The author of these comments is a Middle Eastern Australian who
wishes to remain anonymous. CPDS assistance was provided with English
expression
Introduction
To contain Islamic radicalization it
is necessary to know what is taught in mosques and Islamic teaching centres,
because radical Islam emerges from taking what is taught there literally and
seriously.
I lived and grew up in the Middle East
for 18 years, and thus learned about Islam and the Muslim culture and way of
thinking. Anyone who has lived there will know that it doesn't take a long time
to understand Islam and that radical Muslims are a big problem there just as
they are becoming almost everywhere.
The purpose of these comments is to
express my point of view about how radical Muslims are created and the cause of
their hate, anger and violence against others. No other religion in the world
causes people to behave and act the way they do.
My points here are based on Islam's
history, literature and it's teachings. References have been included that were
found using Google searches to illustrate what I learned by experience.
Attachment A: The Nature of Islam provides a brief outline of Islam’s
history, literature and teachings.
My key suggestion is that, because
Islamic radicalization builds on what is taught in mosques, it
is critical
to prevent
inflammatory teaching there.
Measures to reduce or eliminate radical teaching are needed, at least in the
west, before it's too late. In the eyes of Muslims the west means, countries
like USA, Australia, UK / Europe and most countries that are not governed by
Islam whose people are simply called infidels.
For years there have been warnings
about radical Islam and it's dangerous teachings and it's threats to our future
and way of life, and efforts to expose it. People in the west now need to share
their experiences, suggestions and solutions to combat this threat.
This article does not suggest
discriminating against any people because of their religion or because of how
they dress.
Australia needs to get more serious
about promoting relationships amongst people with different backgrounds. It is
currently a multicultural society and proud of it. However it is still not free
of racism which is more obvious to foreigners than to most others. Foreigners
(especially if they can't speak good English) can experience this daily in
dealing with Aussies everywhere. For example in applying for work, foreign names
can be a deterrent.
But
in overcoming residual racism there is a need for caution.
Most good Muslims view their
religion like any other good religion that was introduced to people for the
greater good of humanity. It gives guidance and direction in their own life and
the reward for the afterlife is Paradise. A good Muslim view is if they follow
the Five Pillars of Islam, do more good in life than bad then they may have a
chance to go to Paradise in the afterlife. Radicals on the other hand believe in
the Quran and it's messages to non-Muslims as they see a need to enforce Islam
and it's teaching on everyone. They also
oppose some branches of Islam like Shia Muslims who are also seen as infidels.
The majority of Muslims worldwide have
proven that they can live in peace and harmony with non-Muslims.
However not all can or do, and it is estimated that in the United States
around 10% to 15% of Muslims are radical.
Muslim
Radicals
A 2013 poll from Pew showed that 13%
of American Muslims said that violence against civilians is (often, sometimes or
rarely) justified to defend Islam. As the world saw, Islamic State was created
quickly and large numbers of supporters emerged and joined it from around the
world.
Though only a minority of Muslims are radicals, the total numbers involved
can be very large because of the size of the Muslim population. And radicals
don't have to be active or act now but can be ready to act when the time comes
or they are called to act by their leaders. They are wolves in sheep's clothing
among us. Islamic radicals’ agenda is clear, that is to spread Islam worldwide
and have Sharia Law implemented, They don't care how long it will take, as long
as it happens. because Sharia law is the basis for the religious, political and
cultural life of all Muslims.
Though most Muslims are not violent or
hateful, their objectives are much the same as those of the radicals - that is
to help establish Islam everywhere in the world.
Radical's play with the feelings of
Muslims (and sometimes non-Muslims) and can sometimes win their sympathy and
support. Some tactics that are used to do so are:
- playing the role of
victims and blaming others for their own actions.
- justifying their violence
as self-defense.
- drawing attention to
violence in the Old Testament, in World Wars I and II, and in general all the
wars in history including the Crusades. Christians are blamed for the killing
Red Indians in America and Aboriginals in Australia.
- Highlighting Israel’s
occupation of Palestine. They also hate America for its support for Israel. And
lately they hate the West generally for being America’s allies as they portray
the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria as a direct attack on Muslims and Islam.
- portraying the West as
"enemies of Allah" because they don't like: westerners’ free life
and emphasis on human rights; how women dress; the consumption of alcohol;
eating pork; and art. Even listening to music is seen as wrong by some.
