Speaking at the forum “Can Islamists be Liberals?”, Akyol also defended liberalism, saying a liberal can be a pious Muslim without imposing his values on others. "A liberal is not somebody who does not have values, he is not somebody who does not practise a religion. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1400601790726-3’);}); "A liberal can be a pious, practising Muslim, or a Christian or a Jew, but (is) someone who will respect other peoples’ way of life. “Therefore, this image of liberals as whiskey-drinking, sex party-making kind of deviants, is not something we should believe in,” he said. The author’s explanations come as Malaysia debates the meaning of “liberalism” which conservative groups say is a threat to Islam.
