Shelf Life: Manji vs. the Mullahs

Monotheism has been afflicted throughout its history by backslidings into idolatry—the worship of the creature instead of the Creator. Mankind has been fortunate to have, in those periods of decay, prophetic voices of reform and restoration. One of those voices in our own time is … a Canadian lesbian feminist.

Irshad Manji is a 35-year-old pepper-pot, and the author of the compelling— and deeply heartening—new book The Trouble with Islam: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith (St. Martin’s, 240 pp., $22.95). Manji is a believing Muslim who is fearless in confronting the crimes and hypocrisies of the self-appointed leaders of her religion. “Not solely because of September 11, but more urgently because of it, we’ve got to end Islam’s totalitarianism, particularly the gross human-rights violations against women and religious minorities,” she writes. “If ever there was a moment for an Islamic reformation, it’s now.”

About the Author

Michael Potemra

Michael Potemra was a literary editor for National Review.

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Monotheism has been afflicted throughout its history by backslidings into idolatry—the worship of the creature instead of the Creator. Mankind has been fortunate to have, in those periods of decay, prophetic voices of reform and restoration. One of those voices in our own time is … a Canadian lesbian feminist.

Irshad Manji is a 35-year-old pepper-pot, and the author of the compelling— and deeply heartening—new book The Trouble with Islam: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith (St. Martin’s, 240 pp., $22.95). Manji is a believing Muslim who is fearless in confronting the crimes and hypocrisies of the self-appointed leaders of her religion. “Not solely because of September 11, but more urgently because of it, we’ve got to end Islam’s totalitarianism, particularly the gross human-rights violations against women and religious minorities,” she writes. “If ever there was a moment for an Islamic reformation, it’s now.”