- drawing attention to
Western people who sin (e.g. priests who commit adultery). They blame
Christianity for such sin even though it is wrong to judge a religion by what a
few individuals do.
Radicals pretend to ignore (or maybe
they really don't know about) the equally bad or even worst things in the lives
of some of their fellow Muslims and the sins they commit.
Islamic
Radicals Today are Repeating Islam’s History
Beginning
in the 7th century Islam’s
influence expanded to
create an Islamic civilization, by incorporating non-Muslims living nearby.
Their possessions
were plundered. Their women were taken as slaves. What Muslims wanted they kept
for themselves and the rest was sold in the general market. Another
way of expanding Islam’s influence was for Muslim men to marry four wives by
law, and on the side take women from conquests as slaves after killing all
the male adult's and having as many children as possible with these women.
Today that is exactly what Islamic
State is doing.
From Islam’s inception Muslims’
influence grew well beyond the Arabian Peninsula in the form of a Muslim empire
that stretched from the borders of China
and India,
across Central Asia, the Middle
East,
North
Africa, Sicily,
and the Iberian Peninsula,
to the Pyrenees (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquests)
Many people including some Christians
think of the Crusaders as criminals. They don't know that the Crusades were
launched as a response to Muslim conquests.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades
).
Sharia
Law
The easiest way to learn about Islam
is through Sharia law. Learning about Sharia introduces the Quran and Mohammed
in a practical manner. Sharia law hasn't been implemented fully in most Islamic
countries, because it was written 1400 years ago. In many ways it is not
suitable for our current times (even though Muslim scholars say it is Allah’s
rules for all human's and can be applied worldwide at
any time and place). It clearly violates modern perceptions of human
rights. For example:
Islamic
Radicalism Is Built on What Muslims are Taught About Islam
Muslims are ‘brainwashed’ from a
young age as they are taught about Islam. They are told to obey, believe and are
mesmerized
with no questions to be asked. Some examples of teachings are:
- [Quran Surah al-Nisa’
4:59] “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad),
and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority”.
- (Quran Surah 5:101,102)
“O you who have believed, do not ask about things which, if they are shown to
you, will distress you. But if you ask about them while the Quran is being
revealed, they will be shown to you. Allah has pardoned that which is past; and
Allah is Forgiving and Forbearing)”.
- (Quran Surah Al Imran
3:110) You are the best of the nations raised up for (the benefit of) men, you
enjoin what is right and forbid the wrong and believe in Allah.
- Muhammad is the seal (or
the last) of the prophets (i.e. Allah’s last messenger to humans).
- (Quran
Surah l-aḥzab 33:40)
"Muhammad is not the father of any male among you, but he is the messenger
of God and the seal of the prophets; and God is aware of all things."
- Jihad (Martyrs for Allah)
is a must and duty of every Muslim against infidels (Kafirs) to establish Islam.
- (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)
You are commanded to fight although you dislike it. You may hate something that
is good for you, and love something that is bad for you. Allah knows and you do
not.
- The martyrs’ reward is
72 Dark-Eyed Virgins, and to eat celestial food and drink pure wine in Paradise
(and more embarrassing things that I will not add).
The writing of the Prophet [Muhammad in this Hadith]... can fill Muslims
with desire for Paradise... to be worthy of it, because only three dwell there:
Prophets, Righteous and Shahids (Martyrs for Allah).] (http://wikiislam.net/wiki/72_Virgins)
- The penalty for
leaving Islam (apostasy) is death. Execution of the apostate is something that
is commanded by Allah. “Whoever changes his religion, execute him.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2794). http://islamqa.info/en/20327
Islam and Violence
One
has only to look at the history of Islam since it's beginning to understand how
violence emerges.
All
branches of Islam recognize the Quran,
but they differ in which other authorities they acknowledge or what they believe
in (such as how a Quran Surah is interpreted and understood or dismissed).
Similar differences arise in relation to interpreting the Hadith (a
collection of traditions containing sayings of the prophet Muhammad which, with
accounts of his daily practice (the Sunna), constitute the major source of
guidance for Muslims apart from the Quran).
Most
Muslim Scholars agree to disagree about the violence in Quran.
