Mark-Anthony Falzon
How the Imam stole my hands
Where the Inquisition left off, the Imam picked up. Just when we thought we had heard it all, along came Mohammed El Sadi on last week's Bondiplus to tell us it is only natural that thieves should have their hands chopped off.
He was also generous with encores, as befits his smiling and benevolent persona. In an interview carried in Thursday's The Times, the Imam informed us of the 'wrath of God' at things like homosexuality and same-sex marriage. He also said (as reported) that "under Sharia law such crimes may even be punishable by death".
The Imam finds 'Sharia law' sort of agreeable. After all, if the Lord seems to take issue with same-sex marriage rather than, say, African children dying of eminently avoidable diseases, who are we to argue? Off with their groomed heads I say.
It's not the first time the Imam has shared his wisdom with us. In March 2007, for example, he told maltastar.com of - you guessed it - the wrath of God at - yes, yes - homosexuality. Thankfully, he stopped short of describing what 'Sharia law' would choose to amputate in that case.
Makes me wonder what Heaven must be like, ruled by a divinity perennially furious at thieves and gays and ever-hungry for bloody souvenirs of their sins. It also makes me wonder what our country would be like ruled by men like Mohammed El Sadi.
Not just wonder in fact, but do something to prevent it. Far from one of 'recession of values' and the other nonsense that some politicians talk about, we are actually living in a time of unprecedented freedom and civil liberties. And I don't want the Imam or anyone else to touch that, thank you very much.
The obvious solution is one we come across very often. It goes as follows. The Imam is the voice of Islam in Malta; Muslims are outsiders (as in immigrants) here; the easiest way to get rid of their views is to get rid of them entirely; we must therefore resist the migration of Muslims into Malta.
Lest my readers think I cannonball the heads of infidels across the harbour in my spare time, I rush to add that the above paragraph is nonsense. There are many reasons why xenophobia and/or Islamophobia won't get us anywhere.
First, we must consider to what extent the Imam really represents Muslims in Malta, or anywhere. The answer is ambiguous. Structurally and formally, he certainly does not. Islam doesn't have a catechism or bishops and things. There is one Koran but very many schools of interpretation.
Tangibly, I know for a fact that many Muslims would disagree that thieves should have their hands chopped off. I personally know two Egyptian Muslims who attended the Corradino mosque once and ran a mile.
The argument applies elsewhere. Of late a certain Rajan Zed, who apparently is based in the States, has been sending missives about the (lack of) rights of Hindus in Malta. But then Rajan Zed is quite simply self-appointed. Hindus have lived happily in Malta for over 140 years, and they don't need anyone to tell them how to cope here. All of which warns us of the danger of talking about 'religious/community leaders'.
At the same time, this is rather too easy. There is a sense in which the Imam does represent Muslims in Malta. He certainly enjoys widespread moral legitimacy among them, and he is involved in the running of a school that, by his own saying on Bondiplus, educates children in the values of (his, presumably) Islam. (A terrifying thought that children are being inspired by values such as that 'criminals' - easy isn't it? - should also be amputees, and gays 're-educated' or dead.)
One might also expect, if the Imam is not representative, moderate Muslims publicly to distance themselves from his ideas. Until they do, we can't really be blamed for assuming El Sadi is the voice of Islam in Malta.
Whether or not he is, there are other reasons why the 'xenophobic' paragraph above is misguided. First, it is not true that Muslims are outsiders here - there are many, and counting, Maltese nationals who are actually Muslims. Second, my issue is with the Imam's ideas, not his immigration papers. In sum, El Sadi and whoever else have as much right to live here as I do. There's a second possible way of dealing with the Imam, and that's to silence him - never again to invite him on national television, block his access to newspapers, haul him to court if he persists in speaking his mind, and such. For reasons I explained three weeks ago in my column on Nick Griffin and the BNP, I think this second option is as bad as the first.
Which leaves us with a third solution: politics. The surest and most acceptable way of consigning the Imam's views where they really belong is to engage them politically. This is what The Times did when it invited people to comment on his 'hands-free gays' rant.
I would have expected many more individuals and groups to come out.
This has to do partly with political correctness, partly complacency. On the first, it somehow feels 'not quite right' to contest the Imam. For we're supposed to be multicultural and celebrate diversity no? Hmm.
The biggest pitfall in all this is probably complacency. The belief that is, that respect towards the dignity of criminals and gays (only coupled here because of the case in question) is somehow natural, and that rabid views like the Imam's are temporary aberrations which will just go away. My guess is they won't.
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sarah borg
Jan 15th 2010, 19:41
first of all the imam didnt just flip words out of his mind he said what is written in the sharia,also i agree with the imam-2 months ago a man married a doll and another one his monkey so you people mean you want to make laws for these type of stupid mankind? so go on ppl..live your lives and leave some plave for others..after all its god and only who judges noy us,may God bless you all. xxxx
Ivan Martin
Nov 26th 2009, 12:26
I wonder if such claims are propagandist, perverse or if the "passion" that i have come to love and hate in the Maltese people has led to clouding of judgment , no one wants to eradicate you !
