Islam is not monolithic, says Alibhai Brown

THE idea that Islam is monolithic, violent and universally opposed to democratic values is a simplistic but persuasive notion that suits hardliners, including al-Qaeda sympthisers and the neo-conservative right, says journalist and author Yasmin Alibhai Brown.

Ms Alibhai Brown was in conversation with David Pratt, foreign editor of the Sunday Herald newspaper, at the Festival of Spirituality and Peace this morning.

Rehearsing the contours of a complex and variegated history of Islam over the centuries, Ms Alibhai Brown said that the contribution of Muslims to modern society was often overlooked. For example, many top IVF doctors in Britain are Arabs, she pointed out.

Full report here.