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November 30, 2007
We Need Much More Of This From The Muslim Community
Mark Steyn at The Corner notes a statement by the Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland:
The Irish Supreme Muslim Council vehemently abhors and deplores the verdict of guilt issued by a Sudanese Court against the British school teacher Gillian Gibbons for allegedly "insulting religion".The Council believes that a full criminal trial and now custodial sentence over the naming of a classroom toy is abominable and defies common sense.
Indeed it has been clear from the outset that Ms Gibbon did not in anyway desire to malign the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and that the choice of name for the teddy bear had come from the children themselves. The only thing to come from this affair is for the name of Islam to be dragged through the mud yet again by bigots.
For Muslims across the world, education is of paramount importance particularly because the Prophet Muhammad himself commanded Muslims to seek knowledge wherever they can.
Ms Gibbons was indeed a part of such a noble tradition of teaching others and we are appalled by her treatment and note that Sudanese Courts do not speak for true Islam, or Muslims in Ireland and Europe.
We are saddened that the Muslim world is silent on issues such as these and the punishment of the Saudi girl, but they are quick to issue decrees to justify and appease their political rulers. We call on the Azhar, who does not hesitate to issue decrees to appease Hosni Mubarak, and the Saudi scholars to forth-rightly condemn such unbecoming behaviour.
We also call on the Sudanese regime to resolve the Darfur crisis rather than concerning themselves with teddy bears.
Sheikh (Prof) Shaheed Satardien
Supreme Muslim Council of Ireland
This seems eminently sensible to me. Just think of the traction Islam could get in the arenas of Western public opinion if the reaction of the Muslim Council of Ireland was common throughout the world. The general absence of this reaction can only lead to one assumption by the opponents of fundamentalist jihad: that the continued silence of Muslim public opinion indicates tacit approval of those who would impose sharia law upon the world.
Muslims in the west might protest that this assumption is steeped in ignorance. Maybe, maybe not. But in any event the type of decisive statement made by the Irish Muslims fills the vacuum in which that ignorance might flourish.
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Comments
A reaction from any Muslim leader of this nature is beyond refreshing. Yet, I feel as though it could have said more. Specifically, it did not address the thousands of Muslims in the streets demanding death for this teacher – only the Sudanese court verdict. Nonetheless, I agree that the West would have a more positive overall view of Islam if condemnations like this were frequent and prevalent.
The other thing that is skipped over: what would the Irish Supreme Muslim Council say if Gibbons actually had committed the “crime” of insulting religion? Would they then condone execution? My guess is that they would. That, in itself, is a major problem with Islam.
Posted by: TheBad at December 12, 2007 03:36 PM
The first question that should be put to any western Muslim jihadi apologist is: "If it was in your power to do so, would you place (Canada, the UK, America, etc.) under sharia law?" They should not be allowed to waffle by replying that it's a moot question and it could never happen. My feeling is that there would be a lot of "yes" answers, if the questioner was persistent enough.
Posted by: Jeff at December 12, 2007 10:09 PM
Re. Thebad's comment: Are you against executing anybody who behaves in an "unecceptable" fashion, or only when the "unacceptable" behaviour is, in fact, acceptable to you?
Re. Jeff's comment: I don't think your point, if true, proves that anybody is a baddie. If you'd asked any American in the 1950s whether they would replace all Communist governments with Capitalist ones and you'd get a lot of "yes" answers too. A belief is a belief. A more telling question is "Would you support violence to this end?" (eg: Suicide bombings, 911, exploding cigars, Contra rebels...)
Posted by: Greg at January 11, 2008 10:24 AM
Greg: Capitalism is preferrable to sharia. I believe that is an absolute truth.
Posted by: Jeff at January 15, 2008 12:21 AM
