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September 28, 2004
A ray of hope?
The good news is that the Muslim Council of Britain has published a new guide for their followers - which condemns in roundabout terms - terrorism. It encourages their followers to report those who are drumming up support for terrosrist activities and to remember that they are BRITISH first, and presumably also subscribe to our freedoms of speech, religion, and tolerance! Obviously they have finally realised that the general impression of Muslims is now being dangerously slewed by these lunatics and their murderous activities in Iraq.
Of course, it is one thing to publish the booklet; it is quite another to counter the lead that the extremists already have with the young and ignorant followers of the al Hamza's of their fold. Now the Moderate voices of Islam have to seize the pulpits and the moral high ground; they need to persuade the young and gullible that there is no short cut to heaven via murder, atrocity, and intolerance. They need to reverse, too, the self declared "Sharia Zones" - Muslim Ghettos in some UK cities. They also need to look at integrating into this society rather than trying to recreate Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Iran, or wherever!
It is equally encouraging that they are sending a delegation to Iraq to try to negotiate the release of the hostage currently being threatened with one of their barbaric beheadings in the name of Allah. Whether or not they are successful, it will send a message to the local mullahs that this is not an acceptable way of doing business with anybody! Hopefully they will also be able to at least start their fellow Muslims thinking about the wider issues which they have so far refused to confront. Perhaps they may start people moving into the 20th Century - then it won't be such a big step into the 21st!
At least it is a start - but there is a huge amount of work to be done before the voices of moderation can prevail!
Posted by The Gray Monk at September 28, 2004 07:43 AM