Unfortunately the average Muslim
doesn't respect others’ opinions, especially if differences relate to their
prophet or religion. Radicals and some other Muslims either swear at those who
disagree with them or threaten them with violence or even death. A sheik (i.e. a
Muslim preacher) can issue a fatwa (law) sometimes with a big financial reward
for killing someone who is classified as anti-Islam. Some will carry out a fatwa
without any hesitation in the name of Jihad. Causing terror and fear is big
part of Islam. However, this is declining because advances in technology
(especially the Internet) allow people more and more to voice objections to such behaviour https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_and_violence
Alarm
Bells and Current Threats from Radicals
The world stood up and took notice
after the 9/11 attacks in America. People discovered how the act of terror can
easily happen in their own land and have seen
what has followed since in terms of violence and senseless murders by radical
Muslims of innocent non-Muslims and also of different types of Muslims (i.e. the
Shia who make up around 20% of all Muslims).
This has been happening worldwide ever
since. Many good Muslims have put their humanity ahead of their religion and
have either condemned these acts of violence or just left Islam altogether.
The two major attacks in the U.S.A
were the 9/11 attacks, and the Boston bombings. These were shown worldwide. To
see all attacks in America since 9/11 (or before that) see this link: http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/americanattacks.htm
And in England well publicised attacks
included: multiple bombings in the
London Underground
(July 7, 2005) when 53 people were killed by four suicide bombers and nearly 700
injured; Glasgow
International Airport attack (June 30, 2007) when 5
people were injured; and the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby
in Woolwich
by two men with cleavers (May 22, 2013).
However these are only a tiny fraction
of the attacks by Islamist radicals that have occurred worldwide. A list of
worldwide attacks is at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Islamist_terrorist_attacks
Islamist radicals have formed
organised terrorist groups to threaten others – see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_designated_terrorist_groups
Propaganda and Sugar
Coating Islam
Attacks
on
innocent people around the world have gained ever-increasing public attention.
People took notice of atrocities committed at random on innocent civilians and
the hate that was shown by these radicals and the barbaric ways of killing at
times in the name of their Allah, as they shout "Allah is great".
People worldwide started to question
Islam and Muslims about why radicals kill in the name of their religion as what
the radicals did shocked many from non-Muslim cultures.
Muslims preachers came to the rescue
again. They felt a need to save Islam’s image in the west and other non-Arabic
speaking people who know very little about Islam’s teachings and its history.
Thus they invented the notion of Islamophobia (i.e. don't pick on us it's not
our fault) and claimed that:
- Islam means peace. (Islam
actually means submission. Submit to
Islam and your life is spared).
- The 9/11 and other attacks
had nothing to do with Islam, as the people involved
were misguided terrorists using Islam as a cause. (Clearly Jihad was
involved).
- Islamic State and most of
the radical Islamist groups don't represent Islam. (However consider what
Islamic State’s flag banner says and what they shout when they are beheading
people or making suicide attacks or killing. Most of their propaganda videos
claim that they are devout Muslims and that their actions are supported by
Islamic scripture).
The
Growing Threat from Islam
There is a new threat to the west from
within in the form of groups like Wahhabis or the Muslim brotherhood and others
who have been slowly increasing in numbers in our communities. This is very
clear in a suburb in Sydney called Punchbowl. Just drive or walk around there to
see: men with long beards wearing Arab dress; women dressed with Hijab or fully
covered; and a table set up in the street where Islamic literature is being
given away. A Lebanese Muslim woman once pointed out to me that there is nothing
in Lebanon itself where people look and behave as they do in Punchbowl. This is
happening because of incentive payments to Australian Muslims
mainly from the Middle East (see links below):
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/11/24/1037697986285.html
http://www.barenakedislam.com/2014/07/08/qatar-is-the-main-financier-of-mosques-around-the-world-built-to-facilitate-the-spread-sharia-law/
http://www.barenakedislam.com/2014/07/08/qatar-is-the-main-financier-of-mosques-around-the-world-built-to-facilitate-the-spread-sharia-law/
On the
evening of 13 November 2015, a series of coordinated terrorist
attacks—consisting
of mass
shootings, suicide
bombings, and hostage-taking—occurred
in the French city of Paris.