I agree with Mr Borg entirely, how can one expect foreign nationals to integrate if they are met with such hostility, perhaps we should stick you in a country where you are met with such animosity and see if you would "integrate" , perhaps this is why you have found this sectioning of peoples into ghettos,As some one who has spent tens of hours with immigrants i beseech you; trust me they aren't forming any evil migrant organizations planning to over through our society . Perhaps such sensationalists views are best left to Ian Flemming novels .
Dr Ing Patrick Attard
Nov 23rd 2009, 05:43
Call to the Imam to apologise to the Maltese Gay and Lesbian Community http://patrickattard.blogspot.com/2009/11/press-release-call-to-imam-to-apologise.html
J. J. Borg
Nov 22nd 2009, 23:03
Raymond Cachia: I know very well the multiculturalism that you refer to because I live it every day. And you know what? It works! I do not know where you live but where I live (the U.S.) people have come and continue to arrive from all over the world, bringing with them their own language, customs and traditions. Some prefer to live close to co-nationals but most (especially from the second generation on) go and live where they find most convenient for social and economic reasons. Within a generation or two, most descendants of immigrants feel as much at home here as everyone else and consider themselves to be Americans. But it requires effort and respect by the entire community. I was in Malta this summer. An African immigrant was on the bus and no Maltese wanted to sit next to him, with several preferring to stand instead. In that situation, why would that African immigrant not wish to associate with Maltese? In his place, I certainly wouldn't. And reading this newspaper I notice the same levels of intolerance toward Maltese who express alternative views about sexuality, marriage and cohabitation, art and culture. That too is multiculturalism.
albert muscat
Nov 22nd 2009, 20:05
@ Raymond Cachia. 'Resist this attempt to eradicate you. Resist Multiculturalism at all costs.' Dear sir, The fact that the Crucifix issue was raised by certain Ms. Finnish doesn’t not actually reflect the same harmonized European cultural you are referring to I am afraid. In August I wish you to invite a French to go to Hamrun to see how we celebrate the feast! As son as the guest in question sees crowds of peoples half of them are drunk while the other half wearing shorts and bare-foot running after a statue he will have a culture-shock. By the way, talking about multiculturalism in globalized world it’s a double howler! I am European to the core. Probably the more debates we have over the Crucifix issue will reflect the severe cultural deficit we have in Europe.
William P Flynn
Nov 22nd 2009, 19:53
@albert.muscat Sharia Law would mean stoning to death at least half of the Maltese population for adultery/living in sin. A rape victim has to find four eye witnesses to press charges or herself be stoned to death. Can you envisage such a process passing as law in the EU or anywhere sane?
Raymond Cachia
Nov 22nd 2009, 17:53
@JJ Borg
As I person who has lived in a multicultural society, let me assure you that you do not understand the meaning of this term.
When you describe people in Malta who are from different European backgrounds, you are talking about essentialy one culture - a European one. Name me one European who has never heard of Dante of Mozart or Christianity or freedom of conscience, thought and religon?
The kind of 'Multiculuralism that Louise Vella and other are talking about are cultures which are fundamentally opposed to our European heritage and have a different frame of reference. Where I live, people are sectioned into ghettos, with little or no interraction between the groups, with no common ground to create a stable nation and some groups are openly hostile to the culture that took them in, posing a threat and danger to the other communities. On top of this all, sit the ruling elite and politicians, far removed from this realitiy and protected by special police forces, where they make deals ands carve the country with their businnes partners, stealing from the poor to give to the rich.
Resist this attempt to eradicate you. Resist Multiculuralism at all costs.
Daria Calleja
Nov 22nd 2009, 17:35
Since this sentence seems to capture most of the attention...
How "to change" an article's quote, cutting in a way that better stresses what you all mean... without considering that the true meaning of all is just below...
"There's a second possible way of dealing with the Imam, and that's to silence him - never again to invite him on national television, block his access to newspapers, haul him to court if he persists in speaking his mind, and such. For reasons I explained three weeks ago in my column on Nick Griffin and the BNP, I think this second option is as bad as the first.
Which leaves us with a third solution: politics. The surest and most acceptable way of consigning the Imam's views where they really belong is to engage them politically. This is what The Times did when it invited people to comment on his 'hands-free gays' rant.
I would have expected many more individuals and groups to come out".
Me too. Where are other voices from the so-told illuminist area?
albert muscat
Nov 22nd 2009, 17:30
Voltaire, Mark-Anthony Falzon and the Imam.
‘"There is a second possible way of dealing with the Imam, and that's to silence him - never again to invite him on national television, block his access to newspapers.".
Here the matter is getting serious.
