The Middle East Needs Free Markets, Not Troops

As Washington prepares to battle with ISIS, Dr. Imad-ad-Dean
Ahmad of the Islamic libertarian tank Minaret of Freedom Institute warns
that warfare won’t lead to stability in the Middle East.

In March, Reason TV interviewed Dr. Ahmad, who believes free
market policies are the best way to bring peace and prosperity to
the region—and are compatible with Islamic teaching.

Watch Can
Muslims be Free Marketeers? above and read the original post
below:

“The biggest fear in the Muslim world is the association in
their minds of free markets with imperialism,” says Dr.
Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, president of the Minaret of Freedom
Institute. “But those of us familiar with the history of
libertarian thought know that true devotees of the free market have
always been opposed to imperialism.”

There is nothing inherent in Islam or the Koran, claims
Ahmad, that prohibits Muslim-majority countries from joining the
world economy. The Minaret of Freedom
Institute seeks to educate Muslims and non-Muslims on the
libertarian values within the Islam religion. Ahmad sat down
with Reason TV’s Nick Gillespie to discuss how libertarian and
Islamic values actually complement one another.  

About 15 minutes.

Produced by Amanda Winkler. Camera by Winkler and Joshua
Swain.