Bret Stephens
8/17/2010

In the controversy over the Ground Zero mosque, opponents of which are being widely branded as

bigots, Stephens says the Ground Zero mosque imam has earned wide congratulations while true reformers have gone ignored. The fundamental problem with too many self-described moderate Muslims is that moderate Muslims denounce

terror that’s committed in the name of Islam but deny that such terror has anything to do with their religion. By contrast, reform-minded Muslims denounce terror that’s committed in the name of Islam while acknowledging the role of their religion in inspiring it. He concludes by urging caution, stating that when it comes to heralding the arrival of Islamic moderates, there’s nothing more embarrassing than a case of premature congratulation.

Stephens writes ‘Global View’ for the Journal.

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