Posted on 09/27/2006 6:50:46 AM PDT by Republicain
It looks as if immigrants youths want to turn nightly rioting during the Islamic holy month of ramadan into an annual tradition. Around 8:30pm last night violence erupted again in Brussels, the capital of Europe. The riots centered on the Brussels Marollen quarter and the area near the Midi Train Station, where the international trains from London and Paris arrive. Youths threw stones at passing people and cars, windows of parked cars were smashed, bus shelters were demolished, cars were set ablaze, a youth club was arsoned and a shop was looted. Two molotov cocktails were thrown into St.Peter’s hospital, one of the main hospitals of central Brussels. The fire brigade was able to extinguish the fires at the hospital, but youths managed to steal the keys of the fire engine.
During the month of ramadan Muslims are required to fast during the day and are only allowed to eat after sunset. As Esther pointed out “What should be noticed about the riots is that they start after sunset. Besides the fact that they start after dark, it also gives the rioters enough time to break their fast and enjoy the traditional family meal. Sunset is around 7:30pm.” Tuesday’s and Monday’s riots began around 8:30pm.
Last night the police arrested 45 rioters. One of them will be prosecuted for assaulting the owner of a shop. Philippe Close, the chef de cabinet of the Mayor of Brussels, Freddy Thielemans, said that the authorities would continue their efforts to defuse the situation in a peaceful manner, but he announced that the police will be less complacent in future, “since we cannot tolerate that this [Marollen] neighbourhood falls victim to a problem from outside the neighbourhood.”
The immigrant youths claim that they are upset by the death of Fayçal Chaaban, a 25-year old criminal, in a Brussels prison last Sunday. Yesterday morning the authorities announced they would hold a meeting with the youths to hear their grievances about security in prison, but the meeting, which was due last night, could not take place because of the riots.
The authorities are especially nervous since the Belgian municipal elections are being held on Sunday October 8th. It is likely that the elections will be won by anti-immigrant, “islamophobic” parties. Since ramadan will not be over on October 8th and many immigrants might perceive a victory of the indigenous right (as opposed to their own far-right) as an insult, Muslim indignation over the election results in major cities may spark serious disturbances. According to a poll published today the Vlaams Belang party is set to win 38.6% of the vote in Antwerp (compared to 33,0% in the previous municipal elections six years ago).
More on this topic (with links to the 2005 Ramadan Riots):
Ramadan Rioting in Brussels, 26 September 2006
This sounds like a dodge.
Yours: Islam is not inherently violent, and is entirely equivalent with other religions (notable Christianity and Judaism). According to you, they are all three equally violent, both scripturally and historically. No difference whatsoever.
That's a misprepresent-and-run. My position is that Islam is not inherently violent. Islam and many other religions have violent scriptual passages and violent histories.
This is not equivalent to either the teachings or the history of Christianity or Judaism. There are certainly blemishes galore in every religion in practice, but Islam takes the cake regarding (a) forced conversions, (b) complete and vicious intolerance towards any other religion, and (c) violence and aggression in the name of religion.
That's a tough claim to prove. Suffice it to say, there isn't any religion in the world that can claim a billion followers without a long history of coercion.
It is not a dodge; I literally have dozens of projects and duties I am neglecting.
I just have no time for FR. I don't even do the two pinglists I used to do.
So, there it is. No time. And I stand by my points.
To claim that the forced conversions of Islam throughout history are equivalent to other religions is a falsehood. No doubt Christianity has done very bad things in the name of religion - I am not saying it hasn't. But you will not find any Christians supporting such evil, although you will find Muslims supporting it. Additionally, such things are not in the teachings of Jesus Christ!
Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism have never had any forcible conversion policies.
You're just making excuses for Islam, that's all.
I understand completely. Feel free to come back to this when you have the time (and the chapters and verses).
So, there it is. No time. And I stand by my points.
The question is whether or not the facts satnd by your points.
To claim that the forced conversions of Islam throughout history are equivalent to other religions is a falsehood.
It's a legitmate claim. However, it's not one I have made.
No doubt Christianity has done very bad things in the name of religion - I am not saying it hasn't. But you will not find any Christians supporting such evil, although you will find Muslims supporting it.
So Ann Coulter isn't a Christian, right? And if you think she's bad, you should read what the Nuke Mecca Crowd has to say about the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition and the current conflicts, which they (and their ally, Osama) like to promote as a War on Islam.
Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism have never had any forcible conversion policies.
If true, that is commendable.
You're just making excuses for Islam, that's all.
How so?
The EU made it against the law to protect all property.
This is the outcome. IMHO.
"Islam is the only religion where riots reliably follow religious services".
----Heck, they're just gettin' increasingly excited by the new identity of their happenin' religion. Expect more of it:
Islam has probably not been discussed by a great percentage of the planet than it is RIGHT NOW. This brand-new trend does NOT bode well for the future: I think it can only get worse, with the added ingredient of (some by default, some intentional) what I will call "global emboldening."
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