Princeton imam Sohaib Sultan took major responsibility for getting Nonie Darwish's Nov. 16-18 speech canceled just hours before due. Ms. Darwish wrote "Cruel And Usual Punishment" and Now They Call Me Infidel.

The imam said "Darwish's appearance on campus could offend the Muslim community." Darwish responded that he means that Islam considers questioning of Islam as a capital offense.

Apparently, Jewish organizations rescinded the invitation. Darwish explained that those organizations are trying to get along with Muslim groups there, want to show that they can get along, and want to avoid harassment by those groups.

Getting along on an equal basis did not occur during centuries of Muslim control over the Mideast. Islamic law does not allow religious minorities equal rights. The Arabs have dominated non-Arab Muslims, too. Darwish specifically cited Copts, Jews, Kurds, Lebanese Christians, and Assyrians. Millions have fled being forced to convert to Islam or to adopt Arab nationality.

Darwish challenged the imam: "Did the good imam ever write to El-Azhar University demanding a change in the definition of jihad in Muslim scriptures, which state 'jihad is to war with non-Muslims to establish the religion.' Did he ever send an open letter to imams across the Middle East demanding an end to characterizing Jews as 'apes, pigs and enemies of Allah'? Did he ever campaign against honor and apostate killings? Does he denounce outright lies about Jews such as 'Jews are behind 9/11 and the death of Arafat'? Does he condemn imams who recite the Hadith commanding Muslims to kill Jews wherever they find them? Do imams on Arab TV appall him when they promote terrorism against Jews worldwide? Does he think Hamas and Hezbollah are terror groups? Does he agree with the recent fatwa of death for apostasy that El-Azhar and 5,000 mosques in Egypt issued against Egyptian intellectual and reformist Sayed El Qemany?"

"Instead, the imam stifled inquiry of the above atrocities and characterized those who question as personal attackers of all Muslims. In the process he created a hostile environment where his friendships are determined by compliance. Blasphemy Shariah laws are now creeping into many institutions of higher learning in the U.S.."

She said it is no wonder that the imam doesn't want witnesses to come and reveal what really happens in the Mideast under Islamic rule.

Her speech would have explained, "I want to stress that I am not here to offend the good and peace-loving Muslims. Most people, including myself, don't want or care to criticize religion, in the sense that it is a personal relationship with God. But if a religion, any religion, expands itself to the point of a one-party political and legal system while condemning those who question to death, then it makes perfect sense that such a religion has put itself in the realm of criticism. No religion or ideology can be beyond questioning when human rights are at stake...The rights of any one religion must never supersede human rights or the rights of other religions to flourish. Tolerating intolerance is not a virtue; it is gross negligence."

"By stifling free speech, shaming speakers of the truth and calling them names, we allow tyranny to win. Fear tactics has worked for centuries in the Muslim world; now it is spreading like cancer in U.S. institutions of higher learning." (Israel Resources Review, 11/30, sent to me by Susan.)

Sacrificing one culture, at the demand of another, is not multi-culturalism. The United States of American into which I was born was one of expanding freedom. Under a leftist political correctness, that freedom is shrinking. It would have been unthinkable years ago, to curb freedom of speech to appease a lobby, many of whose members make truly offensive statements, such as in examples Darwish cited. Our founding fathers believed that freedom of speech would enable the people will figure out the truth. At Princeton, supposedly educating to a high quality, students won't get certain opportunities to figure out the truth.

By Richard Shulman
www.examiner.com