Yemeni lawyers have called for a newspaper editor to be sentenced to death for showing cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad, his paper says. Muhammad al-Asadi was arrested after his publication, the Yemen Observer, showed the Danish cartoons in February. He denies the charges of offending Islam, under which he is being tried. The English-language newspaper has had its license to publish suspended, although its staff have continued to produce material on-line. Lawyers leading a civil case against publishers of the cartoons — in addition to the public case — cited precedents from Muslim history when the prophet was insulted by a woman and then praised her killer. Source: [BBC]
The death penalty! Geez! This is just out of control. There is an interview with him from jail right after his arrest that suggests he is at least somewhat prepared. Meanwhile, as expected, the cartoon row seems to have played an integral part in a new survey highlighting the growing negative image of Muslims and Arabs. Her are some excerpts from the Washington Post’s front page story:
As the war in Iraq grinds into its fourth year, a growing proportion of Americans are expressing unfavorable views of Islam, and a majority now say that Muslims are disproportionately prone to violence, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. The poll found that nearly half of Americans — 46 percent — have a negative view of Islam, seven percentage points higher than in the tense months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, when Muslims were often targeted for violence.
The survey comes at a time of increasing tension; the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq show little sign of ending, and members of Congress are seeking to block the Bush administration’s attempt to hire an Arab company to manage operations at six of the nation’s ports. Also, Americans are reading news of deadly protests by Muslims over Danish cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad.
As a school bus driver in Chicago, Gary McCord, 65, dealt with many children of Arab descent. "Some of the best families I’ve ever had were some of my Muslim families," he said in a follow-up interview. "They were so nice to me." He now works for a Palestinian Christian family, whose members he says are "really marvelous." But his good feelings do not extend to Islam. "I don’t mean to sound harsh or anything, but I don’t like what the Muslim people believe in, according to the Koran. Because I think they preach hate," he said. As for the controversial cartoons of Muhammad, he said Arabs seem hypersensitive about religion. "I think it’s been blown out of proportion," he said. Source: [Washington Post]
Fadi,
I understand what you say about Palestinian desperation. That being said do you think that their desperation would justify suicide bombings?
It seems like you condemn all suicide bombings. Does that include those done in Israel?
Also how come you ignored all my comments about Arab Christians and our sufferings, and about discrimination and racism in the US. Or is that all justified?
No, racism is not justified – ever.
cheers
while i don’t think it was a smart move to publish the cartoons, this reaction is extreme to say the least.
natasha, do you think this charge falls into the “near enemy” meme that both bill clinton and reza aslan have been speaking of lately?
doxRaven: Actually you are the one that is quite polite. Thanks for ignoring any comment I made about my opposition to violence. You can’t possibly say that Islam is a factor in terrorism. Just because some evil doers choose to high jack a relegion and hide behind it, that doesn’t justify your claim.
And you don’t agree that Invading Iraq was called a crusade? Have you ever listened to the top politicians in the states, some of the very top ones called it a crusade, so look into it a bit more. Once again, 9/11 is not justified, London bombing is not justified, Jordan bombing (was committed by moslems against fellow moslems) is not justified.
However, for your benefit let me clarify myself. When I reffered to desparation I was refering to the Palestine/Israel. I agree that Bin Laden and his followers are a different story. I’m sorry for the confusion. However, again I don’t consider Islam the motivator for suicide bombing, hate yes, Islam no. That is just wrong to say.
Just because someone calls themselves a Moslem it doesn’t mean they are following the true teachings of Islam, just like because someone calls themselves a Christian, it doesn’t mean they are following the ture meanings of Christianity.
Also how come you ignored all my comments about Arab Christians and our sufferings, and about discrimination and racism in the US. Or is that all justified? If you want to keep going with the punches you are throwing, go for it but I have to say that this is my last message regarding this subject. I didn’t offend you first, and I have no intention to argue or offend anyone. I simply stated my opinion, isn’t that what freedom and democracy are all about, or is it only if there for certain people.
Have a nice one, Fadi
firstly Fadi you are very polite, I am not sure I can match you but I’ll try my best.
People that represent true Islam are ones like King Abdullah. How come people don’t say look at King Abdullah of Jordan and see how peaceful Islam is?
