Muslim virtues
From Kristine Montamat Sir: Paul Johnson (And another thing, 22 September) proves the aphorism that the first casualty of war is truth. To claim that Muslims have always believed in conversion by sword is no more true than to say that Israel was populated by the actions of state agents who bullied reluctant Ashkenazi camp refugees, and threatened Sephardic Jews of North Africa into emigrating. Instances of all the above did occur. But to assert that any of these were characteristic actions reveals what we are already seeing far too much of these days: politically motivated slander dressed up as musings on the 'true nature' of someone else's religion.
In fact, the Muslim conquerors were clever and practical administrators, preserving much of the government, bureaucracy and culture of conquered countries, while replacing indigenous rulers and their armies. The Jews enjoyed better and more tolerant rule under their fellow-Semites, the Muslims, than under the Byzantine or Crusader Christians.
Kristine Montamat
Virginia, United States
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