Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, Syrian rebel leader made some positive statements.

[edhopper]

I saw it on the Network News, but can't find a link to an article.
Basically he said they wast to give complete freedom to women and will be tolerant of all religions.
Also want to live peacefully with neighbors.
Will they? Who knows. But certainly, reason to be optimistic.

[Igel]

1. He also said that those who think Islamic government is repressive don't understand it.

Then referred back to how religious minorities were treated for hundreds of years.


With a nod to having to be realistic with what can be accomplished instead of insisting in ideology.

I can't find a distinction between this and the "Islamic governance" before really oppressive implements of "Islamic government" in past centuries.

Then again, he might mean something entirely different. Thinking he only means "something different," in keeping with either classical liberal ideas about mostly negative natural rights or more expansive progressive about a wide range of positive rights, is pollyannish. To think he's about to crack down and impose "dhimmitude" on everybody that's not properly pious is also misguided. Mostly because regardless, we're not likely to do much to stop al-Golani (even if his name rather bothers me, "the one from Golan&quot .

[scarletlib]

2. In the beginning Islam was more enlightened than Christians. Both Jews and Christians lived in Islamic states.

The Muslims converted many. The remaining ones may have been required to pay a small tax (foggy on that one). Regardless their society was more progressive and tolerant of other religions.