Imam Mohammad El-Sadi criticised the plight of mainly Muslim “voluntary” refugees in Malta (June 21). To address this obvious imbalance he criticised the Islamists’ imposition at Mosul whereby centuries-old resident Christians have either to convert or be put to the sword!

The imam’s overdue comments are most welcome.

He rightly considers these extremist Muslims acting contrary to and hijacking the Muslim faith. The imam is reported as saying that every person is entitled to choose the religion he believes in.

Academic Ziauddin Sardar states that, in Islam, there is the rational reformist movement and the conservative fundamentalist (extremist) party: “Yet, for all its appeal to history, such fundamentalism is ahistorical”.

Realpolitik holds that in political/religious conflicts, the ideology that emerges victorious is the one where its proponents are the more convinced, determined, demagogically appealing and actively strong (not to mention unscrupulous and ruthless).

Right (what is right, precisely?) does not always win.

It is the rational Muslims through their words and deeds who will, or in default not, modernise Islam to accepted principles, such as those enunciated in the human rights charter, including to choose one’s religion. They have to speak out, stand up and be counted. Unfortunately, one does not much hear the voice of these ‘good’ Muslims.

As the local leader of the Muslim community, the imam’s condemnation and advocacy of religious tolerance was most timely; it also lends credibility and warrants congratulation. May other moderate Muslims, Sunnis or Shiites , publicly and vociferously condemn what is happening in Mosul and elsewhere too.

It is the universal surging of such reformist opinion – and deeds – in Islam that will bring it in line with modern human rights, reciprocal tolerance and respect and communal peaceful co-existence. In default the hijackers will win – to the detriment also of other Muslims!

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