Moderate Voices in Contemporary Islam: A Discursive Analysis of Antisemitism, Radicalization and Quranic Reinterpretation

This article examines the discourse of contemporary moderate Islamic leaders who challenge extremist narratives and promote alternative interpretations of Islam, particularly in relation to antisemitism, Zionism and radicalization. Through analysis of a debate held in Jerusalem with three American Muslim women leaders — Sheikh Musa Drame, Anila Ali and Soraia Din — we investigate how these voices articulate a pro-Israel Islamic theology based on Quranic exegesis, contest the ideological hijacking perpetrated by extremist organizations and face social pressures and personal threats. The study contextualizes these positions within the geopolitical scenario after October 7, 2023, examining the theological, sociological and political dimensions of moderate Muslim activism in the United States. The results suggest that there is significant, albeit underrepresented, resistance against Islamic extremism, grounded in textual readings of the Quran that contradict prevalent antisemitic narratives.