Case Study # 7
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El Camino Community College District *
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10
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Political Science
Date
Jan 9, 2024
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Why do there "seem to be good reasons" to think that Islam is "enemy of the West" (p. 1), according to Sonn? Who else has "pledged war against the West" (p. 3)? What are the "good reasons not to believe they represent Islam" (p. 6), in her view?
According to Sonn the good reasons to think that Islam is an enemy of the West are the threats made by terrorists like Osama Bin Laden, which claim that Islam has ordered all its believers to fight against the West and anyone who doesn’t hold the same beliefs as them. Sonn highlights terror groups such as Boko-Haram, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and ISIL as just some of the many terrorist organizations who have declared war against the West and claim to represent Islam. Sonn states that a good reason to not believe these groups represent Islam, is the fact that 90% of Muslims actually condemn these terror groups and their actions. He explains that 93% of Muslims who were asked condemned the 9/11 attacks and the 7% who did not, justified it using political reasonings not religious. What are the origins of the terrorist group al-Qaeda (p. 14), according to Sonn? What terrorist attacks is it responsible for? How does the "Islamic State" (p. 22) differ? Why
do such terrorist groups not represent Islam, in her opinion (p. 26-28)? In what way are
they "outliers" (p. 29)? In what way are they "More Maoist than Muslim" (p. 36)?
Sonn explains that after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan many volunteer fighting forces had left the country, those that hadn’t either couldn’t because they were wanted by their home
governments, or they wanted to continue fighting. These people then united under the name Al-Qaeda and decided to stay as a fighting force ready to fight on behalf of the Muslims wherever and whenever. Sonn highlighted that this group is responsible for the 9/11 attacks and the bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The Islamic State is different because it is willing to use force against Muslims and Non-Muslims alike. The IS also differs from other groups because they are trying to revive an Islamic Caliphate once again. These
terrorist groups do not represent Islam because Muslims make up 97% of the world terror victims according to many surveys. Muslims across the world also condemn terrorism and violence of any kind. Most of these terrorists base their strategies, campaigns, and tactics upon the teachings of people like Mao Tse-tung than any Islamic or religious aims or methods. In what way is "Mainstream Muslim opposition to terrorism" (p. 41) evident, according
to Sonn? In what way is "Religious authorities’ opposition to terrorism" (p. 42) evident? What is the relationship between "Sharia law, warfare, and human rights" (p. 53), in her opinion? Muslim opposition to terrorism is evident through the innumerable surveys which show how over 90% of Muslims are opposed to terrorism. Since 9/11 Muslim authorities whether they are Shia or Sunni have opposed and condemned any form of terrorism, and Islamic meaning of terrorism is more detailed where it also covers the acts of violence against random victims.
Sharia law, warfare, and human rights have always been interconnected. Sonn highlights that Islam and Islamic scholars have mutually agreed on the fact that Jihad is a defensive war. It cannot be waged upon people unless they have; attacked, forcibly evicted or restricted Muslims from practicing their religion. War can also not be waged based upon; ideological, ethnic, racial, and other such categories. Even though most Muslims condemn terrorism, in what ways do they "share some of the same concerns trotted out in terrorist manifestos" (p. 64), according to Sonn? Why is Palestine the central concern? What "other grievances" (p. 73) are shared?
Muslims feel like the West hates them and their religion for no reason. Most Muslim powers have no understanding as to why the West continues to hold such a hostile perspective
whenever they make any decisions regarding them. The Palestinian issue is the central concern as it is one of the longest injustices against Muslims. Based upon Islamic teachings Jews and Christians were granted the right to inhabit the region and allowed to coexist, where
then the Jews and Muslims came into conflict. Kashmir is a region between India and Pakistan where there is the unjust occupation of Indian forces upon Muslim territory, Chechnya is another region of concern.
In what ways do Muslims in Asia "maintain positive relations with the West" (p. 80), according to Sonn? In what ways do Muslims in "The Middle East" (p. 90) maintain positive relations with the West, in her view? Counterterrorism, Trade, and geopolitics are the central elements of cooperation between the West and Islamic Asia. Indonesia, Pakistan, and India actively participate in trade practices with mainly the United States and the European Union. Counterterrorism is another key-
element to Western relations with Islamic Asia. Pakistan being a major ally to the US in the war on terror and during the soviet occupation of Afghanistan played a key role. Indonesia has also played an active role in ensuring its security through increases western support and has also played an active role in helping them with counterterrorism. Why is religion "Not the Root of the Conflict" (p. 105) between the Islamic World and the West, according to Sonn? What are "The political roots of conflict" (p. 113), in her view? What is "The way forward" (p. 117), for Sonn?
Sonn explains that most people don’t understand the post-colonial conditions that Muslims had to face at the hands of the West. Much of the West had the Muslims colonized until they freed themselves and went through the troubles of rebuilding their own economies and establishing democracy. The political roots of conflict as I understand them are the viewing of
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the west as an enemy by these terrorist groups. Sonn highlights that moving forward the West
needs to stop interfering with political systems in the Islamic world specifically by not supporting unpopular governments who are beneficial to the West but not wanted by the locals.