Daniel Pipes

Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum and the author of several articles about Islam, alleges in the following viewpoint that fundamentalist Muslims attempt to stifle criticism of Islam through violence, threats, and mental intimidation. Furthermore, Pipes claims, some Islamic groups within the United States are working to suppress the freedoms of speech protected by the Constitution. If their attempts are successful, criticizing Islam may become a hate crime, he contends.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How have Muslims used physical intimidation to silence critics of Islam, according to Pipes"

2. What evidence does Pipes offer that American Islamists are attempting to curtail First Amendment freedoms"

3. What is the real agenda of the Council on American- Islamic Relations (CAIR), in the author’s opinion"

The problem began in January...