Thursday, November 30, 2006

Insulting Islam breeds violence???

The Sunday Times, Malta reported Turkey's top Muslim official repeated in the presence of Pope Benedict that Islam was not a religion of violence and that arguing so can only encourage those who abuse religion to do wrong.

So calling Islam violent breeds violence. Posting a few cartoons breeds violence. Quoting what someone said in the 14th century breeds violence. Is it so much of a leap to suggest that perhaps it is Islam itself that breeds violence? Especially since the Quran (Surah 9:29 ) says Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.
Ali Bardakoglu, who heads Ankara's Directorate General for Religious Affairs which controls Turkish imams and writes their sermons, said all Muslims were offended by accusations that their religion was violent. "Such accusations and attempts can only serve to encourage those who perform wrong-doing on behalf of religion by way of exploitation," he said in a speech.

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