- The Strategist - https://www.aspistrategist.org.au -
Islam and terrorism: should our leaders be linking the two?
Posted By Anthony Bergin on February 24, 2015 @ 12:30
‘I’ve often heard Western leaders describe Islam as a ‘religion of peace’. I wish more Muslim leaders would say that more often, and mean it. I have often cited Prime Minister Najib of Malaysia, who has described the Islamist death cult as ‘against God, against Islam and against our common humanity’. In January, President al Sisi told the imams at Egypt’s al Azhar university that Islam needed a ‘religious revolution’ to sweep away centuries of false thinking. Everybody, including Muslim community leaders, needs to speak up clearly because, no matter what the grievance, violence against innocents must surely be a blasphemy against all religion.’
‘When you don’t call things by their real name, you always get in trouble…I am all for restraint on the issue, and would never hold every Muslim accountable for the acts of a few. But it is not good for us or the Muslim world to pretend that this spreading jihadist violence isn’t coming out of their faith community. It is coming mostly, but not exclusively, from angry young men and preachers on the fringe of the Sunni Arab and Pakistani communities in the Middle East and Europe.’
‘throws the label of "Islamophobe’’ on pundits, journalists and others who dare to talk about extremist ideology in the religion…The official and unofficial channels work in tandem, harassing, threatening and battling introspective Muslims and non-Muslims everywhere…The bullying often works to silence critics of Islamic extremism…They cause governments, writers and experts to walk on eggshells.’
Article printed from The Strategist: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au
URL to article: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/islam-and-terrorism-should-our-leaders-be-linking-the-two/
[1] National Security statement: http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2015-02-23/national-security-statement-canberra
[2] writing: https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/17/inside-the-fight-over-obamas-terror-summit/
[3] recent take: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/opinion/thomas-friedman-say-it-like-it-is.html
[4] says: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/meet-the-honor-brigade-an-organized-campaign-to-silence-critics-of-islam/2015/01/16/0b002e5a-9aaf-11e4-a7ee-526210d665b4_story.html
[5] a statement: http://islaminaustralia.com/2015/02/19/muslim-community-rejects-abbott-governments-demonisation-and-condemns-moves-to-silence-legitimate-criticisms/
[6] in Norway: http://news.yahoo.com/norwegian-muslims-form-human-ring-around-oslo-synagogue-102527616.html
[7] Anthony Bergin: https://www.aspi.org.au/about-aspi/aspi-staff/executive/anthony-bergin
[8] Liberal Party of Australia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iib89Zy_8rM