Wafa Sultan
Wafa Sultan | |
---|---|
Born | |
Citizenship | Syria, United States |
Education | Medicine (psychiatry) |
Alma mater | University of Aleppo |
Occupation | Psychiatrist |
Known for | Criticism of Islam |
Title | Doctor |
Wafa Sultan (
Early life and career
Sultan was born into a modest middle class
Although Sultan wanted to be a writer, and would have preferred to study Arabic literature, she studied at the medical faculty at the
Sultan and her family emigrated to the United States in 1989, where she moved to Los Angeles, California, and became a naturalized citizen. Initially she had to work as a cashier in a gas station and behind the counter in a pizza parlor, but she found her treatment in these jobs better than as a medical professional in Syria.[6] From the time of her arrival she began to contribute articles to Arabic publications in the United States and published three books in Arabic.
Sultan became notable after the
On February 21, 2006, Sultan took part in Al Jazeera's weekly forty-five-minute discussion program The Opposite Direction. She spoke from Los Angeles, arguing with host
Following her participation in founding of the Former Muslims United on October 13, 2009, Sultan released her first book in English, A God Who Hates: The Courageous Woman Who Inflamed the Muslim World Speaks Out Against the Evils of Islam.[11] In her book Sultan relates her life story and personal relationship with Islam. She attempts to address the history of Islam from a psychological perspective, and examine the political ideology of the religion's modern form.
In October 2010 Sultan was called as an expert witness to give testimony at the Geert Wilders trial. Wilders is a Dutch politician who was charged with hate speech for his anti-Islamic statements and subsequently acquitted. At the trial Sultan confirmed that she had met Wilders several times in 2009, had seen his film Fitna, and in general agreed with his views about Islam.[12]
Political views
Sultan describes her thesis as witnessing "a battle between
Sultan believes that "The trouble with Islam is deeply rooted in its teachings. Islam is not only a religion. Islam [is]
In her book A God Who Hates, Sultan writes that "No one can be a true Muslim and a true American simultaneously". Sultan argues that initially, US must help its Muslim citizens give up Islam and embrace Christianity "[W]e first have to help them see their ogre clearly and show them how to exchange their God who hates for one who loves".[15]
Recognitions
In 2006 Wafa Sultan was named in
Religious sentiment
In the same Time interview, Sultan described herself as a cultural Muslim who does not adhere to Islam, yet remains associated with the faith through her birth, rather than belief; "I even don't believe in Islam, but I am a Muslim."
References
- ^ a b c d
John M. Broder (March 11, 2006). "For Muslim Who Says Violence Destroys Islam, Violent Threats". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 20, 2014. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
In the interview, which has been viewed on the Internet more than a million times … Dr. Sultan bitterly criticized the Muslim clerics, holy warriors and political leaders who she believes have distorted the teachings of Muhammad and the Koran for 14 centuries. … In response, clerics throughout the Muslim world have condemned her, and her telephone answering machine has filled with dark threats. … Dr. Sultan grew up in a large traditional Muslim family in Banias, Syria,
- ^
Abdussalam Mohamed (March 3, 2007). "Wafa Sultan: Reformist or opportunist?". Southern California InFocus. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
Wafa Sultan grew up in a modest middle class Alawite family
- ^
Ruthie Blum Leibowitz (October 26, 2006). "One on One: A woman's work in progress". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
For no reason other than belonging to the Allawi sect of Islam - that of the president - while the majority in Syria were Sunnis.
- ^
Gerard Henderson (August 28, 2007). "Welcome to all who pass the test". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved March 1, 2008.
The Syrian-born Sunni Muslim Dr Wafa Sultan has recently completed a visit to Australia, … Sultan's message about radical Islamism is important and she is a courageous critic of jihadist terrorism and societies such as Syria.
- ^ Brenda Gazzar (July 16, 2006). "U.S. Muslim Women Weigh Anti-Islam Firebrand". womensenews.org. Archived from the original on September 7, 2009. Retrieved August 30, 2009.
- ^ a b c Wendt, Jana, A Matter of Principle: New Meetings with the Good, the Great and the Formidable, Melbourne University Publishing, 2008, p.46
- ^ Kerry Howley. "Breaking the Silence: One woman is risking her life to speak the truth about radical Islam". Reader's Digest. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
- ^
John M. Broder (March 11, 2006). "The Saturday Profile; For Muslim Who Says Violence Destroys Islam, Violent Threats". New York Times. Archivedfrom the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
- ^ Heffernan, Virginia (November 4, 2007). "God and Man on YouTube". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved May 27, 2010.
- ^ "Transcript Translation: al-Jazeera – The Opposite Direction 26/02/2006 Translator: Meph www.aqoul.com, March 22, 2006" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2015.
- ^ Elisabeth Eaves (October 27, 2009). "Islam On The Couch – An ex-Muslim psychiatrist is attacked for apostasy". Forbes. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
- ^
City Journal. Archivedfrom the original on May 16, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ "A "crack in the wall" – Wafa Sultan on the mohammed cartoons". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 12, 2007. Retrieved October 14, 2008.
- ^ "LA Psychologist Wafa Sultan Clashes with Algerian Islamist Ahmad bin Muhammad over Islamic Teachings and Terrorism". Middle East Media Research Institute. Archived from the original on June 15, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
- S2CID 146227696.
- ^ a b c Asra Nomani (April 30, 2006). "Wafa Sultan". Time. Archived from the original on February 14, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
- ^ a b "The People Who Shape Our World". Time. Archived from the original on March 11, 2011. Retrieved February 24, 2008.
- ^ "Wafa Sultan".
- ^ "Stop Islamization of Nations (SION) Calls on UN to Protect Christians of Syria". Press Release from PR Newswire. Reuters. January 20, 2012. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
Book
- Sultan, Wafa (2009). ISBN 978-0-312-53836-1.
External links
- (in Arabic) Wafa Sultan's articles at Al-Hewaar Al-Mutamaddin
- by Wafa Sultan -Who Should We Believe? June 12, 2009 at Hudson New York
- Heroes & Pioneers; Wafa Sultan Time 100: The People Who Shape Our World
- "Dr. Wafa Sultan: A Lost Opportunity" Archived November 20, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- "Meet Islam's Ann Coulter" Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein