No doubt the Danish authorities think they're getting a organization that will teach Moderate, Peaceful, Tolerant Islam in Denmark. But Al-Azhar? Al-Azhar's Grand Sheikh, Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, has endorsed suicide attacks against Israeli civilians and is the other of an elephantine dissertation on the Qur'an's Jew-hatred (of which he thoroughly approves). Al-Azhar once the professorial home of the blind Sheikh, Omar Abdel Rahman, who masterminded the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. And this Institute will teach Moderate, Peaceful, Tolerant Islam?
The language alone, about dispelling misconceptions of Islam, is reminiscent of the language employed by so many sly Islamic apologists in the West already: instead of acknowledging that the jihadists are working from longstanding traditions of how the Qur'an and Sunnah are to be interpreted, and offering proposals for reform, these apologists maintain that Islam is peaceful and that perceptions otherwise stem from ignorance or misunderstanding of the Islamic texts -- and of course, they ignore or deny the existence or authenticity of texts that make their claim too obviously shaky.
Note also that this is a reaction to the Motoon controversy -- henceforth the dhimmis will be kept in line.
"Egypt: Denmark Approves Setting Up of Azhar Institute," from ANSAmed (thanks to Wayne):
(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, APRIL 7 - Danish authorities have approved the establishment of an Azhar institute in Denmark to teach the Islamic religion, confront misconceptions about Islam and explain the true Islam to the European society. The Islamic community in Denmark received initial approvals from authorities for the establishment of the institute, said Al Azhar Undersecretary Sheikh Abdel-Fattah Allam. Similar institutes have been established in Britain and Austria, he added. The decision came after Danish newspaper the Jyllands-Posten published Muhammad cartoons on 30 September 2005. The newspaper claimed that this publication was an attempt to contribute to the debate regarding criticism of Islam and self-censorship. The published cartoons outraged numerous reactions in the Arab world starting with protests to boycotting Danish products and called for several initiatives for interfaith dialogue.
Robert,
I'm sorry, but it's one of those stories we've come to expect from the muslim world. You know, the kind where truths and lies intermingle.
It's true that Al-Azhar plans to open an institute in Denmark. According to Bilal Assad, spokesperson for "Islamisk trossamfund"(the ones we've all come to "love and hate" during the Motoon controversy), they have received NO approval from Danish authorities. He should know, he's the one who's been in a dialogue with Al-Azhar about establishing the institute.
There's an article about it in Danish here: http://www.tv2lorry.dk/moduler/nyheder/news.asp?id=38139&
Read the Qur'an. It eliminated all the misconceptions I had about Islam.
I'm still waiting to hear about a muslim country establishing a center to promote and clarify misunderstandings about Christianty...the western capitulation continues unabated.
Stupid DHIMMIS. Danes should teach thir children how dangerous muslims and islam are to Danish society. Danes should discuss how to avoid being slave to muslims in about 20-25 years time. Netherlands, Denmark, and England will fall to muslims in about 50 years.
So, they are going to tear out half of the intolerant, hateful, bigoted, terroristic Koran?
Otherwise, an exercise in the usual, delusional futility.
But they are already confronting misconceptions [ie. "nobel savages"] by the way the are behaving in public.
They have done a very thorough job about it too.
We have no more need for any further explanations.
Thank you very much.
Holger Danske.. nothing to see here.. keep sleeping..
Can't someone give the Queen of Denmark (or Prince Fred and Princess Mary) a boxed set of Spencer's books, and Bat Yeor's books, for the palace library? Personally signed by their authors, of course. Oh yes, and a disk of 'Islam: What the West Needs to Know'. Same deal for the crowned heads of Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands.
Similar gift box (including the Spanish translation of 'PIG to Islam and the Crusades) to King Juan Carlos of Spain .
Prince Harry has just been in Afghanistan. Someone in England please send him a copy of 'PIG to Islam and the Crusades' (nice and easy to read). Charles is too far gone but maybe Harry will get a clue. Remind him about those Jihadis in Uganda who were hatching a plot to assassinate his Grandma. Tell him there are plenty more where those came from - even inside the UK. If he wants his Grandma to stay safe he needs to learn how to push back the jihad at home as well as abroad.
The useful thing about constitutional monarchs is that they outlive the electoral cycle. Their role is to 'advise' and 'warn'. Get their heads straight about Islam, and the Third Jihad, and their advice and warnings might make a difference.
Things I'd like to see: the Queen of Denmark personally inviting Mr Kurt Westergaard and wife to dinner at the palace, in order to make crystal clear her position on the right of every Dane to freedom of speech.
The Queen of the Netherlands personally inviting Mr Geert Wilders and Ms Ayaan Hirsi Ali to dinner at the palace, same message: royal affirmation of the right to Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Conscience.
If one puts the first sentence through the special Jihadwatch Enigma decoder, the phrase 'confront misconceptions about Islam' comes out as 'tell soothing lies about Islam'.
Nothing good will come from this institute. (of all the Muslim institutes in western lands, I cannot recall anything good coming from any of them).
Denmark approves establishment of Azhar Institute in Denmark to "confront misconceptions about Islam"
I hope the one about it being a "religion of peace" is high on the priority list.