I came across this Elaph article (in Arabic) via Jameed indicating that some Iraqi sources are linking the latest attacks on churches in Iraq -– in which at least three people were killed and nine were wounded — to the current controversy involving the publication of caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten.
According to these sources, some Iraqi-Christian students at the University of Mosul were recently attacked by people upset by the publication of these caricatures in Denmark and Norway. These attacks came following the issuance of several fatwas that called for the expulsion of "the infidels and crusaders" for insulting the prophet. The Iraqi sources said it was likely that the coordinated church attacks that took place yesterday (Jan. 29) are linked with the recent anti-Christian campaign.
I’m not sure how credible this news is, as I’ve not seen mention of it anywhere else. But if it is accurate, then the world has absolutely gone crazy. What kind of a logic is this? People get upset at Danish cartoonists, so they decide to whack their fellow citizens! And who are these low-life individuals issuing fatwas that call for attacks on innocent civilians, ones who happen to belong to a religious minority. But then again, I guess I shouldn’t expect logic to pour forth from Iraq anytime soon.
It is no secret that the number of Christians in the Middle East is rapidly dwindling. According to this IRIN article, "about 150,000 Christians are believed to have left the country [Iraq] since the US occupation began in 2003." The number of Palestinian-Christians inside the Palestinian territories is also on the decrease, and I believe the same thing is happening in Egypt (please correct me if I’m wrong).
This is extremely bad news, as it would mean that, in the long run, the Mideast would lose the diversity that it has always enjoyed. I would ask clerics to issue a counter-fatwa urging believers to safeguard their Christian brethren who are amongst among the indigenous inhabitants of the Middle East who have suffered and fought hard to protect their nation.
Okay, Nas, I understand all of that; truly, I do. But you miss the key ingredient in this whole scenario: It is not just an “it’s in the book you should know it” situation. There has been a fatwa issued that does appear to contradict what you are saying should be common knowledge. Do see where I’m headed here?
It’s fine to say, “It’s in the book, everyone should know.” But then someone – a cleric – pops up and says something that muddies the waters, such that many might think now it is open season on Christians; that is how I regard the fatwa that Natasha relates.
So, if that fatwa is out there, contradicting what you cite as common well-known information, then it would tend to confuse those that look to fatwas for practical day-to-day direction. And yes, I know fatwas don’t rise above the writings of the Quran. But for the ordinary man on the street, they do serve as guidance sa7? So if I think I know and understand something from the Quran but someone, like a cleric, says something that counters my understanding with a fatwa, then I might be confused sa7?
The answer and my point: that confusion does exist. It’s obvious. It wasn’t created by the Quran. It was created by a fatwa. So why on earth wouldn’t it be proper for someone to come along and rectify that wrong, to clarify something that was obviously muddied? Again, I understand completely what you are saying — The Quran says this is wrong; it’s not confusing.
But the issuance of this fatwa appears to contradict what you are saying doesn’t it? That makes it confusing to some? Doesn’t it seem the logical and diplomatic thing to do is to clarify this for a multitude of reasons? If you think not, do you think that it’s okay for some of these “out-of-line” fatwas to be issued even though they could result in confusion, violence and, if nothing else, mistaken perceptions of Islam?
I agree with Jeff. Muslim clerics need to issue a fatwa clearly condemning such acts because they are increasing.
Jeff, a fatwa is not on a higher level in Islam than the quran or the sunnah. There are of course many things in both materials that may be unclear and demand the attention of fatwas to analyse them and clarify them as you said. However this sort of thing is so basic its not a matter of not bothering to issue a fatwa its a matter of that it shouldn’t.
It’s like this, every country in the world says that murder is illegal right? Do you need christian clergy or the Vatican to issue such reminders everytime someone is killed?
Not harming Christians and Jews who live among us is such a fundemental thing in Islam, it has nothing to do with my own knowledge compared to others, a 9 year old kid would know this.
like i said, you will have your stupid people at the end of the day who will neglect laws in a moment of rage or just plain stupidity. check this out.
In the lands of law and order, only law and order prevail; why should my life be under the mercy of ambiguous fatwas and counter fatwas; or ambiguous laws; should I say!
Nas, since you know better, aren’t fatwas also issued to provide clarity for an issue. I’m certain you are correct regarding the things you cite in the Quran. But when people on the ground see these actions, then hear a fatwa saying “these actions are just,” isn’t there a place for a cleric to issue a fatwa to provide clarity, putting people back on the proper path. [Clerics do issue fatwas that contradict one another at times sa7?].
You can always say “the rule is clear” but if someone has come out and confused that rule with a fatwa, why isn’t it worth the effort of someone recognizing the edict as wrong to clarify the issue for those on the ground. Perhaps you regard it as unnecessary because you know, but perhaps it’s not fully understood by some. Perhaps it would also be a good gesture. Lastly, haven’t fatwas been issued since time immemorial to provide clarity on religious issues, illuminating the “unknowing” by explaining that this or that is wrong to them, regardless of its presence in religious texts?
This is bad news. Anyway, Iraq is living in a chaos now and in the absence of the law enfocement, extremists and criminals will act freely.
a counter-fatwa? well first, fatwas are not poker and second they cant issue a fatwa on something that is already stated quite clearly in the quran and in the sunnah of the rasool pbuh. in the same manner no imam is going to issue a fatwa that says murder is a sin or don’t drink wine. in Islamic doctrine the concept of not attacking christians because of their religion is a matter engraved in stone.
however despite what is written in the quran or the sunnah, one should never underestimate a human being’s capacity for stupidity.
this is one of those cases.
as for the article, i read it over at jameed’s but you just reminded me that its from elaph, so you’re right to be weary of the source.
as for the car bombs, it’s a possibility they are related but given that they were car bombs and the fact that they are churches an educated guess would point to zarqawi and alqueda who are more famous for attacking mosques than anything else.
jewish temples and christian churches are forbidden to be touched also according to Islam (in case anyone was wondering)
I’m not sure the number of Egyptian Christians is actually decreasing, but intercommunal tensions seem higher every time I look in on the situation.
AMEEEEN
Wow, if true, between this and some of the comments on your newswire on the subject, maybe I should be a little more concerned about my infidel status in Jordan.