Posted on 10/13/2001 11:56:31 AM PDT by sarcasm
New York's Muslims gathered in their thousands for the first Friday prayers since the United States began bombing targets in Afghanistan.
The city as a whole is an ethnic mosaic, and worshippers at the imposing Kuwaiti-funded Islamic Cultural Centre in Manhattan arrived from countries as far apart as Senegal, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
The fact that the bombings had been halted out of respect for the Muslim holy day made little difference.
Justice
"What they complained about, that he [Osama Bin Laden] killed a lot of innocent people, they're doing the same thing now in Afghanistan," Egyptian-born Abraham Ramsey told BBC News Online.
"Under US law, you're innocent until you're proven guilty. Where's the proof?" he asked.
Saba, a physician from New York, agreed that justice should be sought through the legal system, not the armed forces.
"Terrorism is not about war, it's a crime against humanity. This should be done through the United Nations War Crimes Tribunal, like they did with [former Yugoslav leader Slobodan] Milosevic," she said.
Like other Muslim Americans, Saba also spoke of a new, anti-Muslim backlash and was too afraid to give her family name.
Holy war
Following the air strikes in Afghanistan, Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network called for Muslims around the world to rise up in a jihad or holy war against the US.
Despite their opposition to the US action, this has apparently gone unheeded by New York's Muslims and there were no demonstrations against the US Government at the Islamic centre.
We used to be friends with the Taleban, now we say they have to go and we're making friends with anyone who's against them |
Yousef
New York Muslim |
"For a jihad, there must be a just cause. To hate America is not a just cause," he said.
He also told BBC News Online that not a single member of his congregation had asked him about how Muslim Americans should react.
"Nobody is taking that call seriously."
Root causes
While people generally saw the solution to be the capture and public trial of Bin Laden and whoever else the US believes is responsible for the attacks, Yousef from Morocco said the root causes should also be addressed.
He said that instead of launching missiles on Afghanistan, the US should be helping to spread democracy throughout the Middle East, so that governments actually represent the feelings of their people.
Yousef was also concerned that US foreign policy-makers were not thinking about the long-term.
"We used to be friends with the Taleban, now we say they have to go and we're making friends with anyone who's against them," he said.
"Nothing happened to [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon when Palestinian refugees were massacred," said one women through a black veil which only revealed her eyes.
Betrayal
Muslim New Yorkers are currently struggling to deal with a bewildering array of emotions - outrage at the 11 September attacks, disappointment and anger, too, at the US retaliation and a sense of betrayal that they are no longer being made to feel at ease in the city they call home.
In a thick New York drawl flavoured with more than a hint of his Arabic roots - Abdelaziz who came from Egypt 22 years ago - said: " A lot of people down there in Afghanistan, innocent people, they didn't do nothing but they been killed."
He was concerned that people were forgetting that many of those who died in the World Trade Centre were also Muslims and he aptly caught the mood in the mosque: "God bless Egypt, God bless Islam, God bless America - if they do the right thing."
Note the ol' boy in the pine box. I certainly hope that many of his compatriots get to join him in pine boxes of their own.
Leni
You mean we could have skipped over World War II and gone straight to the Nuremberg Trials?
If only FDR and Churchill had thought of that! < /sarcasm >
And just think of how easily this prayer could be answered. Just report to the nearest FBI Office & turn themselves in...
From http://www.islamreview.com
The Koran commands Muslims to fight Jews and Christians' Fight against those who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) and those who acknowledge not the religion of truth (Islam) among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Surah At-Taubah 9:29).
The Koran commands Muslims to fight non-Muslims until they exterminate all other religions and Islam would be the only religion in the world. "And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allah (alone). But if they cease, let there be no transgression except against As-Zatimun (the polytheists and wrong doers)" (Surat Al-Baqarah 2:193).
This verse is mentioned also in Surat Al-Anfal 8:39. Because of the misunderstanding and ignorance of Christianity, Muslims believe that Christians are polytheists, because they believe in a Triune God. Fundamentalists look at Jews and Christians and all non-Muslims as infidels who must be killed because they have no value as human beings and must be exterminated from the face of the earth.
The Koran declares that Muslims who fight and die in battle are promised forgiveness and a sensual luxurious life in Paradise. "And if you are killed or die in the Way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all that they amass (of worldly wealth)" (Surat Al-Imran 3:157). "Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for (the price) that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him" (Surat At-Taubah 9:111).
The Koran commands Muslims to terrorize and torture and kill anyone who disobeys Allah and the Prophet Muhammad: "(Remember) when your Lord revealed to the angels, "Verily I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks and smite over all their fingers and toes. This is because they defied and disobeyed Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad). And whoever defies and disobeys Allah and His Messenger, them verily, Allah is Severe in punishment. This is (the torment), so taste it; and surely, for the disbelievers is the torment of the Fire" (Surat Al-Anfal 8:12-14).
"The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) and do mischief in the land is only that they shall be killed or crucified or their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is their disgrace in this world, and a great torment is theirs in the Hereafter" (Surat Al-Maidah 5:33).
The Koran commands Muslims to convert non-Muslims to Islam by force. "Kill the Mushrikun (polytheists, Christians and non-Muslims), wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But, if they repent and perform As-salat (public prayer with Muslims) and give Zakat (Islamic alms), then leave their way free. Allah is oft-forgiving, most merciful" (Surat At-Taubah 9:5).
So much for their "tolerance" and "their love of peace"!
Why are we even letting these people come into the country? If they're not with us they're with the terrorists, and they shouldn't be allowed to come here just to speak against us, or worse.
If you think that I am a Muslim you are very much mistaken (please see my profile)
And this is from a guy who's been here 22 years? Is he a citizen? Are his family Americans?
I'm sorry, I am as tolerant as they come and have ancestry from a lot of different countries. I have relatives who have been here since the 1500's and my husband's grandfather emigrated in the 1920's so we run the full gamut.
However, if these people do not put America first and foremost in their consideration before Egypt and Islam, and then qualify their statement by saying "God Bless America, if it does the right thing..." that truly pi$$es me off to no end.
I say we need to do some serious repatriating of these Arab-Americans who seem to leave off the American at the end.
Roger that.
Two letters: PC. There is your reason.
What a crock. These guys really mean "Muslim democracy", which is theocracy and not democracy at all.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.