Is Sufism by definition a progressive or liberal force?
PLW: No, I don’t think so. Well, more so than Wahhabism, by definition. The thing is about Sufism it can take many different forms. I think if you wanted to make a broad general statement about it, you could say that it has more potential for a liberal Islam in the broadest sense. SA: But would Central Asians who consider themselves Sufis see themselves as more tolerant, as opposed to fundamentalism? PLW: Yes, I think they would. Let’s not confuse ourselves about the lack of education or sheer ignorance that’s out there in the world. But I think a lot of people in the East now have been swept up in what on the surface would seem to be a wave of Islamism, because of the spectacular events that have been occurring and also because Bin Laden has a certain charisma. So probably with a lot of people, say the man in the street in Kabul or Peshawar or someplace, you might find a lot of support for these things and also a lot of resentment against the West, which this gives some focus, some sy
