A prominent U.S. publication has called Lindsay Lohan's alleged "conversion" to Islam "her worst life choice yet."
Considering the celebrity has struggled with serious drug addiction and spent time in prison, the classification as the "worst" is, to put it mildly, beyond ridiculous and absurdly sensational.
The Internet has been abuzz with rumors that the American celebrity has become Muslim in the past few months. While many have welcomed the possibility, some apparently believe it's cause for alarm.
This drew Robert Spencer – an anti-Islam activist behind the website Jihad Watch – to write an editorial for The Hill, criticizing Lohan's familiarity with the religion. The article was published on Tuesday but appears to have been taken down by the site after backlash.
The Hill is a prominent news source in Washington D.C., boasting the largest print circulation on Capitol Hill. It is read daily by congressional leaders and staff, the White House, political pundits, association executives, lobbyists and corporate leaders.
In his article, Spencer argues that Islam is an extremely sexist religion, using broad and inaccurate generalizations to describe the religious beliefs of 1.6 billion diverse adherents. He very inaccurately says that Islam grants women little – if any – freedom and does not consider women intelligent.
He also says that Islam encourages violent jihad and suggests that Lohan is potentially at risk of becoming a terrorist. Spencer argues that if Lohan read the Quran herself (something he assumes she has not done), she would flee from the religion.
While it may be valid to say that certain minority extremist movements that have come out of Islam promote violence and sexism, Spencer's article ignores the reality of billions of Muslims around the world.
Many women have served as heads of government and heads of state in Muslim countries throughout the world in modern times and historically. Notably, the U.S. has yet to elect a woman to such a position.
Women also hold prominent government positions in every Muslim majority country in the world, including Saudi Arabia – arguably the most conservative Muslim country.
And of course, Spencer's article entirely ignores the fact that the overwhelming and vast majority of Muslims live peaceful, normal lives and abhor violence.
Many were quick to criticize The Hill for Spencer's article
The piece was blatantly bigoted
It's just too much to take in
It's made people question The Hill's credibility altogether
Because you could arbitrarily attack other religions in exactly the same way
"If, however, the charge is true and no proof of the young woman’s virginity can be found, she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house and there the men of her town shall stone her to death." – Deuteronomy 22:20-21 (from the Christian Bible)
