Imam says reaction to Koran burning should be peaceful
The head of the Muslim community in Malta, Imam Mohammad El Sadi, has urged Muslims to react peacefully to plans in the United States for the burning of the Koran to mark the September 11 events.
In a statement this morning, the Imam said that on the eve of 9/11 anniversary, Muslims all over the world should offer a special prayer to seek Allah's mercy and guidance for all and especially for those who are against Islam.
"May Allah in His Infinite Mercy grant them wisdom to seek truth and right path and help them to sow seeds of love so all communities can live in peace and harmony. "
He said that Muslims must understand and reaffirm their faith in the Miracle of Koran. The Koran could be altered or destroyed. The pages and the book could be shredded, burnt or buried but the Divine Message lived on.
"So our brothers and sisters do not despair but rise and respond in a manner that is befitting for the followers of Islam. On this day we ask all Muslims to assemble in their nearest mosques at the appointed time and all Hafiz (person who can recite the entire Holy Quran by heart) to recite verses from Holy Quran to send a message to all that Quran lives in the heart and soul of every Muslim and efforts to destroy it will surely fail as it has in the past."
The Imam said Muslims should avoid going on the streets to protest. Instead they should go to a Mosque, school, or remain in their place of work or at home and recite a verse of holy Koran.
He said the US administration should use its powers to prevent this unfortunate but expected bonfire as this not only goes against the professed American values of respect of all religions and their sacred books and symbols but also endangers the Christian Muslim relations and the world peace.
The Imam said the September 11 attacks and all acts of terrorism were considered by all Muslims as atrocious and without justification and condemned without reservation.
"May we add here, we call all people who committed or commit acts of terrorism simply terrorists. We do not prefix their faith to their act. Branding terrorism or terrorist as Islamic or Muslim is major reason for the rise of this Islamic phobia."
He expressed concern that the burning of the Koran would, 'God forbid', start a cycle of violence that could in its wake leave victims far greater in number than 9/11 tragedy.
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Dr Joe Brincat
Sep 11th 2010, 10:06
NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the idea of the Islamic Centre near Ground Zero. The American Government is using the services of the NY Imam Rauf as a special good will ambassador to Arab countries, and he has been sent on a funded mission. It seems that the 'political' decision is to build bridges with American Muslims. 9/11 was the work of Muslim fanatics, and, as all religious fanatics, they brought shame and disgust on their own religion.
After that, as usual, a small group reflects on all. Ask Catholic priests how they are treated by Muslims in the Holy Land ? Ask Catholics in Iraq before the Iraqi War how they fared with Muslims ? Tarek Aziz, deputy to Sadam, was a Catholic.
Terry Jones is a fanatic. Mighty America can only convince him.
All this has been blown up by the media. The usual story. The media go after the sensational and do create problems. Who would have bothered about Terry Jones if there was no publicity ?
David Borg
Sep 11th 2010, 17:28
Dr Brincat, you are right regarding the media sensationalism of a small so called church in Florida, made up of around 50 people.
However while Muslims demand tolerance and equal rights in Eurooe, and this is usually the case in Europe, Christians are usually second class citizens in Muslim countries. Many Christians are fleeing the Holy Land. Christians in Pakistan are not given aid from the government for the recent flooding. A Muslim does not have the right to change his religion.
A film I saw yesterday was the French film Of God and Men which recounts the story of the Catholic monks killed by Islamic extremists in Algeria.
Therefore I encourage the local Imam to strive for tolerance and equal rights for Christians in Muslim countries.
Dr Joe Brincat
Sep 11th 2010, 18:55
@ David Borg. I agree with you that any country should effectively help religious tolerance. There is no point in tolerating the majority religion. It is always the minority religions that need most protection. It is true that there are countries which deny such rights. You mentioned Algeria. Fundamentalism was a serious headache to the authorities. Just across the border there is Tunisia. In Tunis there is a Catholic Cathedral. In Djerba they have various religious faiths. Jews live peacefully. So do Christians.
Dr Joe Brincat
Sep 11th 2010, 22:29
@ David Borg. Dave, I checked about Christains in the Holy Land. There are two per cent of the population who are indigenous Christians. A number are leaving because of the political situation, not on account of religious intolerance. There is a website which gives good information about them.
