Posted on 05/19/2005 3:42:18 AM PDT by Eurotwit
FAIZABAD, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A group of Afghan Islamic clerics have deferred a call for holy war against the United States over a magazine report that U.S. interrogators desecrated the Koran after the report was retracted.
The clerics in Badakhshan province said on Sunday the United States should hand anyone guilty of desecrating the holy book to a Muslim country for prosecution in three days or they would declare jihad, or holy war, against the United States.
But Newsweek magazine, which first ran a story in its May 9 issue saying U.S. military interrogators at Guantanamo Bay had flushed a Koran down a toilet, on Monday retracted the report.
"We will consult and discuss our next move with other Ulemas," said the head of Badakhshan's council of clerics, Mullah Sadullah Abu Aman, when asked about the jihad call.
Ulema are Islamic scholars. Representatives will be sent out for talks with other clerics, he said.
"We are keen to take a unanimous decision about this," he said.
Aman said he suspected Newsweek had retracted the story because of U.S. government pressure following their call for holy war.
"The regret and retraction by the magazine clearly came after the issue of our deadline," he said.
Muslim clerics have traditionally been teachers and leaders in Afghan society and throughout its history they have rallied public opinion and sometimes led uprisings against unpopular rulers and foreign occupiers.
Muslims consider the Koran the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.
The Newsweek report sparked violent protests in Afghanistan, where 16 were killed and more than 100 injured, as well as in Pakistan, Indonesia and Gaza last week. The reported desecration was condemned in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Malaysia and by the Arab League.
"WITHDRAW U.S. FORCES"
The Afghan protests against the United States were the worst since U.S. forces ousted the Taliban in late 2001 for sheltering Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network.
Another member of the council said if the clerics did not approve jihad against the United States, then Badakhshan's clerics would push in parliament for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Afghans go to the polls on Sept. 18 to elect a parliament.
"Badakhshan's delegates in parliament will push for the withdrawal of American forces and will stand against their bases in Afghanistan," said Mawlavi Abdul Samad.
U.S.-backed President Hamid Karzai says he wants closer relations with the United States, including defense cooperation.
The United States commands a foreign force in Afghanistan of about 18,300, most of them American, fighting Taliban insurgents and hunting bin Laden and other militant leaders.
Karzai said outside forces stirred up last week's disturbances but he did not say who he suspected.
I am sorry, but I cannot help, but to find these clowns somewhat amusing. Pity they are so hateful, dangerous and deadly.
A little update from Afghanistan.
No, thanks to msm, they hate us more.
REUTERS HOLDING NEWSWEEKS HAND!
HOW SWEET.
In time we will understand what is expected of us.
How many here will start thinking to themselves that by our quick response to this crisis that "We saved a lot of lives!" or that "we averted a disaster"?
The very thought that even one or two will buy into this sickens me to the core.
Im inspired to art...
Perhaps a koran dumped into an american standard toilet set in front of a mosque. Maybe the NEA will give me a grant!
Oh, but desecrating any Christian symbols (churches, using the Bible as toilet paper, destroying priceless works of art, ad nauseum) is okey-dokey for them.
How many middle-eastern people move to the US?
How many Americans move to the middle-east?
How many "holy wars" have the US religious leaders called for?
If your kitty-litter wasteland is so wonderful, why aren't people clamoring to go there?
Addendum to previous post: Can you tell I'm a bit bitter?
Ulema are Islamic scholars. Representatives will be sent out for talks with other clerics, he said.
They are such lying, disingenuous filth. Where was the Islamic outrage against far worse atrocities in Africa, Serbia, Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Lebanon?
Not a peep...but suddenly this worldwide moral indignation based upon a mere rumor would be laughable if it weren't so tragic.
The Moslems will never be our friends, will always use any excuse to preach their brand of poisonous hate, and if there were a God in heaven, would all be struck down for their crimes against humanity.
>>>Maybe the NEA will give me a grant!
National education Association of National Endowment for the Arts? Either one would probably go for it if your art piece desecrated Christian symbols...
dang fat-fingers in the morning...
