1. Questioning the ancestral gods of any nation has never been an enterprise rewarded by anything save calumny: trying to question the god in whose image the modern Western tyrannical hegemony is cast, is one fraught with much peril. However, as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn reminds us: “One [woman] who stopped lying could bring down a tyranny.” The author of “The Political Appropriation of the Muslim Body – Islamophobia, Counter-Terrorism Law and Gender,” does just that! She has vowed to stop others lying about this seemingly powerful god – and speak truth to power.

2. The Political Appropriation of the Muslim Body is a difficult but compelling book. It is not for the faint-hearted. Put simply: The author is astonishingly brutal in her frankness.

3. It is the author’s considered thesis, that great and high-minded values, namely, democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech and gender equality; have been appropriated by Western politicians as a cloak to advance their racist policies against Muslims. Emeritus Professor Susan Edwards of the University of Buckingham, makes an urgent clarion call upon all right-thinking people to stop suppressing the truth; but to take a stand and speak up, and challenge this malevolent appropriation before it destroys us all and everything, we hold dear.

4. Susan Edwards is a researcher and campaigner, holding degrees in both law and social sciences, and a barrister. She campaigned for many years in the area of Women’s International Human Rights, including lecturing in the USA, Middle East, Australia, and Europe. An accomplished author of four books, plus co-writing a book; she has edited numerous journals and is an Opinion writer for several leading newspapers: The Times, The Guardian, and The Age (Australia). Her latest work, The Political Appropriation of the Muslim Body, is the subject of this podcast interview.

5. Do you want to learn more about Susan Edwards? Follow her on Twitter, Prof Susan Edwards @edwards_prof or visit her page at The University of Buckingham.

6. In this Episode, we discuss Professor Edwards’ thesis that values and principles of democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech and gender equality; have been appropriated by politicians as a cloak to advance Western power, territorial and military ambitions against the Middle East and in effect Muslims.

7. Look up Episode 002 of Conversations with Stephen Kamugasa, and please subscribe to Conversations with Stephen Kamugasa podcast through your favourite podcast app to listen to the latest insights from our guest thought leaders.

Where the book maybe found:

The Political Appropriation of the Muslim Body – Islamophobia, Counter-Terrorism Law and Gender is now on available at a reputable bookshop near you. You may also access it by contacting the publishers, Palgrave Macmillan.

Recommended Reading:

1. Lawless World: Making and Breaking Global Rules. By Philippe Sands.

2. On Palestine. By Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé.

3. Covering Islam. By Edward Said.

4. The Torture Debate. Edited by Karen J. Greenberg.

5. From Victims to Suspects: Muslim women since 9/11. By Shakira Hussein.