The Middle East Needs Free Markets, Not Troops

As Washington prepares to battle with ISIS, Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad of the Islamic libertarian tank Minaret of Freedom Institute warns that warfare won't lead to stability in the Middle East.

In March, Reason TV interviewed Dr. Ahmad, who believes free market policies are the best way to bring peace and prosperity to the region—and are compatible with Islamic teaching.

Watch Can Muslims be Free Marketeers? above and read the original post below:

"The biggest fear in the Muslim world is the association in their minds of free markets with imperialism," says Dr. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad, president of the Minaret of Freedom Institute. "But those of us familiar with the history of libertarian thought know that true devotees of the free market have always been opposed to imperialism."

There is nothing inherent in Islam or the Koran, claims Ahmad, that prohibits Muslim-majority countries from joining the world economy. The Minaret of Freedom Institute seeks to educate Muslims and non-Muslims on the libertarian values within the Islam religion. Ahmad sat down with Reason TV's Nick Gillespie to discuss how libertarian and Islamic values actually complement one another.  

About 15 minutes.

Produced by Amanda Winkler. Camera by Winkler and Joshua Swain.