Project Oasis
-an initiative of Dr. Wafa Sultan and Nonie Darwish designed to counter
Shariah and Islamism at home and abroad.
Project Oasis
Mission Statement
The goal of this project is to create a greater understanding of the plight of
Muslims living under any form of Shariah law (Islamic Law) while educating those
in the West of its dangers and why its increasing permeation of Western society
must be halted and reversed. This will be done by concurrently reaching out
directly to the Muslim world to offer encouragement and a free and open forum
on the Internet (through phone-in broadcasting) where they need not fear
speaking their minds and by educating those in the West of the need to alleviate
the oppressive human rights conditions in Islamic countries. Evolution of this
project will lead into satellite broadcasting and opinion pieces as well as the
formation of strategic, synergistic alliances with like-minded organizations.
Project Rationale
Islam produces a mindset that, in turn, leads to such horrors as female genital mutilation, honor
killings, cruel and unusual punishments for relatively benign criminal behavior and fatwas
condoning the murder of heretics or apostates. In the Middle East, millions are trapped by its
teachings, unable to leave and live in a state of submission out of fear.
This problem is only slightly acknowledged in the West even as the West itself begins to accept
forms of Shariah law in an effort to appease, masquerading as tolerance.
In a two-pronged counter-attack, Wafa Sultan and Nonie Darwish will meet these threats head
on. Their life experiences, their courageous struggle with and ultimate freedom from Islam will
be shared with audiences in the Middle East via their Internet Broadcasting Channel. At the same
time, they will embark upon a public speaking campaign designed to inform Western audiences
of the nightmare that is life under Islam, a reality for millions in the Middle East but a dark
warning for those in the West.
Both women have long and successful careers confronting Islam as well as its radical clerics and
Western liberal apologists. While both are former Muslims, they are ardent supporters of Israel
having both witnessed the truth of the Middle East first hand.
Nonie Darwish
Nonie Darwish is the author of “Cruel and Usual Punishment”, a sociological analysis of Sharia’s
impact on women/men, family, society and globally. She also authored ‘Now They Call Me Infidel”,
2006. Her latest book “The Devil We Don’t Know” will come out January of 2012.
Nonie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology and was a journalist at the Middle
East News Agency. She founded www.ArabsForIsrael.com, in 1994, to promote understanding, peace
and support for Israel. She also co-founded, in 2009, www.FormerMuslimsUnited.org which stands
for freedom of religion and civil rights of former Muslims.
Nonie was born and raised as a Muslim in Cairo Egypt and Gaza and lived under Islamic Law, Sharia. Her father headed the Egyptian
military intelligence in Gaza in the 50’s and headed the ‘Fedayeen’ operations against Israel under the leadership of President Nasser of
Egypt. He was killed by Israel in Gaza in 1956. Having lived in the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict and having lost her father in the jihad
against Israel.
In a speech announcing the nationalization of the Suez Canal, Nasser vowed that all of Egypt would take revenge for Hafez’s death.
Darwish and her siblings were asked by Nasser and top government officials “Which one of you will avenge your father’s death by killing
Jews?” Darwish later in life realized that it is the culture of jihad and martyrdom that is responsible for her father’s death and the death
of thousands on both sides of the conflict.
Nonie speaks about the lack of human rights and women’s rights under Islamic law, the Arab Israeli conflict, terrorism, radical Islam and
its agenda.
Nonie lectures extensively on college campuses and internationally. She was published in the Guardian and Wall Street Journal and
appeared on CNN, Fox, MSNBC, C-SPAN, BBC and Al Arabiya. She spoke before the European Parliament, members of the British House
of Lords and at Oxford University. She was featured in the documentary film ‘Obsession’. She often lectures via Skype to an Oxford
student group. She received several awards, and was recently nominated for the Civil Courage Prize of The Train Foundation in New
York.
Dr. Wafa Sultan
Dr. Wafa Sultan is a former Muslim, a Syrian human rights activist and a practicing psychiatrist,
living in United States for over 20 years. In 2006, she was named TIME magazine's 100 most
influential people in the world …. 'Whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the
world".
Wafa Sultan first came to prominence after appearing in an interview on Al-Jazeera's program,
'The Opposite Direction'. She argued with host Faisal al-Qassem and with Dr. Ibrahim al-Khouli about Samuel P.
