News Article Generates Controversy in American Muslim Community

August 14, 1999

Source: Star Tribune

On August 14, 1999, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis published Hooper's reply to PIpes' August 1st commentary. Hooper points out that Daniel Pipes has a history of a "troubling bigotry toward Muslims." Citing several quotes from the writings of Pipes and commentaries on his work, Hooper shows that Pipes has a controversial stance toward Muslims. In 1983, a Washington Post book review states that Pipes displays, "a disturbing hostility to contemporary Muslims...he professes respect for Muslims but is frequently contemptuous of them....[He] is swayed by the writings of anti-Muslim writers...[the book] is marred by exaggerations, inconsistencies, and evidence of hostility to the subject." In 1996, Pipes gave a favorable review to a notoriously anti-Muslim book entitled, "Why I Am Not a Muslim." In a 1990 National Review article, Pipes stated: "Western European societies are unprepared for the massive immigration of brown-skinned peoples cooking strange foods and maintaining different standards of hygiene...All immigrants bring exotic customs and attitudes, but Muslim customs are more troublesome than most."

See also: Islam, Civic