Nonie Darwish, who was born a Muslim and raised in the Gaza Strip, will speak at UCLA today about why she defends Israel and criticizes the extremism of its enemies.
She will also present the documentary “Obsession ““ Radical Islam’s War Against the West,” which aims to address how Muslim culture and media have been penetrated by an extremist minority.
The founder of the group Arabs for Israel, an organization for Arabs and Muslims who denounce violence against Israel, Darwish has published a book titled “Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror,” in which she explains why she supports the U.S. and Israel.
Trevor Klitofsky, a board member of Students for Peace and Justice, said Darwish offers a firsthand perspective on how radical Islam has affected Muslim culture.
“She grew up in the schools where they taught hate,” he said. “She’s going to talk … about the film and the growing threat of radical Islam.”
Students for Peace and Justice is hosting the event, which is also sponsored by the Bruin Democrats, Bruin Republicans and Bruins for Israel.
The film’s creators say the film shows how “Muslims around the world are being told by these radical fanatic leaders that jihad against the Western infidels is an obligation,” in an interview on the film’s Web site.
According to a press release from the film’s producers, the film gives students an “insider’s view” of the anti-Western teachings of radical Islam.
“This is about radicals and how they’ve skewed Islam into a radical sect,” said Klitofsky.
The documentary features interviews with Middle East commentator Alan Dershowitz, counterterrorism analyst Daniel Pipes and journalist and national security specialist Steve Emerson. The film also features a former Palestine Liberation Organization terrorist, a former Hitler Youth commander and many others.
The film aims to show how Muslim extremists have instilled fear and hatred of the West into their peaceful culture, according to the press release. It also draws parallels between the Nazis and the radicals of today.
Klitofsky said he hopes students come away from the screening with an understanding of how radical Muslims have abandoned the principles of peace set out in the Koran.
Katya Balan, vice-chairwoman of Bruin Republicans, noted that the film is clearly about radical Muslims, rather than the moderate Islamic majority.
“People are sometimes rash and don’t make that distinction,” she added.
Klitofsky stressed that the actions of this small, extremist minority should concern all students.
“People need to realize this is an issue not just in the Middle East, but to people … all over the world,” he said.
He added this issue was too important to be divided by party lines.
“This isn’t a partisan issue. … It is a threat to the West as a whole.”
Curtis Whatley, media relations director for Bruin Democrats, said events such as this, which allow for dialogue between Democrats and Republicans without partisan boundaries, are always helpful in promoting discussion between groups.
Balan agreed, stressing the impact extremism can have.
“We both feel it’s an issue that needs a lot of dialogue on campus. People at UCLA tend to think that radical Islam is only a Jewish problem. Radical Islam threatens the entire western world.”