Cosma Shilazi notes:

By modern standards, the religious situation in al-Andalus was one of serious and systematic violation of basic human rights; which is not to say that it wasn’t, for much of its history, the most tolerant part of Europe!

Using Muslim Spain or the early Ottoman period as explicit models of toleration is problematic in that they don't hold a candle to modern Western conceptions of pluralism. On the other hand, what extra utility does it gain us to note that they were relatively tolerant in the context of their times? The simple message of tolerance, pluralism and freedom needs no historical buttressing in my mind, in large part because history from the time of Sumer has been all about oppression, war and intolerance. Going back to the context of Muslims, the "Golden Age" syndrome seems particularly pernicious, as many Reformist Muslims make an argument for Islam's feminist credentials based on comparisons with 6th century pagan Arab culture, or, more cleverly, the property rights of 19th century British women. There is a simple answer to these arguments: that was then, this is now, what have you done lately?