July 30, 2005
Repudiation of Violence is Welcome News
Whether it comes from the Irish Republican Army or American Muslim clerics, clear statements repudiating violence as a means of achieving ends are always welcome.
The IRA story got a lot of media attention yesterday and today, but the fatwa against suicide bombing issued by two prominent American Muslim organizations, got far less attention than I would have expected.
The Fiqh Council of North America wrote: "There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians' life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram - or forbidden."There may be justifiable skepticism that the word of American Muslims will carry much weight in the Middle East. However, many Muslims have spoken unequivocally against violence, plainly decrying the silence or complicity of putatively peaceful mainstream Islamic leaders who won't speak more plainly against violence in front of Arab audiences used to a steady stream of anti-Western rhetoric. Columnist Amir Taheri writes:
The London attack is not the work of a small group of people. It is the bitter fruit of a religion that has been hijacked by a minority of extremists, while the majority looks on in concern and amazement. Until we hear the voices of the Muslims condemning attacks of this kind with no words [of qualification] such as 'but' and 'if,' the suicide bombers and the murderers will have an excuse to think that they enjoy the support of all Muslims. The real battle against this enemy of mankind will begin when the 'silent majority' in the Islamic world makes its voice heard against the murderers, and against those who brainwash them, believe them, and fund them.Another article can be found here. The extent to which this latest fatwa may bring more such discussion to the fore in the Islamic world is certainly in question, but we can welcome it without reservation. Certain principles cry for support without equivocation - no 'buts' or 'ifs'. Decent humans regardless of their political or religious persuasions should stand against torture, against slavery, against the murder of innocents, against oppression, and against terrorism - period. Here is the honor roll of Muslims from the second article who have courageously taken their stand against violence:
- Mashari Al-Dhaydi, Saudi columnist for London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat
- Abd Al-Rahman Al-Rashed, director general of Al-Arabiya TV in UK
- Hamad bin Hamad Al-Salami, Al-Jazeerah columnist who outed extremists
- Mun Al-Tahawi, Egyptian columnist for Al-Sharq Al-Awsat
- Dr. Mamoun Fandy, Egyptian scholar & columnist
- Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi, former editor Saudi daily Al-Watan
- Sheikh Abd Al'-Aziz bin Baz - Salafi school
- Muhammad bin 'Athamin
- Mufti Sheikh Abd Al'-Aziz Aal Al-Sheikh
- Sa'ad Allah Khalil
- Majed Al-Gharbawi, Iraqi researcher
- Amir Taheri, columnist
- Dr Kazem Habib, Iraqi commentator & human rights activist
Right.
This ‘war’ cannot be won without the moderate, peaceful, Muslims being at the front talking down the acts and ideas of those who want to destroy our civilizations.
For many months people were asking where are they? Why aren’t they speaking out?
When a group of Muslim leaders has an extremely large meeting of the minds to see how they can help … we hardly here anything about it.
(They likely put their lives at risk by doing so.)
It should be as big of a story as the Holloway story but since our News Media thinks we are more interested in Aruba … you know the story.
Though their ‘fight’ will mainly be in their Mosques and in their communities it is important that their stories be blasted all over the world in all media outlets.
A story about one of them being killed because they spoke out against terrorists or declared a Fatwa against Bin Laden and his followers may be all we will get.
Not good enough.
Walker, this is a fine article. I am sorry you are not getting more response to it.
As your article discusses, this is a battle for ideas and ideals, between civilization and barbarism. It is not going to ever be won, because it is human nature to become barbarious when ways of living are threatened. That was the false premise of Bush’s “War on Terrorism” concept. War implies a struggle with an end when one side is victorious and the other defeated. There is nothing in human history to suggest that the human species will every victorious over their innate nature and proclivities to fight with any and all means necessary to defend their ways of living. Since change is upon us at an unprecedented rate, threats to ways of living are growing commensurately.
The best that can be hoped for is to establish in the minds of all nations’ leadership, that terrorism will never be victorious, despite the fact that it will also never be eradicated. Proving that terrorism cannot be victorious in a cause, may reduce that methodology as a chosen or preferred defense. Yes defense. A concept lost in so much of this war rhetoric. Terrorism is a defense against changes refused and imposition of change by others. When all other methods of defense are lacking, terrorism will always be considered a viable option.
Posted by: David R. Remer at July 31, 2005 10:00 AMExcellent post, Walker. It’s no surprise you’re not seeing any comments from the red columnists. Those guys prefer black and white: If all Muslims hate us for our freedoms, then it’s easier to say we should nuke em all.
Walker;
You’ve hit the nail on the head.
I agree with your article. It would have been better to see more emphasis on the fact that American Muslim organizations denounced the terrorism practiced in the name of their religion.
However, I agree that the lack of response is due to the fact that many of us here in the US are hoping to see that kind of statement coming from organizations in the middle east. It’s kind of a “well that’s nice, but …” feeling. I may be wrong, but most probably do not think that it will have any effect on the problem.
It’s important that more people here in the US show their support for those Islamic people in the Middle East whom have spoken out against the violence. In order for that to happen, more have to know about it. I did not know of them until I read this blog.
Perhaps, if they see that their words are having a profound positive effect on our opinions of them, they will speak more loudly, and more voices will join theirs in the denunciation.
By the way, I was very happy to see the name of “Hamad bin Hamad Al-Salami, Al-Jazeerah columnist who outed extremists”. That’s very encouraging.
Posted by: Cole at August 1, 2005 08:38 PM