Huntington's Clash of Civilizations theory. She claimed, "The clash we are witnessing around the world is a clash
between a mentality that belongs to the middle ages, and another that belongs to the 21st century…..it is a clash
between freedom and oppression.“
Dr. Wafa Sultan - Clash of Civilizations (Arabic dialog with English sub-titles)
The video of her appearance has been viewed at least 20 million times. Since then, Dr. Sultan reaches the Arab
world through regular articles and blogs and receives 400-600 responses daily, from women, gay men,
professionals, all telling her to please never stop speaking for them, as their voices are not heard.
She has addressed the DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY and has appeared on O'Reilly, Fox News, CNN,
Voice of America, interviewed for The New York Times, Jerusalem Times, Ha'Aretz, Readers Digest; spoken at
Capital Hill, Received awards from the US Congress, Secular Moslem Conference, Middle East Forum, Presented
papers at the Washington Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Hudson Institute.
At Rupert Murdoch's invitation, she joined a panel of speakers, with Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, Shimon Peres, Al
Gore, Arnold Schwarzenneger and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Prime Minister of Spain. In 2010, Wafa was
called upon to testify as an expert witness for Dutch Parliamentarian, Geert Wilders, in his freedom of speech
trial. He was acquitted, June 2011.
Her recently released book "The God Who Hates" has been very well received and is in its second printing.
Achievements
Since 2005, the speakers have:
• Published over 1000 articles, in English and Arabic;
• Made over 100 appearances on college campuses;
• Appeared over 40 times in international venues;
• Participated in over 50 television interviews, in English and Arabic;
• Made several hundred radio appearances;
• Been interviewed over 50 times by print media reporters;
• Conducted over 70 Internet media interviews (individual blogs or webcasts);
The speakers also serve as personal communication references for Masters and Doctoral theses
from time to time. As internationally recognized experts on Islam, they can be called as expert
witnesses as well.
The speakers’ websites have elicited thousands of reader comments as well as email
communications.
Nonie and Wafa in Action
Nonie
Wafa
Brown University Press Release, 2007
Wafa on Islamic Violence--over 1 million viewers
Nonie Speaks at UC Berkeley, October 2007
The 2006 TIME 100
HuffPo, Article on Gaza, 2008
Wafa on Al-Jazeera, 2006
(Arabic with English sub-titles)
Wafa in Dutch TV Interview about her expert
testimony in the Trial of Geert Wilders, 2010
Bill O'Reilly & Wafa Sultan discuss Gaddafi's
Thugs & Islam's Treatment of Women, 2011
IFPS report , 2009
Cancelled at Columbia, 2009
Testimony at NY State Senate Hearings on
Terrorism
Work Plan
Lecture Series
• 2 speakers to make 12 appearances per year each and subject
to funding availability, an international appearance.
• Venues to include universities and groups representative of
the complete socio-political spectrum as well as homeland
security organizations.
Internet Broadcast Channel
• Establishment of a live, phone-in Internet Broadcasting
channel for viewers in the Middle East.
Project Oasis
Dr. Wafa Sultan and Nonie Darwish both have lengthy track records speaking to diverse audiences
about their lives and experiences, providing frank and disturbing insights into the all too often
overlooked world of women living under Islam as well as the negative effects that shariah has on
all people. While they address the same issues, they do so from somewhat different viewpoints,
based upon their different formative experiences and cultural backgrounds.
They agree though, that Muslims and Muslim women in particular, are living under oppressive
yokes and it is their goal to assist and encourage those individuals who seek to throw off that
yoke. The Internet Broadcasting Channel will allow them to directly access those audiences that
read their websites and follow their writings, allowing for direct two-way communication with
the phone-in function of the broadcast. Most of the viewers will never have had the opportunity
to express themselves in a public forum, on these issues. Both have achieved a large following on
their websites and it is expected that the broadcast channel will elicit an even greater audience.
Wafa and Nonie deal with sensitive topics and they do so boldly and without fear, secure in the
rightness of their mission. However, they have attracted the attention of those who would
silence them with violence or threats. For this reason, their personal security is a factor in this
project.
Lecture Series
A lecture series consisting of 24 engagements for the year, is planned. Some hosts will cover expenses and
provide for a speaking fee, however, many will not. This latter group includes universities, who may be less
able to cover these costs simply for budgetary reasons as well as groups or social agencies whose philosophy
is based on the liberal side of the political spectrum. These are groups who may possess an indifferent or
even hostile mindset. Those who apologize for or even passively accept the worst aspects of Islam, in
America and abroad, are those whose outlooks must be challenged and hopefully changed if progress is to
be made.
