Yeah, by conservatives. But on the topic of racism in Islamic countries, Islam’s history of slavery, apartheid, terrorism/religious wars, issues around gender equality and gender based segregation, the incredibly patriarchal nature of historical Islam etc, ‘liberals’ tend to be silent or apologetic. For example, the fact that liberals defend the hijab despite the fact that it is steeped in misogyny is, for me, the height of hypocrisy. The worst of it is that ‘liberals’ end up protecting the platforms and agendas of conservative and reactionary Muslim movements, while progressive Muslims and those who want to develop a self critical Islam compatible with western values, like Ghaleb Bencheikh, Malek Chebel, or even women of colour from Islamic societies speaking out against religious motivated injustices (ayaan hirsi Ali), are left without support. Why do liberal imams like Chalghoumi need to live under police protection exactly? When will Islam do its Vatican II?

Agreed.