M. Grech
Sep 10th 2010, 23:41
All in the name of religion. While I condemn the proposed Koran burning protest, just watching the 9/11 events on TV cannot help thinking that proposing to build a mosque at ground zero is most insensitive to say the least irriespective of the freedom and tolerence enjoyed in the United States, Please stop all this nonsense in the name of religion (all religions) and respect the sensitivities of the people that have been deeply hurt and had thier life traumatised by the actions of a few fanatics.
Jesmond Mifsud
Sep 10th 2010, 11:29
The Koran burning will not be happening. Pastor Jones decided against it yesterday. Once again, Islam has managed to scare Western individuals into giving up their constitutional rights. I'm not saying that I was agreeing with what pastor Jones was going to do. His actions were just another crazy religious act. All religions are destructive and go against humanity in more ways than one. It always strikes me as ironic that Imams use the word "peaceful". Islam is anything but peaceful. Also, let's not forget that this particular Imam, mentioned on this article, is in favor of Sharia law which goes completely against our western values.
John Azzopardi
Sep 9th 2010, 22:55
I wonder what the Iman's position is on the pending stoning of the Iranian woman. THis is what I would like him to answer. Has the Maltese media asked this question of this IMan, or are they afraid to ask. This is then what we can based what character this Iman has.
Martin Cassar
Sep 9th 2010, 21:00
What if one fine day the truth about 9/11 reveals and proves that the whole 9/11 thing was a USA government [inside job] with the collaboration CIA,FBI,MOSSAD in order to create the conditions to invade and then control the Arabian Gulf' wealth and keep China away from this cake?. Interested to know, rarely, or hardly mentioned axis of evil and way it was a MUST to attack Iraq? Hit the following links: The Master Plan for the World and its effect on Resource Stocks http://www.321gold.com/editorials/maund/maund092906.html They deny the truth and hate love. They have done so more than 2000 years ago and still doing! HUNDREDS OF MOSSAD AGENTS CAUGHT RUNNING WILD IN AMERICA! http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/hundreds.html?q=hundreds.html
Charles Sammut
Sep 9th 2010, 19:18
The only peaceful religion is 'no religion'. Ever heard of a fundamentalst or extremist atheist? Or an atheist blowing himself to cries of 'No god is the greatest'? There will never be peace on Earth as long as there is religion.
CZARB
Sep 9th 2010, 22:45
Ever heard of Josef Stalin Mr Sammut? He was a convinced atheist who turned churches into swimming pools and ice scating rings. What about Mao Zedong, another convinced atheist?
A.Grech
Sep 9th 2010, 18:44
Wise and holy words indeed by the peaceful Imam. May God bless him. Pity though that he is not the point of reference equivalent to His Holiness Pope Benedict. If only ALL Muslims had a point of reference and leadrer as the Malta Imam.
David Seychell
Sep 9th 2010, 17:37
President Obama himself admitted that it is Pastor Terry Jones's constitutional legal right to do what he intends to do. However I doubt that he will actually do it because I think he knows that exercising his legal right in that democratic country would practically mean signing his own death certificate.
CZarb
Sep 9th 2010, 15:20
For once I agree and applaud the Imam for his wise words. He may have defended the sharia law which goes against all sort of human decency but in this particular issue he is right.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20091119/local/chopping-off-hands-of-thieves-is-deserving-punishment-imam
martin saliba
Sep 9th 2010, 15:15
" He expressed concern that the burning of the Koran would, 'God forbid', start a cycle of violence that could in its wake leave victims far greater in number than 9/11 tragedy." I do not condone terrorism but if you taunt a tame sleeping dog it could bite you and it would serve you right. The US has known of the intentions of these people to hold a kuran burning for more than two months. It should have passed some kind of legislation to be able to stop them and convict the if they go on with there plans but hasn't probably because of the right to freeddom of expresion. What about the right to live of the people who are sure to die because of these lunatics that call themselves christians.
