I write in response to some of the comments mentioned in the speech by the Pope at Regensburg University during his visit recently.
This is not the first time this year that Muslims and Islam has been vilified and I doubt that it will be the last time either.
As Muslims living in the west we have become used to a growing climate of criticism and insults to our religion since 9/11 and 7/7 further exacerbated the situation.
We as Muslims accept that there are ignorant and bigoted people in all societies who will always see other ways of life from a xenophobic perspective and react with abuse and violence. What comes as a surprise is when responsible people in authority like George Bush mentioned that the war on terror is a “ Crusade”, and Mr Blair used the term “ A crescent of evil from Morocco to Indonesia “ and now we have the Pope making references to Islam as a violent religion.
It comes as a surprise that the three gentleman all claim to be god fearing and practicing Christians and yet they are at the forefront and the most vehement critics of Islam using the most medieval of phrases which conjures images of the ill fated Crusades launched from Europe by Pope Urban II at Clermont in 1095.
If politicians and the clergy want to see peace and harmony in the world then this is not the way to go about it by insulting and insinuating that Muslims are hell bent on world domination by violent Jihad and creating fear and hysteria among its citizens with its obvious consequences upon Muslims which leads to the polarisation between Muslims and the indigenous population.
The reality of the world today shows certain nations hell bent on world domination by hook or by crook despite the protests of its own citizens against colonial adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The reactions in the Muslim world bears testimony to the fact that insults to our religion and way of life will not be tolerated even if the culprits hide behind the cloak of freedom of speech. It is regrettable and sad that churches have been bombed and one nun was murdered, I hope the perpetrators are apprehended and tried very soon. Islam condemns such behaviour and encourages non-violent political activism.
If the west sees political Islam as a threat to its Capitalist and Secular way of life then the solution is to engage in dialogue with the advocates of political Islam who are working to establish the Caliphate in the Muslim world and not to engage in abuse and slander which achieves nothing positive and is radicalising a minority of Muslims in this country to take up bombing campaigns against their fellow citizens.
I hope that we can all learn from this unfortunate incident and choose dialogue as the way forward to discuss, debate our differences and live together as part of a Multi-cultural society.
Re: Letter to my local newspapers about Popes speech
Not a bad letter that advocates your point of view.
But I am curious if you limit your letters of protest to Christians who insult Islam or if you are also active in denouncing insults and threats of violence by Muslims against non-Muslims.
Re: Letter to my local newspapers about Popes speech
But I am curious if you limit your letters of protest to Christians who insult Islam or if you are also active in denouncing insults and threats of violence by Muslims against non-Muslims.
Denouncing invitations to violence, yes. Denouncing threats, no....that falls in the realm of law enforcement...and most of us would gladly aid that effort.
What we WILL NOT do is take a two-sided conflict and pretend as if all the violence is being perpetrated by Muslims.
Re: Letter to my local newspapers about Popes speech
Dear Mr showkot, It really tasts bad when the Pope critisizes any other religion. Catholic openly critiseze the Hindu religion calling Krishna a 'Satanic God'.
Muslims have done a right thing while taking all measures to lowering the Pope......And at the same time shall we critisize the Muslim clergy who misuse the Mosque prayer grounds for denouncing all other religions. I am talking about the misuse of Friday prayers for political reasons?
But I think that all these Imams are right in their venom uttrances against all non-Muslims, as they find full support to their anger in Islamic religious texts. Does not many verses in Quran threaten all to 'hell or hell fire' whoever dares to reject the superiority of Islamic beliefs.
And the Pope was wrong. He melted to the voilence at last.
Does not the words 'accept Islam or die' never sounded in Islamic folklore. I have read some nice related stories and all this happened in presence of the Prophet Muhammad, if the story is correct.
And let the Catholics say that Krishna was a Satanic God.....frankly I damn care.