Focus Group:

Social-Religious Issues

Islamic Fundamentalism
Why Must We Fight?
What Is This Fight About?

Jihad
An Inner Struggle or Worldwide War?
An Islamic term; Arabic for
battle; struggle; holy war
for religion.
Two kinds of interpretation:
greater is the belief that it is
a spiritual struggle within
oneself. (f.x. a druggie
fighting addiction)
The lesser interpretation is
simplified as meaning a
holy war against infidels
and infidel countries.

While a
woman
meditates
and tries to
find her
inner self,
the Taliban
take action
into their
own hands,
being
oppressive
and cruel.

Islamism and Islamists

Religion, Government, or Both?

President Clinton,
representing Western
government, the Koran
symbolizing Sharia
law, and Khomeini
symbolizing the Koran
as being the
government law.

Islamism is a group of
ideologies in Islam that want
to use the Sharia law vs.
foreign cultures.
Islamists feel that the Western
impurity is invading the
world.
Islamism has proved that it
can work as a political
alternative. Countries such
as Iran, Sudan, Pakistan, and
Libya adapted it.

Islamic Resurgence
We want to modernize, not Westernize
A broad intellectual, cultural,
political, social movement
throughout the Islamic world.
A revival of Islamic ideas that
has affected Muslims in every
country.
The Muslims in this
movement have created
special services to gain
followers.

Islam
around the
world?
Not such a
farfetched
idea
anymore!

Important Fundamentalist Leaders

and Organizations

The bomb keeps

ticking one of blood,
hatred, and terror.

Ayatollah Khomeini
Taliban
Usama Bin Laden
Muslim Brotherhood
HAMAS
Islamic Jihad

Faces of the Terrorists

Members of the Taliban,

the oppressive regime in
Afghanistan , below.

Yassin, left, the

founder of
HAMAS.

Hassana ElBanna, founder

of Muslim
Brotherhood.

?
Usama Bin Ladin,
The face of Islamic
behind the bombing
Jihadwishing to
of U.S. foreign
stay anonymous?
embassies.

Ayatollah Khomeini,
below, leader of
Islamic Revolution.

What The Future Holds...

Is There Hope for Tomorrow?
We must make a
There is not much we
difference. World
can do to stop these
peace is at stake.
fundamentalists from
What we can do?
lashing out.
Educate the masses: we We must have
are not against Islam.
patience, and the will
Use our powers. Try to
to struggle, to fight,
negotiate peace.
for peace on earth.

Arabs in Israel
The Continuing Struggle

Arab-Israeli Wars
How long will this go on?

Arabs and Jews in Israel are

always having wars over land
each claim as their holy
land.
Until the early 1990s, Israel
was in conflict with its Arab
neighbors, including 5 wars
from 1948 to 1982.
Some Jews live in Arab
countries.
Many Arabs live in Israel.

Fist fights are common in

Israel, even in the streets.

Israeli Arabs & Israeli Jews

So different, yet similar, somehow...
Arabs are a minority

VS.

in Israel. They make

up only 18% of the
population.
Arabs are full citizens
of the Jewish state and
also have the right to
vote, and must obey
laws.

The Peace Process

Is there hope for the future?
The United Nations has
been trying to bring
peace to Israel for many
years. They have had
many ups and downs in
their struggle.
Peace is something that
will take a long time,
with Israeli Arabs, and
Israeli Jews.

Barak, Clinton, and Assad making

peace in the Middle East.

Terrorism In Israel
Will It ever stop?

Tick tock how long

until the next bomb
will go off?

Israeli Arabs and terrorism.

HAMAS and terrorism.
Many Israelis blamed the
recent increase and growth of
terrorism and fundamental
Islam among Israeli Arabs for
the attacks and suggested
restrictions of Islamic activity.
Many Arabs see
discrimination as feeding
fundamentalism inside Israel.

Women In Islam
Is equality always equal?
Are beliefs always believed?

Conservative View
Women are for the home

The Western feminist cause is

viewed with distrust. Alien
philosophy, corruption.
Abuse of women in Taliban areas.
Belief on Hijab and how it helps
society - its better to be safe (in
terms of rape, sexual abuse,
danger) than sorry.
Laws, customs, and women
important as wife and/or mother.
Men have similar restrictions.
A Muslim woman wearing Hijab.

Modern View
Women are equal to men...
The views on how women should
act, behave, and be treated in a
moderate manner. Egypt, Morocco.
How to understand the moderate
view, and comparisons to make
things clear.
Dont practice Hijab because not
necessary and has no worthwhile
purpose. It should be the womans
Deborah Whitley - a
choice.
Muslim who thinks Hijab
Interpretations of the Koran. Do not
is unnecessary.
interpret it harshly.

How Women Look At Things in the

Western World

This lady had the

freedom to write an
article -- and have it
published.

There should be equality

between sexes.
History of feminism.
Small families and more equal
roles is the Western way.
View of Hajib and covering up.
Theres an ideology: If you
have it, you should flash it.
A woman makes her own
individual decisions.

How Women Look At Things in the

Islamic World

Household, children, husband

are first priority, aside from
Alla, and now marriage within A Muslim girl is forced
to wear hijab and cover
Islamic society.
View on feminist cause. Veil as up. She may not have a
future where she can be
liberating. Spiritual values
successful on her own.
rather than bodily lust.
Men and women are equal and
have different roles and rules.
Accomplishments and history.
Women
Laws, college attendance.
covered from
Different path for Islamic
head to toe
women- Iran and Taliban or
in chadors.
Egypt, Morocco, etc.

Muslims in the West

Coming to a new country
to escape, or to start anew?

Immigration
The Statue of Liberty held her torch high...

The Statue of Liberty

greets immigrants to
America.

Most Muslims in the West are

emigrants.
Most immigrants are from
South Asia, Middle East, South
East, Asia, and Africa.
Emigrate for economic reasons,
to unite families, because of
war or political turmoil.
They are not here to change
society; afraid society will
change them.

Religious Tolerance
Freedom for all religions?
West fears Islamic
fundamentalism, military
radicalims, terrorism.
Accuse Muslims for causing
acts of terrorism.
Much misunderstanding and
ingnorance about nature and
religion of Islam.
Muslims feel Westerners dont
let them practice religion.

Freedompeace?

Assimilation
Can we fit in the way we are?

Muslim girl or
valley girl?

Some Muslims feel they need to

assimilate to fit in.
Many Muslims have fallen into
traps of Western society: T.V.,
fast food, technology, etc.
About 6 million Muslims live in
the U.S. today, many of which
participate in American life.
Many Muslims do not want to
assimilate into American society.

Similarities Between Islam

World and the West

Islam World and West have

much to learn from one another.
Islam reiterates basic American
values in many ways.
When citizens, many Muslims
vote for president.
Key similarities: respect for
knowledge, justice, compassion
toward poor, importance of
family, respect for parents.

Not that far away...

Thank You!!!