Wafa Sultan
American Syrian-born psychiatrist
Wafa Sultan (Arabic: وفاء سلطان) (born June 14, 1958) is a secular activist and vocal critic of Islam.
Quotes edit
- The trouble with Islam is deeply rooted in its teachings. Islam is not only a religion. Islam (is) also a political ideology that preaches violence and applies its agenda by force.
- Wafa Sultan, cited in: N. C. Munson, Noel Carroll. If You Can Keep It, Allen-Ayers Books, 2010, p. 215 ISBN 9781452346700
- I receive death threats on a daily basis. I'm a well-known writer in the Arab world. My writings expose me to millions of devout Muslims who have nothing positive to prove but the sheer cruelty of their teachings. Islam has deprived them of their intellectual ability to face criticism with an effective and acceptable way.
- Wafa Sultan, in: "Wafa Sultan's message to America" at examiner.com, November 2, 2009
- Islam has never been misunderstood. Islam is the problem. But no one is stating the truth. No one is taking a hard look at the root of terrorism which is the brain washing machine called Islam. Islam is not up to me, is not up to any Muslim – man or woman. Islam is exactly what the prophet Muhammad did and said. In order to understand Islam you have to read the biography of Muhammad. It is very traumatising. It is very shocking. He married his second wife when she was six years old. He was over fifty. [...] His third wife was Sophia. She was a Jewish woman. It was well documented, well written in our school books that he attacked her tribe. He killed her father, her brother, and her husband. At the same day, he slept with her. That's what I call Islam.
- Speech at Restoration Weekend, Palm Beach, Florida 2007 [1]
- You need to understand that Islam is the problem. I am sick and tired of people here in the West asking me to soften my message. I am sick and tired of people asking me, "Are you trying to change 1.3 billion people?" Yes, I am trying!
- Speech at Restoration Weekend, 2007
- Please, please, don't let your civilized way of thinking interfere with your defending your great country. Please, please defend your values. Please defend your freedom. Defend the heaven you are living in. Don't take anything for granted. I don't. I enjoy every single moment of my American life. Just walking down the street by myself, without being accused of being a whore is a bless for me. Just chatting with my next door male neighbor, without being accused of committing adultry is a bless for me. Having a cup of coffee at Starbucks by myself is a bless for me. Please! Please, don't take anything for granted. Please defend this beautiful country! My dream is to see my country, Syria as free as America – not the other way around.
- Speech at Restoration Weekend, 2007
- "...I am a Muslim woman, yes I think myself as a Muslim, whether or not I believe in Islam. I did not choose to be a Muslim but it is not within my power to make myself anything else. Each one of us whoever she is persuaded to be in her early years. Each one of us has fallen into the trap set for him in childhood and rest of his life is no more than bitter struggle either to stay in that trap or leave it. Decision to stay or go is yours alone, and life challenges every one of us no matter what we do. If you decide to stay, life will present you with challenges which will drag you out of it, and if you decide to leave it will challenge you to remain. Staying is a challenge leaving is a challenge. One's freedom lies in your decision to stay or go.
Interview on Al Jazeera TV, 2006 edit
Appeared on Al Jazeera TV, February 2006
- We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant. We have not seen a single Jew destroy a church. We have not seen a single Jew protest by killing people.
- Cited in: John M. Broder. "For Muslim Who Says Violence Destroys Islam, Violent Threats" in The Saturday Profile, New York Times, March 11, 2006
- Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people and destroying embassies. This path will not yield any results. The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for humankind, before they demand that humankind respect them.
- Cited in: John M. Broder. "For Muslim Who Says Violence Destroys Islam, Violent Threats" in The Saturday Profile, New York Times, March 11, 2006
- Brother, you can believe in stones, as long as you don’t throw them at me. You are free to worship whoever you want, but other people’s beliefs are not your concern, whether they believe that the Messiah is God, son of Mary, or that Satan is God, son of Mary. Let people have their beliefs.
- Cited in: "Syrian Psychologist on the Clash of Civilizations," at jewishvirtuallibrary.org, March 7, 2006.
