“A political movement masquerading as a religion,” so says Iranian Amir Taheri, writing for the N.Y. Post.

Here we have a religion without a theology, a secular wolf disguised as a religious lamb.

In an effort to inform the uninitiated, Taheri presents an insightful glimpse into the movement of political Islamofascism, or what he calls “neo-Islam,” juxtaposed to the “religion” of Islam.

That neo-Islam is uncomfortable with the idea of religion as something to do with God is not surprising.

Taheri explains that the problem of neo-Islam is particularly dangerous in the vulnerable West…

Muslims living in the West have no first-hand experience of the intolerance and terror that neo-Islam has practiced in Muslim countries for decades. Instead, they see Islam as an element of their identity and, although seldom going to the mosque, consider neo-Islamist militants as “lobbyists” for themselves.

Anxious to control its constituency within Western democracies, neo-Islam, in its different versions, uses tactics developed by other totalitarian ideologies, notably fascism and communism.

ITS first move was to promote a visual apartheid to distinguish its adherents from the rest of society — in the same way that Lenin, Hitler and Mao wanted their followers to wear specific uniforms.

For men, the props are beards, khaksari (earthly) garments such as shirts falling down to the knees, baggy shalwar (pantaloons), an araqchin (cloth cap), a checkered Palestinian neck-scarf and sandals or shoes without laces.

When it comes to women, the choice of clothes is even more limited.

Once visual apartheid is achieved, the neo-Islamist moves to Phase Two: making his followers brain-dead.

If you’re interested in the “culture wars”, the “west, non-west” conflicts, the “free, unfree” national struggles or the myriad other ways the issue of Islam and its jihad has been framed, you would be well advised to read what Amir Taheri has written.

Whether you agree or not Taheri has provided much food for thought.

One question remains. Why the silence of so many in “religious” Islam? If the neo-Islamists are making all followers of Mohammed look like savage, uncivilized barbarians, why the silence?

Perhaps Taheri will answer that question sometime in the future.