Charles Sammut
Sep 9th 2010, 21:14
"It should have passed some kind of legislation to be able to stop them and convict them if they go on with there plans but hasn't probably because of the right to freeddom of expresion. " These extreme measures are not resorted to in real democracies.
joe falzon
Sep 9th 2010, 15:00
well said Mr Sadi.....violence serves nothing but to fan the flames. extremists in all religions are terrorists in one way or another.
renald williams
Sep 9th 2010, 14:58
may we learn to relax...
Old Testament Moses killed humans; told followers to kill Hebrews:
and other religions, destroying their symbols, meeting places.
Some Christians from Emperor Constantine till Second World War:
killed millions of Christians; and non Christians, destroying their symbols,
meeting places, in name of Crusades, Holy Inquisition, One Church Only Salvation.
Some Christians: from Saint Thomas Moore; till 1960’s,
burned Christian New Testaments.
Koran Muhammad killed humans: told followers to kill Muslims;
and other religions, destroying their symbols, meeting places, like Buddha statues.
Some Muslims; continue to kill Muslims and non Muslims, in North America,
Middle East, Eastern Europe, Asia, like 9/11 burnings, where some now want a mosque.
Some Muslims; want others to turn to Islam,
but kill Muslims who turn to another religion.
Some Muslims want freedom to preach Islam,
but kill those who preach different religion.
after-Muhammad's-death-Muslims-themselves-burnt-copies-of-Koran.
Some Hindus, clash with Muslims and Christians.
Some Bible beleivers, kill infants in the name of undeveloped humanity.
Some Muslims kill infants in the name of soul less beings.
Some Hindu and Buddha beleivers, kill infants in the name of re incarnation.
In the Gospels: Jesus instead of killing others; was killed by others, and Jesus forgave...
martin saliba
Sep 9th 2010, 22:01
So what you are saying is that christianity is not the religion of jesus. You tried to make a point in favour of your religion and it backfired.
D.Bonello
Sep 9th 2010, 14:46
Relocate the mosque out of ground zero.
D Farrugia
Sep 9th 2010, 13:53
@ A Spiteri and to all those that say Muslim is violent. First of all may i remind you the atrocities commited by the church in the dark ages. It was then our Pope and his army of crusaders who for centuries commited atrocities to win over the holy land. If they tried to win over Europe, we tried to win over the middle east with same means no less.
Secondly there are extremists in each and every religion. The jihadists you are mentioning are extremists. We also have extremists in our religion and that small group in the US is an extremist. Unfortunately the media tend to focus on the few extremists rather then the other millions and billions of people practicing their religion peacefully together.
Rather then reading that 90 page book you are mentioning you better grab and read the Koran before commenting. That book has nothing to do with the Koran and its teachings.
CZarb
Sep 9th 2010, 15:55
Before Mohammed's arrival, all the Mediterranean region was Christian thanks to Costantine and Theodosius. Numerous Islamic conquest saw Christianity lose not only the holy lands, North Africa and Turkey but also Spain, Sicily and Greece. The crusades were a direct response to Islam's aggressive expansion and while they had a worse reputation (which was totally justified) then the jihads one mustn't believe that Islam found it easy to tolerate other religions. Usually, non Islamic people where considered dhimmi and where considered as third class citizens in their own land just because they where guilty of being Christian/Jews. To be fair people like Saladin and Sulejman treated people of other religions with a level of tolerance which where rare in those days.
To conclude crusades are condemned by present (and even past) popes which is a clear sign of maturity considering that the Islamic world has yet to come to terms with the Armenian genocide.
A.J. Fenech
Sep 9th 2010, 13:44
Words of peace and wisdom from this Imam. But how many others like him are there throughout the Islamic world? How many Imam's have todate condemned the Twin Towers destruction and murders? How many have condemned the London bombings some time later? How many step forward to defend minority Christians in their own lands? I would suggest that Islam is its own worst enermy, besides the enemies it has created through the aforementioned atrocities. In addition, it also has enemies in the use of Internet and progressive modernisation as more and more Islamic youths (particularly in Europe) continue in their many thousands to embrace non-Islamic ways and realise the anachronistic regression of sticking to edicts and proclamations that have grown mouldy with the passing centuries. If the "word" of Islam is to foster peace and love, then it should set an example. Is it really doing that Imam? Yes, in the past atrocities were committed in the false name of Christiany. That was hundreds of years ago and today Christians universally condemn and are ashamed of such atrocities. They do not trumpet them as "triumphs" but rather as a disgrace on their beliefs. Hence the difference between Christianity and Islam.