Free speech is free speech, even if you don't agree with it. Voltaire's views were paraphrased by the quote, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” It appears to me Mr. Mark-Anthony Falzon dose not want the Imam to enjoy this fundamental right. To my knowledge the Imam was simply saying his opinion. By no mean did he try to impose his views on others or suggested the Shraia laws to be implemented in Malta.
I admire the Imam and thank him for his support to the Maltese community Over the Crucifix issue.
Illegal Immigrants (which I strongly condemn) and the Imam’s view are two different things. thallatx il hass mal bass please- "mixing up lettuce with flatulence". As a matter of fact the Maltese words for lettuce and flatulence rhyme better because they both end in "ass".
J. J. Borg
Nov 22nd 2009, 16:33
Louise Vella: either you wish to mislead or you have no idea what multiculturalism means. In fact you seem to confuse "multicultural" with "multiracial". Malta is already a multicultural society and it has nothing to do with your pet peeve of immigration. There are retired expatriates from various European and non-European countries living in Malta. There are also many Maltes who have views that are different from yours about divorce, religion, what constitutes art, music and literature. That is what multiculturalism is about.
albert muscat
Nov 22nd 2009, 15:58
Islam/Imam in the dock?
As regards the Imam’s opinion in connection with Gays, lesbians and same-sex union. A Muslim Imam and a priest probably share religious identical views over this issue. The difference however is that, a priest does his best to appease his audience and use soft vocabularies or may even chose to completely ignore what the Bible says about gays and lesbians and same-sex union, while the Imam stick to the book and appease no one.
"There is a second possible way of dealing with the Imam, and that's to silence him - never again to invite him on national television, block his access to newspapers."
albert muscat
Nov 22nd 2009, 15:35
Chopping a thief’s hand. (1)
I took the interest to investigate what Islam says about theft and I asked a qualified Muslim Imam about this serious punishment and I was informed the following:
Because cutting off the hand is a serious matter, it should not be done for just any case of theft. A combination of conditions must be fulfilled before the hand of a thief is cut off. These conditions are so many and quite complex, here I quote few:
- The thief must be an adult Muslim and aware of thief’s punishment in the Quran.
- The thief must be in good mental order and not poor or in dire need.
- The stolen property should be something of worth..
- The stolen thing should have been taken by stealth; if it was not taken by stealth, then the hand should not be cut off, such as when property has been seized by force in front of other people, because in this case the owner of the property could have asked for help to stop the thief.
- The value of the stolen property should be above a certain limit stipulated in Islamic court.
albert muscat
Nov 22nd 2009, 15:32
Chopping a thief’s hand. (2)
- The stolen property should have been taken from a place where it had been put away.
- The theft itself has to be proven, either by the testimony of two qualified witnesses or by the confession of the thief twice. In case of slightest suspension the punishment MUST NOT BE CARRIED OUT.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY, the person from whom the property was stolen has to ask for it back; if he does not, then (the thief’s) hand does not have to be cut off.
Yes it’s harsh punishment, however we don’t have to look at theft while setting behind a computer screen, sipping a hot coffee and passing a comment. We must look indepth at the cataclysmic sequences of thefts. Theft could drive companies out of business, families and kids could suffer and get destituted and dispossessed. Theft could also bankrupt the society, create insecurity, incohesion and social chaos. If this Sahria laws applicable on everyone then, why worry? Personally I don’t mind living under such laws. I fee safe, why should I steal after all? Don’t you like to live in a safe place? Sounds dandy for me indeed.
louise vella
Nov 22nd 2009, 15:09
"There is a second possible way of dealing with the Imam, and that's to silence him - never again to invite him on national television, block his access to newspapers."
Absolutely not! The Imam should be invited on national television as often as possible - every week, every day. That way the Matese will learn more about Islam and the joys of multiculturalism.
John Azzopardi
Nov 22nd 2009, 14:03
The comments by the Iman is something that Maltese and Gozitans should analyze very closely. These comments represent the thinking many countries in the Muslim world. It will be a tragedy if these words are not rebutted forcefully. Sharia law has no place in Malta or in Europe. Let's hope we don't go back to the dark ages for the sake of religious tolerance.
William P Flynn
Nov 22nd 2009, 10:52
One Imam in Sydney, Sheik Al Hilaly was making the same noises a few yeas ago. He was sacked - by fellow Muslims.
Nothing will discredit the crazy notion of Mohammed El Sadi that the chopping of hands of thieves will ever be acceptable in Malta or Europe than if he is reprimanded by his own followers.
This idea of a "congregation" dealing with its own clerics is a good development.
At around the same time Cardinal Pell was roundly criticised by Australian Catholics for sticking his nose into a stem cell bill before the NSW parliament headed by Catholic Premier Maurice Iemma. He and another parliamentary minister compared Pell's remarks to those of Hilaly and told him in some colourful language to back off.
The Bill became law and Maurice Iemma rocked up to church the next Sunday; and subsequently welcomed the Pope for the Youth Festival.
The Cardinal has been quiet since.
Clerics from all denominations must remember they are part of the larger secular state and to live and let live.