I think it is problematic to cherry pick who represents the true Islam and who does not. I am on the side that ‘true Islam’, and for that matter any ideology, is defined by how it is lived by its followers. In my travels I have met fundamentalist Christians and Muslims and it was ‘moderate’ western Muslims that condoned the killing of anyone wanting to leave Islam not fundamentalist Christians ( one of those Muslims, btw, was kind enough to give me a copy of the Quran).
I think not, I think it was Israel that created Hamas, I suggest you do a bit more research on the creation of the fanatic movements within Islam.
Sure, opposition to Israel is a factor and so is Islam, and it is the latter that you are ignoring. Describing the removing of Saddam as a crusade is no accurate. If that was the case why would the US allow a constitution base on Islam.
[Iraq Constitution]Islam is the national religion and a basic foundation for the country’s laws; however, freedom of religion is upheld.
You choose to use the term ‘crusade’ to bring in all sorts of unsubstantiated connotations.
For your information true Islam is as tolerant as true Christianity.
I agree if you compare Islam today with the Christianity of the Middle Ages, of the inquisitions, and of the witch hunts.
Once again I don’t agree with any violent movement regardless of its religion. I also want to point out that Moslems are not the first people to use suicide bombing out of desperation
What desperation caused the bombings in London, or Madrid, or Bali, or Luxor or…? To excuse the targeting of children traveling on their bus to school is reprehensible and I can not find common ground with that.
doxRaven: If I may disagree with you. Islam is not what motivates suicide bombers. Have you ever asked yourself why do these people do what they do?
Have you ever been to Gaza? Have you ever seen the living conditions of these people? These people are desperate. How come during the early years of Oslo when the Palestinians saw hope, there was a lull in violence?
These people happen to be Moslems and do what they are doing. I agree that there are some evil ones out there like Bin Laden for example who has high jacked a whole religion. But remember he does not represent Islam. People that represent true Islam are ones like King Abdullah. How come people don’t say look at King Abdullah of Jordan and see how peaceful Islam is?
Another point that I like to make is, who created fanatic Islam? Who created Hamas? Who supported Al Qaida? Was it the poor Palestinian boy on the streets of Gaza watching his own home being demolished? I think not, I think it was Israel that created Hamas, I suggest you do a bit more research on the creation of the fanatic movements within Islam.
Additionally, when the west goes and invades a whole nation and calls it a crusade isn’t that terrorism and hiding behind the Bible? Is it right to invade a whole nation and kill so many innocent Iraqis all in the name a crusade based on the Christian right wing’s understanding of the Bible.
I will never say that this crusade represents Christianity and I refuse it. For your information true Islam is as tolerant as true Christianity. I suggest you go do your research before just saying Moslems are holding a Quran in one hand a bomb in the other. Because you’ll as many Christians holding the Bible in one hand and a weapon in the other.
Once again I don’t agree with any violent movement regardless of its religion. I also want to point out that Moslems are not the first people to use suicide bombing out of desperation, look at some history in Asia I suggest. Don’t take this personally, but please do your research.
Regards, Fadi
Fadi
I think it makes a whole lot more sense to judge people based on their words and actions and not to generalize.
you say this but you don’t live by it – your post is riddled with generalizations. Generalizations are inevitable and a natural part of how humans think, and how humans perceive and make sense of the world. The problem is not ‘generalizations’ per say, but their accuracy, validity and ability to withstand scrutiny. A ‘generalization’ does not mean that there are no exceptions. For example: ‘in general, men are stronger than women’.
Do Arabs have a different culture to British or Russians or Chinese? I think that some broad statements can be made. But yes, when the individual is before you, you would be wise to judge him/her on his/her merits.
Now to generalizations about religions. Suicide bombers are, in general, motivated by Islamic ideas. I have yet to see one video of a Christian would-be suicide bomber clutching the New Testament in one hand and a Kalashnikov in the other, yet I have seen a large number clutching the Quran. That is not to say that, as you also point out, there are enough Christian and secular nut jobs.
Which other faith has a Bin Laden and Al Qaeda? Now, a popular argument is that OBL does not represent Islam. Maybe yes, but OBLs popular following is real in the Muslim world, and real people do real things that form real perceptions – never mind what is written.
Timothy, Interesting insight. However, I would like to make a few comments. To begin, I am a Christian Arab. Spent most of my adult life in the United States.