Radical
Muslims are very organized politically, well funded and connected. A
web site claims the Paris terrorists had bitcoin funding worth over $3 million.
http://www.networkworld.com/article/3005308/security/hacktivists-claim-isis-terrorists-linked-to-paris-attacks-had-bitcoin-funding.html
If
anyone talks about Islam in a way radicals don't approve of, they will do their
best to shut down their website or threaten them or issue a fatwa to kill them
or offer a huge financial reward for killing them. Consider threats to Salman Rushdie
(author of The
Satanic Verses);
the Charlie
Hebdo shooting in France; violence related to cartoons about Muhammad in Denmark
and a cartoon movie about Muhammad.
Christian
media (e.g. on YouTube
or Facebook) are shut down or hijacked.
Arabic
Christian channels on Satellite that engage people to phone in
live and
express their opinions often get violent threat calls from Muslims.
For preaching the Christian Gospel to Muslims on Satellite TV a
fatwa was issued to kill the priest host – with a reward of $60 million.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2008/09/al-qaeda-declares-coptic-priest-zakaria-botros-one-of-the-most-wanted-infidels-in-the-world
Radicals and many other Muslims use the
West’s
democracy and freedom of speech for their gain only and to disadvantage the west
by enforcing acceptance of Muslim traditions and values (e.g. Halal food,
building Mosques, preaching Islam, the way they dress with the Hijab and the
like). History elsewhere suggests they would seek later to force Islam on
everyone. In Saudi Arabia a Bible is not allowed to enter the country. Churches
can’t be built. It's even a crime for a few Christian worshipers to get
together in a private house and worship silently. Over the last 1400 years
Christians have been persecuted or killed, and their Churches burnt and in most
cases not allowed to be rebuilt or converted to Mosques. Many Christians left
their native countries as I had to do because of fear of Islam. This occurs
mostly in the Middle East but is also seen in Sudan and Somalia and some other
countries.
Some
Suggestions
Radical
Muslim's and their supporters believe that Earth was created by Allah that
commands all people must be Muslims or convert to Islam and live as one nation
one country Earth with no borders and it must be governed by one man called the Caliphate.
For
more of what Radical Muslims believe watch this
5 part video on YouTube
For
Muslims to live in peace with others in the West, they must respect other people
opinions and view's the least that is required is for them to understand they
are not Allah's soldiers on earth and they are not judge, jury and executioner.
Muslims need to accept that humans are free to worship what they want or not
worship anything at all. Religion is a personal choice and each is responsible
for their actions now and in the afterlife.
Concentrations of Muslims living
together in suburbs can be bad especially if they spread negative and hateful
thoughts towards Non-Muslims. Perhaps they should be required to spread out and
integrate with other Australians to reduce the bad influence and the feelings of
being superior that emerges when large numbers live in small condensed areas (Muslim's
motto is all Muslim's are brothers and belong to one big family, offcourse only
the one's that agree with their ideas about Islam).
Mosques should be places of worship.
Many acts of violence
are committed by radicals after a Friday prayer in the Mosque, because some
Muslim preachers spread hate against non-Muslims in mosques. They also do so on
TV / satellite channels, radio, the internet (like YouTube) and social media.
Preachers teach and motivate worshipers
how to act by using examples from Islamic scripture; and encourage (and at times
order) their worshipers to act. When such preaching is happening often, some
Muslims eventually become radicalised and driven to commit violent Jihad.
Some Muslim preachers get so emotional that they cry while delivering
their speeches of hate. (Source: from YouTube search for
“Muslim hate preachers”). In most cases no one holds such preachers
accountable. Governments of the west and / or law enforcement agencies need to
combat this problem.
Most Muslims are just followers of
Islam, The Radicals dictate to them how they should worship and behave. They
come to the west to enjoy our freedom, democracy and a better way of life for
them and their families. But given half a chance, Muslim radicals and their
followers will use dictatorship, violence and killing to make everyone submit to
Islamic rule and teaching. Muslims must abide by and respect the laws,
traditions and values of the country that they live in.
Muslims must also come to understand
the need for separation of religion and state. More people need to study what is
involved in Sharia
Law. It's not a good law to follow because some of it doesn't work. Many Muslims
just pick some of it to practice and leave the rest and still claim it's from
Allah. This does not make sense to me.
|