringements on religious freedom emanating from Muslim societies. They have blamed everything from history, to education, economics, foreign policy, and even the entire faith and its founder, Muhammad. Others, especially those Muslims uninterested in reform, even invoke a potpourri of conspiracy theories about why “real Islam” is so scarce. From Egypt to Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and in particular the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) based in Saudi Arabia wielding often a bloc vote at the United Nations, Muslim leaders have to varying degrees chosen to advance or implement forms of draconian shar’iah law or its apologia while compromising the genuine religious freedom guaranteed by those who respect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Where Muslim dictators, autocrats, monarchs, and theocrats entrenched in governments of the OIC leave off, the ubiquitous followers and leadership of Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood or Jamaat al-Islamiyya take over. These groups are well-funded, most often by petrodollars, and their populist offshoots bear many names. However, their stifling influence on voices of real religious diversity and liberty within Muslim communities is unmistakable.

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Billboard With Soldier and Muslim Called Offensive.

(George Lin, KFYI) Doctor Zuhdi Jasser, with the American Islamic Forum in Phoenix, is a physician, Muslim, and former Navy officer.

He says the nasal spray company billboard displayed in 20 cities across the country offends him on all three levels.

The ad is drawing criticism because it shows a military officer embracing a Muslim woman…fully covered by a berka.

Jasser compares the billboard’s quality to Miley Cyrus and good music.

He says consumers should boycott this company’s products for utilizing such an offensive ad.

The nasal spray business says the ad is designed to help bring everyone closer together.

No word if the billboard is coming to Phoenix.

Read the entire article on the World Evangelical Alliance site

Turkmenistan has been one of the most repressive countries in the world for over two decades, as key international actors continue to sideline the issue of religious and other freedoms due to their thirst for cheap energy. This Muslim-majority Central Asian nation possesses the world’s fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources

Like some other countries in this region, Turkmenistan is “reminiscent of the old Soviet Union” as it commits serious human rights violations, “particularly through enacting and enforcing laws against freedom of religion or belief,” Katrina Lantos Swett and M. Zuhdi Jasser, Vice Chairs of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), wrote in an op-ed article in The Moscow Times recently.

Read the entire story at ChristianPost.com

excerpt from article

But Dr. M Zuhdi Jasser, a Syrian-American and founder of the American Islamic Forum for Democracy, told CP that the Assad regime encouraged the religious violence.

“Religious liberty is at a historic low in Syria as the Assad regime has employed a scorched earth policy by intentionally stoking militants with sectarian divisions in order to rip apart Syria from within,” said Jasser.  “While the revolution began as a diverse political movement of all faiths against the Assad regime, it has now degenerated into a sectarian conflict dominated by the narrative of a Sunni dominated opposition against an Alawite regime which claims to be the protector of other religious minorities.”

Jasser also said that “if the U.S. takes a military role it needs to be decisive” in regards to military strikes, support for opposition, and the “information war” regarding popular opinion.

“Defeat Assad quickly and the proxy war with Iran ends quickly. Let it go longer and God knows where Iran takes its emboldened positioning,” said Jasser.