During my years in the US I had many good experiences and enjoyed meeting many people. But I also had many horrible experiences ranging from being called a Palestinian bastard on a job interview to being threatened to be killed by Christian Americans at my college that I didn’t even know, there reasoning was just that I am Arab.
What you are doing in your message is labeling Islam as an evil religion and labeling Christianity as a peaceful religion. I don’t think this is fair.
Pat Robertson, who is considered by many as the voice of Christianity in the US called for going to Iraq and killing them “in the name Lord”. If you generalize and say that Christians are peaceful people, how could you respond to Mr. Robertson?
I think it makes a whole lot more sense to judge people based on their words and actions and not to generalize.
What I would say to the west is to stop generalizing and demonizing Arabs and Islam. And be rest assured that we the Arab Christians are between a rock and a hard place, we are the ones suffering the most because of the actions of Christians in the West. We are becoming alienated because today we have very little support in the Arab world and even less from our brethren Christians in the West.
You see Western Christians going to the Holy Land and rushing to kiss the stones and touch them, while the living stones of the holy land are standing watching and crying for help. How many of these Christians visiting stop and take time to get to know the living stones of Palestine. How many take a minute and say we pray for you we think of you we understand your suffering?
Please, to put a label on one religion as a whole is not fair. Also you mention that Arabs are sensitive. Why is it when an insult made to Arabs, we are called sensitive. However, when an insult is made against Jews or Israel, its anti Semitic. I by no means agree with the reaction of the Moslem world regarding the Cartoons. But why can’t those in the West that stand up and defend Judaism and Israel do the same for Arabs and Islam?
At the bottom line, there are peaceful people form all religions, and the most peaceful people are the ones that don’t follow one of the three monotheistic religions. So let’s stop the ignorance and labeling a whole religion, a whole society, a whole nation, and start looking at individuals. That’s how you stop extremism, that’s how you stop terrorism, and that’s how we the Christians in the Arab world can become a bridge to the big gap between Christianity and the west with Islam and the east.
Cheers, Fadi
Being Mocked: The Essence of Christ’s Work, Not Muhammad’s
What we saw in the Islamic demonstrations over the Danish cartoons of Muhammad was another vivid depiction of the difference between Muhammad and Christ, and what it means to follow each. The work of Muhammad is based on being honored and the work of Christ is based on being insulted. This produces two very different reactions to mockery.
If Christ had not been insulted, there would be no salvation. This was his saving work: to be insulted and die to rescue sinners from the wrath of God. “He was despised and rejected by men . . . as one from whom men hide their faces . . . and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).
That’s the most basic difference between Christ and Muhammad and between a Muslim and a follower of Christ. For Christ, enduring the mockery of the cross was the essence of his mission. And for a true follower of Christ enduring suffering patiently for the glory of Christ is the essence of obedience. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11). During his life on earth Jesus was called a bastard (John 8:41), a drunkard (Matthew 11:19), a blasphemer (Matthew 26:65), a devil (Matthew 10:25); and he promised his followers the same: “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household” (Matthew 10:25).
How should his followers respond? On the one hand, we are grieved and angered. On the other hand, we identify with Christ, and embrace his suffering, and rejoice in our afflictions, and say with the apostle Paul that vengeance belongs to the Lord, let us love our enemies and win them with the gospel.
When Muhammad was portrayed in twelve cartoons the uproar across the Muslim world was intense and sometimes violent. What does this mean?
It means that a religion with no insulted Savior will not endure insults to win the scoffers. It means that this religion is destined to bear the impossible load of upholding the honor of one who did not die and rise again to make that possible. It means that Jesus Christ is still the only hope of peace with God and peace with man. And it means that his followers must be willing to “share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).
http://www.desiringgod.org/library/fresh_words/2006/020806.html
Seriously, people need to move on already. It’s becoming pathetic really.
Dozens die in Iraq every week in the name of Islam and no religious leaders in other countries say anything about that.
I think it was king Hussain God rest his soul who said once that the problem with Islamists is that upon close inspection of their credentials you’ll find out most of them were poor academic achievers who saught college education in the sharee’a law.
I used to think it was a harsh comment, no matter how realistic it is, but really the messages we get today from these religious leadership figures confirms the fact that they probably are on the same IQ level of George Bush.