Presumed Guilty: Why We Shouldn't Ask Muslims to Condemn Terrorism

by Todd H. Green, Eboo Patel (Foreword)

All of us should condemn terrorism--whether the perpetrators are Muslim extremists, white supremacists, Marxist revolutionaries, or our own government. But it's time for us to stop asking Muslims to condemn terrorism under the assumption they are guilty of harboring terrorist sympathies or promoting violence until they prove otherwise. Renowned expert on Islamophobia Todd Green shows us how this line of questioning is riddled with false assumptions that say much more about "us" than "them." Green offers three compelling reasons why we should stop asking Muslims to condemn
1) The question wrongly assumes Islam is the driving force behind terrorism
2) The question ignores the many ways Muslims already condemn terrorism.
3) The question diverts attention from unjust Western violence. This book is an invitation for self-examination when it comes to the questions we ask of Muslims and ourselves about violence. It will open the door to asking better questions of our Muslim neighbors, questions based not on the presumption of guilt but on the promise of friendship.

Genres: Religion, Islam, Terrorism

194 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2018

Reviews

[Nausheena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really well written. Often the burden is on Muslims to dismantle Islamophobia. But Green does a wonderful job explaining why nonMuslims specifically white Christian's need to step up. Highly recommend it. I finished it in one day. Fast read.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book! I only rated the book 4 stars because I was already aware of and understood the general sentiments that the book supported, and on that level I didn't feel like I learned much. Please do not let my rating and review stop you from reading this book, even if you feel that you won't find the book challenging in terms of your current beliefs. I definitely learned a lot with regard to current events, the role of religion in historical calls to arms, and ideas to consider in interfaith collaboration and communication.

The author of this book briefly mentions Islam existing in America since before the US became a nation, but doesn't go into much detail here as that is not the focus of his argument. If you are interested in reading about Islam in America from a historical perspective, I recommend you read Muslims and the Making of America by Amir Hussain. It's another short and sweet book, like this one.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what the voice on this would be. But he wasn't angry or confrontational at all. I enjoyed many of his points. I liked "compare like to like. So compare the best in one religion to the best in another not worst to best." Also let the person who practices that religion be your expert and advisor. I didn't really think comparing how the Muslims who died in the Iraqui invasion is comparable to the victims of slavery and the oppression afterwards. I don't think it's like to like. But a short read if you like, but definitely worth pondering over.