Muslim v. Muslim in cartoon fracas

Finally, we're hearing from moderate Muslims on the Danish cartoons. Unfortunately, they face prison in their countries of origin.

The heated emotions, the violence surrounding protests and the arrests have sent a chill through people, mostly writers, who want to express ideas contrary to the prevailing sentiment. It has threatened those who contend that Islamic groups have manipulated the public to show their strength, and that governments have used the cartoons to establish their religious credentials.

"I keep hearing, 'Why are liberals silent?' " said Said al-Ashmawy, an Egyptian judge and author of books on political Islam. "How can we write? Who is going to protect me? Who is going to publish for me in the first place? With the Islamization of the society, the list of taboos has been increasing daily. You should not write about religion. You should not write about politics or women. Then what is left?"

...

In the end, political analysts around the region say that governments have resorted to the very practices that helped the rise of Islamic political forces in the first place. They have placated the more extreme voices while arresting and silencing more moderate ones.

This is something the Bush administration needs to address. They've pointed out that Iran and Syria have staged many of these protests, but they also need to pressure "allies" like King Abdullah of Jordan to free up the press. If Islam is to moderate itself, moderates in Islamic countries need to be heard.

Thanks to Stuart for the link.