Political Islam

Over the last several decades, Islam?-particularly in its more conservative forms-?has reasserted itself on the world stage. It did this most spectacularly in the 1979 Iranian Revolution. But it has also been evidenced in countless other ways, including: the defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan by Islamic fighters;the resurgence and spread of traditional Islamic law, or Sharia in such diverse countries as Egypt, Pakistan and Nigeria; numerous civil wars and separatist movements in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe; the rising influence of Islam in Western nations and so on.

As political forms of Islam rise to greater prominence in the news, and especially in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks and threats, Westerners have many questions. What is Islam? What are its teachings? What is its attitude toward other religions? Is it really a religion of peace and tolerance?

The purpose of this Web site is to answer these and other questions about Islam (especially its politicized forms) and to help make sense of Islam?s role in history and current events.