I find debating Muslims on whether Islam is compatible with the West to be harmful to the West itself. It sends the wrong message to the audience and creates the impression that settled facts are up for debate.
There is no debate: Islam is incompatible with the West, and I will never debate a Muslim on this question or hand him a stage to falsely imply otherwise. It is exactly like debating flat-earthers. No serious scientist would agree to such a debate.
However, last month, Winston Marshall hosted a debate between Raymond Ibrahim and Maajid Nawaz, which he posted online just last week. I was traveling last week and couldn’t find the time to watch it, but I had planned to write a commentary on it.
Tonight, when I finally found the time to watch it, my initial position was only reinforced. There is no justification for debating Muslims on this question. Such debates can take the audience into territory that creates the impression that there is a legitimate debate to be had. And while those who engage in such debates might do so because it is another video to produce to keep their followers entertained, I find it to be another nail in the coffin of the West.
I was planning to respond to the entire debate tonight, but after writing my response to the first segment of Maajid Nawaz’s argument, I realized that the piece would be too long. That is why I have limited this piece to Nawaz’s opening argument, but I will publish a second piece addressing the remainder of the debate.