Again, orthodox Christians consider the Bible the literal word of God and treat each book with deep reverence.
Yet I can't remember anyone being murdered by a Christian for desecrating a Bible.
Even though prominent scumbags like Yoko Ono and Brian Warner frequently desecrate the Bible publicly for laughs.
There is something sad about people who are so deeply insecure about their faith. But like you say, that doesn't make them less dangerous.
I say we flush all their flippin korans down the toilet!
Censorship of the press is an idea whose time has come again. These irresponsible reporters have to be kept in check, and their editors are not functioning as it is maintained they are supposed to.
Newsweek published a FALSE STORY - no matter what the reason. Frankly, it doesn't matter if it had been true!
It does NOT MATTER whether these lies WERE written in "good faith" or EVEN IF THEY WERE NOT LIES. This story should NEVER, EVER have been written in the main stream press, EVEN IF TRUE!!!
This information OUGHT to have been brought to the attention of the US gov't, and let them handle it QUIETLY. Inflammatory information like this must be dealt with RESPONSIBLY - in that case (as in Abu Garib) the US must discover the facts, punish perpetrators if any, deal with systemic problems if they exist, and only after that is done, (usually) release the embargo on the story to that reporter or organization who brought it to light.
It was prima facie clear that this, like the overblown Abu story (that the military was already investigating and in the process of punishing), had great potential to harm the United States and our allies (Iraq, Afghanistan, and others); to kill people and injure others - and it is certainly clear that our civilian leadership would condemn such activities if they were occuring. The proper course for responsible news organizations is to let them know behind closed doors what might be going and to allow them time to clean it up. In extreme cases, the story ought to be embargoed forever, but typically it should be released after a period of time.
A RESPONSIBLE news organization might even state a "story" was shopped to them that was found to be UNTRUE after investigation by proper authority - Newsweek COULD have done that in this particular case, and done a great service to our country and the world in exposing how misinformation can attempt to be planted in the media. They blew it, and instead CAUSED MURDERS and Mayhem.
This "shopped" story brings more than shame to Newsweek, though - people are DEAD who ought not be dead.
It is time to bring back wartime censorship of the press.
`\
You know a thought struck me this morning.
Both you and USF have experience living in an islamic country. In college (in Australia) I had a few good friends from Malaysia, who were ethnically Chinese (and catholic). They basically had to come to Australia, because of the discrimination they were put through by the Malay's.
Perhaps, living in a society where one has had to witness dhimmitude first hand, makes one particularly sensitive when it regards this particular issue. One recognizes the patterns and the signs, and they are frightfully familiar.
Having personally witnessed Western Europe in general, and perhaps Scandinavia in particular starting to go down this path for the last decade or so, it is distressing to see the United States cowed when the islamics throw one of their familiar temper tantrums.
I think only last year, a Norwegian journalist was targeted for writing an inappropriate article regarding islamic women. However, they ended up beating up the wrong man.
Similarly, we just had the Swedish pastor who recently had to get police protection after speaking about Mohammed (calling him a pedofile). Personally, I was recently told in no uncertain terms what would happen should I consider writing something disrespectful of Mohammed, by a Muslim collegue. Several leading politicians are living with death threats...
There is no doubt, that these threats and this intimidation has already seriously affected the public debate. In Sweden, there is NO debate whatsoever. Freedom is being lost little by little, piece by piece.
It is a rather frightening spectacle to behold.
How nice.
Throw the first amendment on the appeasement altar, in the name of dhimmitude.
I cannot agree with you on this one.
Cheers.
I read the Koran and found it charmin. Simply charmin.
I heard the following when the Clerics first expressed their outrage...that a spokesman literally called upon President Bush to "turn over the military men who did this act to US(these Clerics), within three days, or we will launch a worldwide Jihad against America". They were demanding the right to put on trial, under their law, American military personnel, and ordered our President to turn them over TO THEM or else. That took my breath away. The absolute arrogance as well as ignorance they showed...there are no words to describe it.
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