It is in precisely this dramatic incredulity that the roots of prejudice lie, hints French author Guy Sorman, here to launch his "The Children of Rifaa", the first volume of "The French Collection" -- a selection of French essays in English brought out by Penguin India in collaboration with the French embassy.

Dangerous distortions of Islam in the media, particularly in the West, have provoked Sorman to write "The Children of Rifaa", making a compelling case for moderate Islam -- as opposed to its totalitarian versions floated by radical bigots and popularised by suicide bombers who attacked the twin towers on 9/11.

"Because of these entrenched prejudices, one billion people are condemned to tyranny just because they are Muslims. Not only in the US but even in European countries, Muslims are often looked upon with hostility and suspicion. These prejudices are deep-rooted," Sorman told IANS.

The 60-year-old is the author of well-argued academic essays and polemics like "The conservative revolution in America", "The Liberal Solution", "Exit of Communism" and "The Genius of India".

Muslims should rediscover the traditions of enlightened Islam, argues Sorman in this book, which he describes as "a shade too optimistic" in trying to explore a synthesis between Islam and modernity.

He is fiercely opposed to banal stereotyping in the media, which has made Osama bin Laden into a popular icon of Islam. Debunking clichés like "the clash of civilisations" that became a mantra after the 9/11 attacks, Sorman is out to prove that the Osama cult is an aberration that panders primarily to uprooted or unemployed youth in the Arab world.

As opposed to such false apostles, the Muslims should listen to heirs of Rifaa - a moderate Egyptian reformer in the 19th century who proved that the tenets of Islam were in consonance with science and modernity.

Sorman is appalled at the way the Quran has been abused by those out to demonise and vilify Islam.

"These distortions are not rooted in Quran, but in its skewed misinterpretation. For instance, nothing in Quran instructed women to wear the veil. On the contrary, the Quran is an invitation to moderation, to personal and critical thinking."

"Democracy doesn't belong exclusively to a civilisation," asserts Sorman, alluding to the US campaign to spread democracy in Iraq.

"Unfortunately, in the West we ignore moderate and liberal traditions of Islam.  One has to encourage these enlightened souls to speak out. The price of free speech is often stiff in the Arab world. Dissenters will be often jailed or executed."

--Indo-Asian News Service