Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has come to the defense of comedian Bill Maher after Maher criticized Islam for being against liberal principles, such as free speech, freedom of religion, and equality.
"Liberal principles like freedom of speech, freedom to practice any religion you want without fear of violence, freedom to leave a religion, equality for women, equality for minorities, including homosexuals. These are liberal principles that liberals applaud for, but then when you say in the Muslim world, this is what's lacking, then they get upset," Maher said on HBO's "Real Time" this weekend.
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Speaking on the "O'Reilly Factor," O'Reilly said he supported Maher's comments.
"Mr. Maher is correct on the overall effect Islam is having on the world right now. The truth is, many Muslim nations have not confronted Islamic terrorism, have not attacked violence in the name of Allah, and have not even condemned the jihad. There is exception to the rule, but they are few. Therefore, militant Islam continues to drive worldwide terrorism and have plenty of sanctuaries from which to commit their evil," he said.
In the segment analyzing whether Islam is a destructive force in the world, he noted that there were thousands of Muslims who cheered after America was attacked by al-Qaida on September 11, 2001.
"These people are a minority but they were not called out in any official way by Muslim nations around the world . . . most Muslim nations are not joining with the West to confront that [terrorism] therefore, criticism of Islam's role on the world stage is certainly valid: the Muslim world needs to take a hard look at itself," he concluded.
Actor Ben Affleck
debated Maher's comments, and suggested they were discriminatory, similar to slurs made against Jews.
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