Wafa and Nonie are not afraid to wade into unfriendly waters, because they know that it is there where their
message can have a real and measurable effect.
Internet Broadcast Channel
Project Oasis plans to have Wafa and Nonie host the Internet Broadcasting from their homes or alternative
locations. This is the most cost effective and time efficient way, to produce the broadcast. Initially, a weekly
2 hour broadcast is planned . Approximately 8 hours of research time is anticipated for each of these weekly
shows. This time will include scouring Arabic websites as well as developing and querying sources on the
ground in the Middle East. These sources will also be able to contribute periodic reports from their areas of
interest.
The broadcasts, with caller participation, will be recorded for later distribution as podcasts or for direct
download from the Internet. The guests will often be those who oppose the ideals that Nonie and Wafa
stand for (e.g. Muslim clerics and apologists) while other guests will include leading thinkers, analysts and
brave citizens living under sharia.
Lecture Series Cost
Southern California Regional Series (12 lectures)
Item
Unit Cost
Speaker Honorarium
$3,500.00
Ground Transport
$100.00
Armed Security
$400.00
Webmaster
TOTAL
Total
$50.00
$4,050.00
$48,600.00
Item
Unit Cost
Total
Speaker Honorarium
$3,500.00
National Series (12 lectures)
Ground Transport
$100.00
Armed Security
$400.00
Air Fares
$400.00
Hotels
$300.00
Meals
$100.00
Webmaster
TOTAL
$50.00
$4,850.00
“In kind services” – Wafa Sultan and Nonie Darwish traditionally receive $5,000.00 per talk
$58,200.00
Internet Broadcast Channel Cost
Internet Broadcast Series 50 x 2-hour, weekly broadcasts
Item
Unit Cost
Honorarium
$3,500.00
Researcher
$200.00
Webmaster
$300.00
On Location Reporters
$100.00
Translation
TOTAL
Total
$200.00
$4,300.00 $215,000.00
Capital Expenditures
Item
Unit Cost
Qty
Total
Laptop Computer
$1,800.00
2
$3,600.00
Software (MS-Office, Security)
$500.00
2
$1,000.00
Software (Broadcast)
$400.00
2
$800.00
Camera
$200.00
2
$400.00
Headset
$150.00
2
$300.00
Set Backdrop
$220.00
2
$440.00
Captioning Software
$350.00
1
$350.00
$1,000.00
1
$1,000.00
Website
TOTAL
GRAND TOTAL (all lectures and broadcasts)
$7,890.00
$329,690.00
Comments From Supporters
- Dust jacket quotes taken from their books
Nonie Darwish
•
"Sharia profoundly impacts and shapes lives of
Muslims and has tremendous global
implications, But strangely no effective and
organized empirical study has been made on
how Sharia impacts Muslim society. In that
sense this book is a first, especially on the
impact of Sharia on Muslim women“.
- Dr. Hasan Mahmud - Director of Sharia Law at the
Muslim Canadian Congress in Toronto
•
"Too many women suffer under Sharia Law and
too many women accept it as a matter of
fact. Only a few women find the courage to
resist and to fight the agents of oppression and
Nonie Darwish is such a fighter. Her book should
be read by all".
- Ayaan Hirsi Ali - Author of Infidel and movie
Submission’s screenplay
Wafa Sultan
•
"Wafa Sultan paints a scorching, unforgettable
portrait of Syrian Muslim society, especially the
degradation of its women, and lyrically
appreciates her adopted American homeland,
which she calls 'the land of dreams'. But she also
worries that Middle East customs are
encroaching on the West and writes with passion
to awaken Americans to a menace they barely
recognize, much less fear”.
- Dr. Daniel Pipes - Director, Middle East Forum
•
“Like thousands of others I first encountered
Wafa Sultan on a stunning YouTube video. Here
was a woman on Al-Jazeera TV, eloquently and
courageously defending Western civilization,
individualism and reason against the barbarity
and mysticism of radical Islam".
- Dr. Yaron Brook - President of the Ayn Rand Institute
Donations made to the Middle East Forum, a 501(c) 3 organization, earmarked for
Project Oasis, will help to support this worthwhile endeavor.
Thank you.