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into a shrine representing Islamic triumph over America and venerating the man who brought fear of and perhaps, in some parts, respect for Islam around the world.
    The inability of “moderate” Muslims to form a powerful alliance as an alternative to Islamists proves that their position in the eyes of Islam is weak and even illegitimate. There is no such thing as moderate Islamic scriptures that support peace, tolerance, respect for other religions, or loving one's neighbor or enemies. The few verses of tolerance in the scriptures have been excised by the concept of abrogation, leaving very little for moderates to use as support from the Koran when debating Islamists to prove them wrong. Moderation is only in the minds of peaceful Muslims but not in their scriptures, and that is why moderates are weak and always lose their arguments with Islamists. That is why moderates choose to live in denial and create an image of Islam that does not really exist. That is why they expect a positive outcome, and every time a revolution occurs, their hopes are built up, only to be dashed by great disappointment.
    Those few in Egypt who understand the true problem do not dare speak about it. Some Egyptians pretend to be Muslims despite no longer espousing the Muslim faith, and they live under the threat of death if their secret should be uncovered. I often hear expressions of fear from my apostate friends in the Muslim world, such as this one from Egypt: “I feel extremely anxious at the out-of-control situation, the reckless violence that many are fooled into believing is justified. They are asking for renewal of hostilities and war with Israel. I do not believe they even understand the meaning of peace or war or the power of those they want to fight. They do not understand that their true enemy is Islam. Nonie, do you think I have time to escape this mess? I fear I will not leave this country alive.” Another apostate told me, “The situation is borderline mass insanity. . . . I want out but cannot get a visa to a Western nation. What can I do?”
    Their fears are far from groundless, especially after we've all seen how rapidly Islamists have asserted their power. Many Egyptians feel helpless at witnessing the “Talibanization” of their country, a radicalization that is believed to be not only forced on Egypt by internal forces, but also supported by Saudi Arabia. That kingdom is watching the developments in Egypt, afraid of a true democracy blossoming so close to home. A post on the Internet titled “Is the Egyptian Revolution Hijacked?” reported that at the entrance of the City Stars Shopping Center, the largest mall in Cairo, troubling signs were placed above the door after the revolution. Pictured is an image that looks like a stop sign with the figures of a man and a woman together and crossed out in the middle, indicating no mixing of the sexes. A sign next to it shows a sleeveless dress also crossed out in the middle, meaning that un-Islamic clothing is not allowed. This mall is majority-owned by the Saudi Sharbatly family, which is obviously trying to steer Egypt in the direction of Saudi Arabia. Nothing will better protect Saudi Arabia from calls for modernity, human rights, and women's rights than the radicalization of surrounding Islamic countries and making them more like Saudi Arabia.
    The nascent women's rights movement in Egypt also took a nosedive when it was reported that Salafi groups in Alexandria distributed flyers ordering female residents of the city to wear head scarves when going out and threatening to “assault”—some said “kill,” others said “burn with acid”—women who did not comply. As for the government, it has done nothing to punish or stop people who are distributing such threats. Instead, it is arresting and jailing bloggers who are critical of the new situation.
    The protesters in Tahrir Square were but a small segment of the 80 million–strong Egyptian population, 75 percent of whom