In 2003 Safi articulated his belief that while democracy is fully compatible with Islam, “it can’t be imposed from the top down or from the outside,” lest it arouse resentment and bitterness. Muslims would willingly embrace democracy, he said, only if they could be shown its inherent consistency with “the Islamic values of equality, freedom of religion, and respect for the individual.” “It’s difficult to imagine the modern West without the Reformation in Europe,” said Safi, “and it’s difficult for me to see a more reformed Middle East without Islam being a big part of that.”