History speaks for itself. The caliphate had a great track record of treating both non-muslim and Muslim citizens as first class citizens. In current day Europe and the west in general, we see an increasing wave of Islamophobia and intolerance being bred through the media and politicians. More significantly is the second class citizen treatment that Muslims are receiving by western governments.
We were clear from Aafia Siddiqui's case that second class citizenship would be an overstatement. Aafia, a US citizen, educated in Harvard University, a mother, now convicted to a life time in prison for being a victim; shot at, and interrogated by US soldiers, put in a kangaroo court in the USA where she was given little or no chance to speak or present evidence. An innocent human being guilty of innocence, yet punished. Britain is also guilty of detaining innocent Muslims under the anti-terrror laws who are then treated like outlawed citizens with convictions without trial. In 1991 there were just 1,959 Muslims in jail, and just eight years on, in 1999, the number had more than doubled, with 4,335 in prison. That number now stands at around 10,000 - 12 per cent of the prison population of 84,000 - despite Muslims making up just three per cent of the general population in the UK. The endless list of discrimination is testimony to the fact that western secular societies cannot really offer cohesion or good treatment for Muslim citizens since it has waged a war on the very ideas Muslims hold, a war on Islam, a 'war on terror' in utter desperation to keep Islam a spiritual entity, fearing the awakening of the giant (Islam) in political life.
I hope this video gives all human beings hope knowing that the caliphate of the past (when it ruled in accordance to Islam) did bring good treatment for all types of citizens, and a caliphate in the modern day Muslim world can offer the same if not more for all future citizens.
As H.G Wells, the author of the 'Time Machine' put it, "The Islamic teachings have left great traditions for equitable and gentle dealings and behavior, and inspire people with nobility and tolerance. These are human teachings of the highest order and at the same time practicable. These teachings brought into existence a society in which hard-heartedness and collective oppression and injustice were the least as compared with all other societies preceding it....Islam is replete with gentleness, courtesy, and fraternity."
