Muslim Project Ijtihad Supports Petition to Stop Child Executions

6306. Raquel Evita Saraswati USA Executive Director, Project Ijtihad

We, the reform-minded Muslims of Project Ijtihad, believe that faith is a journey.  If it becomes a destination, it becomes dogma.  That is what Islam has become in the official circles of Iran: a dangerous and dignity-killing dogma. We know there are reformist Muslims in Iran, some of them theologians, and with this prayer we ask all Muslims of conscience and courage to speak out against child executions now: 

Allah, it is you who has given us the power of conscience, the blessing of intellect and the command to seek truth. These gifts are the makings of ijtihad, Islam’s tradition of critical thinking. It is a tradition that bestows on all of us the responsibility to speak our minds freely for the sake of justice. And nobody needs justice more than those who cannot speak for themselves – children. The Qu’ran tells us that “God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” (13:11).  This is a call to speak truth to power.  As faithful Muslims, we honor your call.  As reform-minded Muslims, we will not be silent.  Let us demonstrate our faith, today and forever, on behalf of all your creatures.  Ameen