O'Connor: the heat is on
Cormac Murphy O'Connor is in the firing line for backing up George Carey's remarks about Islam. From AFP and Arab News:
LONDON, 13 April 2004 -- The Muslim Council of Britain late Sunday hit back at the archbishop of Westminster for saying Muslim leaders were not doing enough to denounce activists who carried out attacks "in the name of Allah".The Muslim leaders said they were "at a total loss" to explain the "wholly unjustified" accusation made by Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, head of the Catholic Church of England and Wales, on GMTV's Sunday program.
A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain said it had clearly denounced terrorism, adding: "This denunciation has been duly resonated throughout the entire community.
"Continuing to beat the Muslim community with the stick of terrorism is not only unfair but may also impact negatively on otherwise good inter-faith relations in the country."
At a total loss? Duly resonated throughout the whole community? Unfair? Come now. Are we not supposed to notice that Omar Bakri denounced the MCB's statement? Are we supposed to look the other way at the burning of the Union Jack? These protestations of bewilderment ring hollow in the face of obvious support for terror among British Muslims. A tiny minority of extremists? Okay, that's fine -- but what is the MCB doing to root them out, besides ignoring their existence?
During the television program the archbishop said he agreed with the former head of the Anglican Church, Lord Carey, who had "very bravely" criticized Muslim leaders for not saying more to combat those who might be attracted to terrorism.Lord Carey had refused to apologize after causing outrage by criticizing Islam during a recent lecture in Rome.
The council, which groups some 250 associations, recently wrote to mosques across the country urging them to help police fight terrorism. It asked imams and community leaders to be alert for possible illegal activities and report potential terrorists.
Lord Carey has nothing for which to apologize. He spoke the truth. When the truth is seen as a threat, well, what else can one say.
As for "beating with the stick of terrorism," there is no one else to blame for terrorism. The day that Methodists, Baptists, or another group begins to use terrorism, the blame can and will be shifted.
Denouncing terrorism is not enough. Helping to find and turning them in is the real test. This will never happen because Muslims may not turn each other in for fear of being labeled apostates. They have no loyalty to anyone but themselves.
epg is correct. I've re-read Dr. Carey's speech in its entirely- his reasoned pronouncements are certainly congruent with that OAS (or UN) Arab report last year that highlighted the Arab world's utter lack of advancement or contribution to humanity over the past centuries.
AL, not OAS!!! No coffee yet ;)
there is quarrel in the speeches of the muslim leaders
I'm just stunned that GWB would refuse to condemn the Israelis. Truly I am. I'm also stunned that CAIR has been vociferously condemning Hamas and Islamic Jihad's attacks against Israelis. I was shocked to hear Hooper say that the life of an Israeli is as valuable as the life of one Muslim.
Er, he didn't say that? Ooops! Sorry.
Excellent website !!! I thought of doing something like this myself...glad you are doing it...so well. I have worked and visited in many Islamic countries...I am a tech teacher in NYC