ISLAM - Egyptian Imams and intellectuals: Renewing Islam towards modernity - by Samir Khalil Samir

"The program - truly revolutionary - wants to rethink the value of women, fraternization between the sexes, the relationship of equality with Christians. And it also desires to clarify interpretations on the sayings of Mohammed and the myths of fundamentalist Salafism, rejecting the influences that come from Saudi Arabia.

A score of intellectuals and theologians of Al Azhar have issued a text of enormous importance, entitled "Document for the renewal of religious discourse." The text was "posted" on the Internet on 24 January at 18:27, on the website of the weekly magazine Yawm al-Sâbi’'("The Seventh Day"). The importance of the document also derives from its signatories, all noted scholars and profoundly committed Muslims.

  
Among these it is worth mentioning: Dr. Nasr Farid Wasel, former Grand Mufti of Egypt, the imam Safwat Hegazi, Dr. Gamal al-Banna, brother of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, the professors Malakah Zirâr and Âminah Noseir the celebrated Islamist writer Fahmi Huweidi; Dr. Mabruk Atiyyah, a large number of preachers (du'ât), responsible for Islamic Propaganda, such as Khalid al-Gindi, Muhammad Hedâyah, Mustafa Husni, etc..
 
It is the first time that such an attempt has been made by recognized Islamic figures. On being posted, the document received 153 comments in the same day. The majority (88.25%) condemned the text, saying it distorts Islam or tries to establish a new religion. Only 18 people congratulated the authors. This means that the path of renewal will be long and require much time and effort.

The original text of the document (in Arabic) and comments can be found at: http://www.youm7.com/News.asp?NewsID=343007.

Note EU-Digest: this development could very well make the Muslim Brotherhood a more palatable  proposition in the eyes of the US when the time arrives for the formation of a new Egyptian coalition  Government after Mubarak leaves?

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Expatica: Ex-Muslims gather in The Hague on 9/11

For the complete report from Expatica click on this link

Ex-Muslims gather in The Hague on 9/11

The heads of several European committees for former Muslims are due to sign a 'European Declaration of Tolerance ' in The Hague on September 11. With the declaration, the ex-Muslim committees of Britain, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands and Sweden want to draw attention to what they say is "the lack of freedom of religion within Islamic culture." In its press release on Thursday, the Dutch committee of ex- Muslims said September 11 - the anniversary of the terror attacks on the United States - was chosen symbolically to condemn terror and the intolerance of political Islam.