Ramon Mizzi
Sep 9th 2010, 13:28
No one should be burning books of any kind. We live in the 2010 for God's sakes. This message goes to everyone no matter what their religious believes are as burning of books is shear ignorance no matter how hurt these people are. Condolences to the families of the victims of 9/11. May everyone around the world including the Muslims pray for them to give them strength as they suffered a great lot.
Frans Sammut
Sep 9th 2010, 12:51
Imam al-Sadi is indeed a wise man. If only there were many more wise men of his calibre. This world would be a much better place to live in. It should however be noted that the Imam derives his wisdom from his faith not from any type of strategy, be it social, political or military. His message utterly puts to shame the notions proposed by that lunatic "reverend" who goes by the name of Jones. I still cannot come to terms with the idea that the latter might be assumed to represent the US population. He most definitely does NOT. No nation can be reasonably expected to be made up of such persons. These belong to the lunatic fringe. The Right faction of politics is a sure refuge to these sickos. The fact that they can still air their crazy views should be considered as the limitless democratic set-up of a country that allows its insane citizens to roam about rather than be collared in institutions that could harm them more rather than cure them as Foucault would affirm. What Foucault unfortunately never assessed was the harm these out-patients could in turn wreak on society.
Patrick Mc Bride
Sep 9th 2010, 12:44
Thank you For you Kind Words and Thoughts......
Patrick Sacco
Sep 9th 2010, 12:40
Personally, I prefer that there would be no Mosque building at Ground Zero (as that would offend the memory of those 3,000 innocent victims) and no burning of the Koran (as that would be an offence to Muslims).
The burning of the Koran, or any other book, will not bring back the dead!
On the contrary, it may (God forbid) bring more hatred and bloodshed of innocent people!
Life is short, enjoy it!
M Vella
Sep 9th 2010, 12:01
Imam Mohammad El Sadi, I admire you so much because you are a man of peace.
Ramon Casha
Sep 9th 2010, 11:25
"The Imam said the September 11 attacks and all acts of terrorism were considered by all Muslims as atrocious...."
Unfortunately no, not "all Muslims" see things that way. Indeed a substantial number either support violence, or tolerate it.
"He said the US administration should use its powers to prevent this unfortunate but expected bonfire as this not only goes against the professed American values of respect of all religions and their sacred books and symbols but also endangers the Christian Muslim relations and the world peace."
One of the most important things to Americans is the freedom of speech - something that is given far more importance than "respect of religions". In fact, America has a history of controversy about whether it is acceptable for Americans to burn the American flag. Even if the majority of people in the US feel that burning the Koran is a wrong thing to do, it still falls under "free speech" and the US administration can do nothing about it except perhaps try to find an excuse such as deeming it a fire hazard.
T.Cardona
Sep 9th 2010, 11:18
Can some Christian or Muslim please supply some statistics as to how many churches and registered priests/preachers exist in Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Iran and the number of mosques and registered imams in Italy, France, Germany, UK?
Stephen Koludrovic
Sep 9th 2010, 15:00
Don,t know about Sudan, but in Saudi you can count them on one amputated finger. Iran probably the same .
Adrian Gouder
Sep 9th 2010, 11:14
Wise and admirable words indeed,. Yes, we know that Allah is mericul and practice this. Do you? I wonder what Ms. Ashtiani (Modlem woman awaiting sentensing and eventually stoning). Do you still think that a woman (sinner!) should be stoned? If not, have you done anthing about this?
J. Huber
Sep 9th 2010, 11:07
Wise words and good reflections about possible consequences of such an outrageous action supported by a strongly worded statement issued by the Pontifical Council for Dialogue Among Religions.
J.Debono
Sep 9th 2010, 10:59
Wise words from a loving and peaceful man. God bless you dearest Imam.
