I agree.

Let us see what happens.

You either are a liberal or not – you dont get to pick and chose which aspects of liberalism you believe in just becuase it suits a specific world view you might have. In this case, if Bugnles wants to be taken seriously then he needs to definately prove all those things you said above and actually believe in it.

- he supports liberal democratic secular societies in the Middle East and South Asia, based on full equality between persons irrespective of gender, ethnicity, or religion, and respect for fundamental human rights in the Universal Declaration;

- opposes without reservation Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat e Islami, as well as the other groups which he used to support openly, or has been prepared to work with in coalitions;

- specifically and explicitly explains why Qaradawi is to be opposed in his support generally for the creation of an Islamic State, and specifically for killing of apostates, suicide bombing directed at civilians, and compelling women by force to wear hijab.

I cannot understand why Inayat would want to write for Islam Online at all, given that it is (a) Qaradawi’s own website; and (b) he merely bolsters the Qaradawi house view in his articles, rather than challenging them to any extent. I fully and happily acknowledge that Inayat has said a number of things that are progressive on CiF pieces, but that is simply preaching to the choir. The important task is not to convince white liberals that he has changed. It is to challenge extremist views among those who follow Ikwaani and Jamaati politics. I don’t think he has really done that: certainly not in his Islam Online articles.

But I am hopeful. Inayat has come a long way since the 1990s – indeed since the beginning of this decade.

As thing stand, Inayat’s colleagues include those who are steeped in extremist politics, including a number of people who have spent the last few years promoting jihadism and terrorist groups. If Inayat wants to put this chapter of his life behind him, now is the time for him to make the leap.

Cut the links with the extremists. Take them on, as we do. Explain fully, and in language that their supporters can understand, why the Muslim Brotherhood and Jamaat-e-Islami must be opposed, why Qaradawi must be taken on and defeated, why those in the MCB hierarchy who disagree must be voted out, and why this task must be performed by Muslims and non Muslims who love liberty and democracy.

Don’t discount the possibility that this might happen. Let’s see where Inayat’s journey takes him next.