The Muslim Call for Religious Freedom

I share Michael Novak’s optimism that in ten years’ time we will see a high degree of freedom in Muslim-majority countries. This movement towards greater freedom began in the late 1990s, following a long period of government oppression, and is rapidly advancing.

After the Second World War, when various Muslim-majority countries gained their long-sought independence, their new autonomy generally did not lead to a greater level of freedom for their citizens. Instead, authoritarian figures quickly took over the newly independent states, often ruling with an iron fist.