G. Borg
Sep 9th 2010, 10:59
Wise words indeed from the Imam, I hope that one day all Muslims around the globe will understand this message and stop taking advantage of Religion !!
kevin mifsud
Sep 9th 2010, 10:54
i woke up,to hear about this crazy,mentally disturbed priest,from somewhere in america.....what is he thinking?i think what was predicted,about 2012.....will eventually happen,if this happens....my god...how would he feel,if it was the otherway round...god bless everyone
Jesmond Micallef
Sep 9th 2010, 10:53
The burning of books was once carried out by a european regime which exterminated human beings in the millions. Should the burning of the Koran be carried out here, it can only mean that these same people subscribe with those twisted values !!
I urge all Moslems to take pride in the Mosque which will be built right next to Ground Zero in New York as a further confirmation that not all American people have hatred againt the Islamic faith. The President of the United States of America, Mr. Barrack Obama, has indeed endorsed and fully agreed with the building of the Mosque and he has also aired his concern against the burning of the Koran very publically.
Miguel Micallef
Sep 9th 2010, 10:52
Nice initiative in the US. The burning should be expanded to include all religious books and symbols from the various main religions and held every year. Just to hammer in the fact to the religious people, who, after all, are just peope in dire need of help (many times psychologically) that they are just being scammed out of what little is left in their life.
Ivan Grech Mintoff
Sep 9th 2010, 10:48
Very wise words indeed.
Let's hope they are heeded.
Equally, let's also hope the US authorities also stop the nonsense that some non-Christians wish to carry out.
Most agree with the statement:
"May we add here, we call all people who committed or commit acts of terrorism simply terrorists. We do not prefix their faith to their act. Branding terrorism or terrorist as Islamic or Muslim is major reason for the rise of this Islamic phobia."
Let the Power of Prayer and common sense by all prevail !!
Only that, I am sure would be pleasing to God.
Ernest Vella
Sep 9th 2010, 10:43
Burning the Koran is wrong for respect for other faiths is fundamental...as killing a woman is wrong...instead they must do as Jesus did...Jesus who muslims consider him as a great prophet..."No one condems you, neither I will. Go, and sin no more"....to err is human to forgive is divine....One thing I ask...were is the man by whom she did adultery
The burning of the Koran is done by fundementals not by Christians, and sure not by Catholics because Nostra Aetate forbids that also but also the Christian love...fundamentals are always wrong, whether are Christian or Muslims...again I ask...were are the graffitti?
M. Fenech
Sep 9th 2010, 10:36
I think that this American Pastor is a mad man! I can't understand what he's going to achieve by burning the Koran! Probably, he will have alot of enemies after this foolish gesture, and above all he'll be putting other people's lives in danger. I hope that the American authorities will stop this mad man, and his followers, from doing this non sense gesture. It would be a great instult to burn the Koran. On September the 11th, there were many victims who were muslims, and this would be a great insult to their memory. All religions would have felt the same way by a stupid action like this. Maybe this so called Pastor has a hidden agenda to put fuel onto an already burning flame! Shame on him, and his followers!
M.Gauci
Sep 9th 2010, 10:34
As usual, wise words from a wise and peaceful man.
Andrew Battenti
Sep 9th 2010, 11:41
May I also add that the Imam of Malta is a holy man who loves the Lord with all his heart and soul, and has received and cherishes the divine revelation.
Samir Abou-Hussein
Sep 9th 2010, 10:30
First happy Aid Al fitr to all the muslims all over the world, especially to those who suffers a lot because of the occupation, difficulty in life issues and natural disasters, hopefully the next Aid, their situation will be better. About this criminal who will burn some copies of the holy Kuran!he does not even respect the church who is taking advantage and making this evil act under the name of the church! the church always it will be symbol of love between all the people! such criminal represents the Zionism and the Nazist who just come to this world to increase the hatred and the wars between the people on the Earth! the key question here, Is USA law allows such criminal to conduct his crime? All the religious and civil Authority showed that they are against, so they do not apply the appropriate leglisative steps against this criminal? why giving this criminal all this importance by giving him the opportunity to speak to all the media? it is a message of infinite hatred! God is great and the strong faith is always in the heart and in souls as the Imam have said! peace with you all.
