A fatwa waiting to happen?

Magdi Allam, an Egyptian journalist for many years resident in Italy, has virtually guaranteed himself a fatwa by calling his latest book Viva Israele. It is partly a memoir and partly an attack on those who, faced with Islamism, tergivisate about their own culture and make excuses for those who kill indiscriminantly to overthrow it. is fundamental thesis is that either everyone has a right to life, or no-one does. Therefore those that condemn terrorism in general, but not necessarily that against the Israelis are not only immoral, but suicidal.

The book is a best-seller that hasn't gone down well in certain circles. For example, the magazine RESET has published an open letter protesting Allam's book and signed by over 200 academics, journalists and writers. In it, they accuse Allam in similar terms to those used against Ayaan Hirsi Ali: he's simplistic, manichean and he vulgarises the debate. Not having read the book, I can't say. However, Allam has had to reinforce his bodyguard, which is comment enough.