Prophet picture row in Bengal

[mujahideen]

Pakistanis condemn efforts to "denigrate Islam"

By Kamran Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's upper house of parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday condemning what it called efforts to denigrate Islam and promote hatred.

The Senate was referring to cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, first published in Danish newspapers in 2005, and a yet to be screened film in which a right-wing populist Dutch lawmaker plans to lay out his view of the Koran.

"All these efforts seem to be part of a campaign aimed at denigrating Islam, insulting the Islamic role model and injuring feelings of Muslims the world over," the Senate said in its resolution.

"These outrageous attacks may also be part of a game plan to provoke some persons into a violent reaction," it said.

The cartoons sparked violent protests across the Muslim world in 2006 in which at least 50 people were killed.

This month, Danish newspapers reprinted one of the cartoons, setting off small protests in several Muslim countries, including Pakistan, where two protests were held on Tuesday.

"Such malicious acts cannot be accepted in the name of freedom of expression. While freedom of expression is sacrosanct, it cannot be allowed to become freedom of insult, slander, libel, abuse and provocation," the Senate said.

"It is the height of hypocrisy that some of the countries of Europe, which have made the denial of the Holocaust a crime punishable with imprisonment, have given free licence to fanatics to demonise Islam and promote hatred and conflict among religious communities," it said.

This month, Iran urged the Netherlands to prevent the screening of the film by Geert Wilders -- a right-wing politician whose anti-Islam comments have led to death threats.

Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende last month appealed for restraint over the film.

Balkenende said it was unclear what Wilders would say in the film, which is expected to be aired in coming months, but there were concerns in the Netherlands and abroad.

 

[mujahideen]

World Muslims challenge Western perceptions of Islam

WASHINGTON: A huge survey of the world's Muslims has challenged Western notions that equate Islam with radicalism and violence.

The survey, conducted by the Gallup polling agency over six years and three continents, seeks to dispel the belief held by some in the West that Islam itself is the driving force of radicalism.

It shows that the overwhelming majority of Muslims condemned the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001 and other subsequent terrorist attacks, the authors of the study said in Washington.

"Samuel Harris said in the Washington Times (in 2004): 'It is time we admitted that we are not at war with terrorism. We are at war with Islam'," Dalia Mogadeh, co-author of the book "Who Speaks for Islam" which grew out of the study, told a news conference here.

"The argument Mr Harris makes is that religion in the primary driver" of radicalism and violence, she said.

"Religion is an important part of life for the overwhelming majority of Muslims, and if it were indeed the driver for radicalisation, this would be a serious issue."

But the study, which Gallup says surveyed a sample equivalent to 90 percent of the world's Muslims, showed that widespread religiosity "does not translate into widespread support for terrorism," said Mogadeh, director of the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies.

About 93 percent of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims are moderates and only seven percent are politically radical, according to the poll, based on more than 50,000 interviews.

In majority Muslim countries, overwhelming majorities said religion was a very important part of their lives -- 99 percent in Indonesia, 98 percent in Egypt, 95 percent in Pakistan.

But only seven percent of the billion Muslims surveyed -- the radicals -- condoned the attacks on the United States in 2001, the poll showed.

Moderate Muslims interviewed for the poll condemned the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington because innocent lives were lost and civilians killed.

"Some actually cited religious justifications for why they were against 9/11, going as far as to quote from the Koran -- for example, the verse that says taking one innocent life is like killing all humanity," she said.

Meanwhile, radical Muslims gave political, not religious, reasons for condoning the attacks, the poll showed.

The survey shows radicals to be neither more religious than their moderate counterparts, nor products of abject poverty or refugee camps.

"The radicals are better educated, have better jobs, and are more hopeful with regard to the future than mainstream Muslims," John Esposito, who co-authored "Who Speaks for Islam", said.
"Ironically, they believe in democracy even more than many of the mainstream moderates do, but they're more cynical about whether they'll ever get it," said Esposito, a professor of Islamic studies at Georgetown University in Washington.

Gallup launched the study following 9/11, after which US President George W. Bush asked in a speech, which is quoted in the book: "Why do they hate us?"

"They hate... a democratically elected government," Bush offered as a reason. "They hate our freedoms -- our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other."

But the poll, which gives ordinary Muslims a voice in the global debate that they have been drawn into by 9/11, showed that most Muslims -- including radicals -- admire the West for its democracy, freedoms and technological prowess.

What they do not want is to have Western ways forced on them, it said. "Muslims want self-determination, but not an American-imposed and -defined democracy. They don't want secularism or theocracy. What the majority wants is democracy with religious values," said Esposito.

The poll has given voice to Islam's silent majority, said Mogahed. "A billion Muslims should be the ones that we look to, to understand what they believe, rather than a vocal minority," she said.
Muslims in 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East were interviewed for the survey, which is part of Gallup's World Poll that aims to interview 95 percent of the world's population.

World Muslims challenge Western perceptions of Islam

 

[solid snake]

yar bas kar do Muslim bhaion, please ab bas kar do.

 

[mujahideen]

yar bas kar do Muslim bhaion, please ab bas kar do.

What do you mean? We habe the right to protest like anyone else. If we see some thing we will protest. All the artrocities going on in the world against Muslims is going to continue unless we learn to stand up for ourselves. I mean Muslims are being killed all over the world in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Kashmir, Chechniya and etc and on top of that our religion is being decerated and if that wasn't enough even the Pope is taking jabs at Islam, all these things must stop. Now let me make it clear by stand up I dont mean burn down a city I mean protest in a lawful and civilized manner, we have to do things in a civilized way. The only thing why our protests turn out to be violent is that mostly the poor protest and they dont care if they live or die. In the West we have peaceful protests because people dont want to go to jail because they have something to live for, they have money. If we had money we are probably more civilized then them.

 

[asaad-ul-islam]

like someone has said before, "they say they have the right to offend, but they don't give us the right to be offended"

 

[Quwa]

These acts in Europe can be argued as unconstitutional...sadly Muslims are illiterate in law.

 

[mujahideen]

These acts in Europe can be argued as unconstitutional...sadly Muslims are illiterate in law.

Sadly we are. That s why when the Iranian President denies the Holocast he is condemmed and when these pictures are printed it falls under the category of freedom of speech.

 

[ashfaque]

After reading all post seriously I can also contribute some thing -

1) I agree that most clashes between Hindu and Muslim are designed by Politicians from both sides. Other wise people who are protesting at street from both sides for various reason do not have money to buy book, see poster/pictures even to have comfortable two times bread. Most of the street protesters both from Hindu and Muslim side are job less and very easy to be influenced.

2) Our Muslim brothers are getting so fragile in nature that for a small insane activity they can waste huge time to protest. All other religion, countries taking advantage of this weakness and irritate Muslim brother very easily.

3) With in Muslim group many opportunists are taking advantage to spread their own agenda.

Important part is to see the hidden agenda behind the scene. If not then you are getting worked up by some one.