J Farrugia
Sep 9th 2010, 11:18
Dont continue with your racist diatribes againt the Jews. Malta will have none of this racism and xenophobia against the Jews. In real terms, we see the worst violence committed against innocent people especially Catholics and Christians by the muslim radicals and not vice versa. The magnificent suicide bombers, the throat slachers, the murdered soldiers and civilians and aid workers. Who murdered them in cold blood if not islamic radicals? Can you deny all these truths?
E Compagno
Sep 9th 2010, 12:01
First of all, happy Eid al-Fitr to you and all peace loving muslims.
Secondly, I would calm a little down here. This is not 'THE' church. The 'pastor' in question leads more of a cult than a 'church' at all, with roughly 50, yes FIFTY followers! His so called organisation is merely 24 years old and if not for his 'Burn a Koran Day', we'd never have even known about it. More here: http://www.nowpublic.com/world/terry-jones-dove-world-outreach-center-what-it-2660875.html
The curia doesn't owe any statement because this guy has nothing to do with Roman Catholicism. The only thing the curia can do is condemn on the grounds of the act of desecrating one's holy book to be morally wrong.
But is it illegal in the US? No. It's not. People are free to burn the bible too if they wanted or any book for that matter, just like other countries are free to burn flags, I guess.
With every Holy book... it's just paper and ink. Isn't it the message that counts? Can anyone really burn away the message?
Joseph N Attard
Sep 9th 2010, 13:43
Here is a living example of a fundamentally twisted Muslim mind. In one fell swoop, Samir Abou-Hussein equates Zionism with Nazism. Can you be more completely unbalanced than that? Muslims such as the Imam are a credit to their faith, whether one agrees with it, or its world-wide operations, or not; people like Samir Abou-Hussein are responsible for the negative attitude with which non-Muslims view Muslims in general.
Samir Abou-Hussein
Sep 9th 2010, 15:51
@J Farrugia, I think you need to enrich your knowledge about the big diffrenece between Zionists and Jews! there are alot of genuine jews in USA, in Uk, in Germany and all over the world who are against the zionism!if you read my opinoin, I never referered to jews(always to zionism)!
@E Compagno, thank you very much about your explanation! highly appreciated! Peace with you ALL.
J Galea
Sep 9th 2010, 10:28
Hats off to this gentleman and his words. May his moderation be matched by others - any statement by the Catholic Church in Malta about this? There are good Muslims and bad Muslims. There are good Christians and bad Christians. There are good Jews and bad Jews. It is a sad reflection on the state of humanity that one even has to say these things.
Jason Fenech
Sep 9th 2010, 10:43
Your comment reminds me of a famous quote by Steven Weinberg;
With or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil—that takes religion.
s.koludrovic
Sep 9th 2010, 16:39
Wel said by both of you.
JOe VELLa
Sep 9th 2010, 10:27
@Mohammad El Sadi
As a true believer like you Sir, of 'One God, the Merciful', I have full gratitude to what you are quoted to have said. I Sir, sincerely wish you a long lifeof this good example to all.
However as always there is two sides to everything.
Let us assume the majority in Malta is Muslim such as in Saudi, Iran, Morocco, Sudan or Pakistan were it is a fact it is hard to be a Christian although their is the same like yours of a 'One God the Merciful', will you find the Iman speaking like you do?
What will happen if the majority will be Moslem in Malta as in the past, will we Christians be again treated as second class citizens in our own land?
You, Sir, today you are at law as equal to any other citizen! Can you hand on heart say it is the same in Moslem countries?
v mercieca
Sep 9th 2010, 10:19
Unfortunately only Muslims react in a violant way when they feel offended, as they have no strong arguments to defend their position.
Remember when the Pope quoted what a king in the middle ages said about Islam. Churches were burnt and nuns were killed. Muslims react that way because they are thought and brought up to act that way.
What a difference from “Love your enemies and pray for them”. “Forgive us Lord as we forgive those who trespass against us”.
In Islam you will find “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”.
