As part of the storm of protests provoked by the now-notorious Newsweek article, one IslamOnline reader, Aziz, proposed the following petition be sent to the magazine:

To the editor, Religion Section

Dear Sir,

I must express my outrage at “Challenging the Qur’an” of July 28, 2003.

The article was sloppy journalism par excellence, unworthy of Newsweek. Mr. Theil’s ignorance of even the most basic facts about Islam and Islamic history are glaringly obvious. Curiously enough, Mr. Theil does not even find it necessary, when turning Newsweek into a platform for the academically challenged and nameless Mr. “Luxenberg” to, at the very least, seek the opinion of a qualified expert on the subject, choosing instead to quote the like-minded “specialist” Mr. Sfar.

The fact that such academically and historically spurious statements were afforded space in your magazine reflects negatively on Newsweek’s standards, as well as raises serious questions as to the journalistic abilities of Mr. Theil.

Controversy sells. How fortuitous then for “Mr. Luxenberg” that Newsweek was willing to publish a full-page article on his yet unpublished and unevaluated book.

I would like to draw your attention to the excellent response by Dr. Maher Hathout – a senior advisor the Muslim Public Affairs Council.

I demand that you provide equal space in your magazine for the response penned by Dr. Hathout. Nothing less would be acceptable in light of so grievous an insult.

Sincerely,