DON’T BLAME IT ON ISLAM

John Kelley’s review of “The Closed Circle” (Book Review, June 18) is Arab bashing at its finest. Kelley states that David Pryce-Jones’ book is brave, honest and thoughtful. I concede that it is indeed brave to publish such a text; Pryce-Jones made honest observations regarding common Arab behaviors that are unfortunately often true.

But, he was in no way honest about the causes of this behavior and certainly not thoughtful when continuously blaming it on Islam. Pryce-Jones asks: “Why is it that representative and parliamentary institutions, protection under the law, individual rights and guarantees, have failed to take root in Arab soil?” The answer is, no Arab country is following an Islamic system of government true to the teachings of the Koran, which guarantees all of the above and so much more. If Muslim Arabs engage in lying, cheating, violence, bribery, and self-destructive acts, it is because they have failed to institute Islamic ideals.

I must conclude with a remark about the arrogant manner in which Pryce-Jones compares the Western system of justice and the “Orientalists.” Islamic law is far more “civilized” and “modern” than Western democracy. In this country, the Civil Rights Act could easily be overturned simply by a change in the majority vote of the people. In Islam, rights such as race and sex equality are guaranteed and are irrevocable. Thus a misinformed public cannot change certain unalienable rights just because they feel like it in this decade.

If journalists would start judging religions by their content instead of their imperfect followers, most misinformation about Islam would vanish.

KATHLEEN M. NAJJARINE

YORBA LINDA