May all the Imams around the world follow Imam El Saadi and will encourage their followers not to do anything foolish in retaliation to the insensitive action that his pastor has in mind to do.
Jacques René Zammit
Sep 9th 2010, 10:27
I don't know which word is most suited to your comment without being offensive. "Uneducated" is probably the best and safest bet. ("Ignorante perché ignori" would probably be too much for you to take in).
First of all it's "taught" not "thought".
Secondly given the history of violence perpetrated by the most holy roman catholic church in the name of a superior being I do not think anyone is in a position to hurl boulders.
Finally, in case it escaped your illuminated attention, the Imam's reaction is to the action of a "christian community" that intends to perpetrate an intentional act of violence and disrespect on a book that is considered holy by millions of people worldwide. Only the Muslims eh? more like Only V Mercieca.
joseph galea
Sep 9th 2010, 10:44
what a load of kotzwollop
IRA, ETA, Brigate Rosse and others.........islamists?
Our bible contains the ghajn ghal ghajn........sinna ghal sinna too.
Ther is no justification for terrorism or violence and these should not be branded by faith or race.
We, the good guys, have had our own on shooting rampage in schools, churches. Where they branded?
So let us stop this silly nonsensical defamation of nations or beliefs.
Some of my best friends are muslim and I trust them like I would any other.
They are not violent and their upringing does not seem to have a hidden switch that when pressed they will explode.
God is love and Allah akbar
joe the plumber
C. Borg
Sep 9th 2010, 13:56
Jacques, everybody has the right to express themselves ... even the uneducated.
The history of violence you mention happened centuries ago. Surely you are educated enough to accept that such behaviour does not fit modern times.
Lydia Pace Workman
Sep 9th 2010, 14:10
@ Jacques Rene' Zammit..........Defensive aren't we? V Mercieca forgot one important point. There is no way that anyone can change the mentality of certain Moslems plain and simple. The US has been in Iraq for too long attempting to make a difference, has it? I seriously doubt it! It is not a matter of ignorance but more that history will repeat itself over and over and over!
Stephen Koludrovic
Sep 9th 2010, 14:34
@ Jacque Rene Zammit
I don,t know why you are so offended with Mr. Mercieca,s comments, since more or else what he commented is basically true.
Secondly if we are going to mention the Catholics history of violence in the sixteenth century, the violence of Muslim Turks in those days were by far worst, and for a much longer time. In fact right up to our times.
Just a small read up of some Balkan history,on how the introduction of Islam into Serbia,Kosovo,Bosnia,Bulgaria,Romania and Greece was effected might broaden your knowledge of the situation.
M. Debono
Sep 9th 2010, 14:40
Lydia: if as you say, history repeats itself, why should it only do so only with respect to Islam? No one in this world has a monopoly on intolerance and violence. The worst violence in the past hundred years or so has been perpetrated in the name of secular movements or ideologies which originated in the West.
ASpiteri
Sep 9th 2010, 10:15
read this 90 page book and hopefully u might scrap the 'peaceful religion' crap once and for all...
Jihad: Islam's 1,300 Year War Against Western Civilisation - Arthur Kemp
For centuries, violent Muslims have been trying to capture Europe for Islam. Sweeping out from its origin in Saudi Arabia, Islam has expanded through violent conquest into North Africa, the Middle and Near East - and very nearly into Europe itself, attacking through Spain, Italy, and the Balkans. Each time, the Islamic hordes were turned back by a united European military effort.Today, the Islamic invasion is not being carried out with sieges, scimitars, or cannon, but rather by immigration, birth rates, and demographics. Given current trends, Europe is set to be overrun before the end of this century. Finally, this book dares to say what must be done if Europe is to avoid succumbing to the new invasion. The choice is hard, but is one which will determine whether Western Civilisation lives or dies.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jihad-Islams-Against-Western-Civilisation/dp/1409205029
Andrew Camilleri
Sep 9th 2010, 11:04
Ever heard of the Inquisition, Crusades and the Holocaust?
All of them were perpetrated by us Christians......all religions can be distorted to become religions of violence and hatred instead of tolerance and peace.