Where did the "immoderate" ones come from? And what, again, constitutes moderation?
Tiny Minority of Extremists Alert. "Morocco sends moderate Muslim preachers to Europe," from the Associated Press, July 17:
RABAT, Morocco - Morocco plans to send scores of moderate Muslim preachers to Europe during the holy month of Ramadan to help fight extremism in the Moroccan community abroad, the ministry for religious affairs said Thursday.
The government will send 167 men and nine women preachers to address Moroccan immigrants during Ramadan, which runs during September this year. Muslims traditionally fast and attend sermons at mosques during the holy month.
The preachers are instructed to "answer the religious needs of the Moroccan community abroad, to protect it from any speeches of extremism or irregular nature, and to shelter it from extremism and fanaticism," said a statement from the religious affairs ministry in Rabat, the Moroccan capital.
Abdellatif Begdouri Achkari, the religious affairs minister's chief of staff, said Morocco has been sending preachers to minister to expatriates for many years but hand-picked the latest batch to make sure they specifically address extremism.
"The needs of the Moroccan community abroad may vary from one community to another, and these needs evolve with time," Achkari told The Associated Press.
Islam is Morocco's state religion and King Mohammed VI is officially "the commander of the believers."
But the country's official, moderate practice has faced a growing wave of extremism in recent years. Security officials have voiced concerns about terrorist links among Moroccans and dual Moroccan-European citizens. Suicide bombers killed dozens of people in attacks in Casablanca in May 2003.
The religious affairs ministry said 100 preachers would go to France and Belgium, while Italy and Germany would get 10 each, and Spain and the Netherlands seven. The rest will head to Scandinavia and Britain, while one preacher will go to Canada.
Strict criteria were applied in choosing the candidates. Besides being well-versed in the Quran and knowledgeable about theology, they must be "known for their good reputation, devout beliefs and high moral standards," the ministry said.
There are an estimated 3.3 million Moroccans living abroad, 10 percent of the total Moroccan population. Most live in Spain, France and Belgium or the Netherlands.
Wasn't it just a few months ago that the U.K. was going to import loads of "moderate" Pakistani imams to preach against violence there? Hasn't anyone heard of radio or TV? One imam with a radio or TV program an hour per day could reach more people than even scores of individual speakers in mosques.
Besides, both countries, but Pakistan especially, could use all the non-violent imams they could get back at home.
Wow! What a relief. I'll sleep more easily tonight. Gotta' love those moderate Muslim preachers. Sure hope Buddhists and Catholics and Presbyterians and Orthodox Jews and Hindus also do their best to contain all those vile extremists that exist in their respective faiths (and, in particular, those nasty Quaker radicals). Yeah, sure hope that's the case but how refreshing it is that Muslims are stepping up to the plate here and setting a good example for all to follow.
I suspect not many of them will return. I also suspect that there are few 'moderates' among them...
They'll be quoting from the many suras which say great things about non-believers and suggest peaceful coexistence on equal terms, Like Al-Slim, Al-Noone, and Al-Nada.
Spies?
You know what I think? I think one of the things these people may be doing is to try to find - and perhaps, threaten and bully and bribe - those Moroccans who, while living in Europe, have apostasised, to secularism, or to Christianity.
Why? Because the Moroccan authorities have been, of late, cracking down on the Christians within Morocco. They (the authorities) are running scared.
If I were the Infidel authorities I'd be tagging and tailing every one of these so-called 'moderate' imams, every step of the way. I'd watch their contacts. I'd tape every sermon they give, and get apostates like Ibn Warraq and Ali Sina and Wafa Sultan to parse a few of them.
And I'd *also* be getting in touch with, and looking out for, any known groups of ex-Muslim converts to Christianity, of Moroccan background.
I suspect not many of them will return. I also suspect that there are few 'moderates' among them...
I agree sheik, Muslim "preachers" are instructors in Islamic warfare, and they will definitely add fuel to the fire for Europe's infidel population.
"Strict criteria were applied in choosing the candidates. Besides being well-versed in the Quran and knowledgeable about theology, they must be "known for their good reputation, devout beliefs and high moral standards," the ministry said."
This is exactly what Europe doesn't need. They are hooked on Islam and more Imams will only make it worse.
It's like taking an overdose to get it over with.
Surprising to see women "preachers". Presumably they will only be allowed to instruct other women. Just what we need, more imams in Europe. And one is coming to Canada. How did the USA get so lucky? America seems to have been left off the list. Perhaps Moroccans in the US are already "moderate" enough.
There is so much BS, if islam was a religion of peace there would be no need to send over any moderate muslim. this is the proof that islam is not a ROP since they have to keep proving to the world that they are.
Moderate, this is, until they begin to really understand the Koran and all the other teachings of Mohammad.
"Hasn't anyone heard of radio or TV? One imam with a radio or TV program an hour per day could reach more people than even scores of individual speakers in mosques."
by ebonystone
Ayatollah Khomeini spoke into a cassette recorder and his sermons made their way back to Iran. Today, all they have to do is go to al-Jazeera or one of the other Muslim channels. Every mosque must have cable or satellite television. Let them all tune in - kind of a Muslim Sesame Street.
The peculiar thing is that almost every political party and also among the elitist, reacts negativiliy to this idea.
So why is this peculiar, one might ask?? After all, its evidently a bad idea.
The point is that the dutch (political) elite follows the international line of thought, that islam is peace and that the problems with islam are caused by extremist who twist and distort islam for their evil actions.
Now if one is genuinly convinced that this international line of thought is true, one should welcome the import of imams from the homelands of the muslims. Because these imams can then, with all the authority they hold, educate the dutch muslims the "right" teachings of islam. And because they think that islam is peace, they therefore also must think, that the "right" teachings are peacefull ones.
If their central theses of "islam is peace" is true, then why are they set against importing these imams for spreading the "right" teachings??
Where is the danger in spreading messages of love and peace?? It could even be helpfull integrating the dutch muslims in society.
So what, from a multiculturalist point of view, is the problem??
Could it be that the dutch (politcal) elite doesnt actually buy the "islam is peace"-bullshit??
But then why impose it on the dutch people??
Maybe its just like in the movie: Mars Attacks.
"We come in peace! Shoot to kill"
The test of passable (exportable) teachers:
Do they teach islam ?
Keep them at home.
Let your native population fester in its own ignorance and malevolence.
Keep these benighted bastards out of the West.
Quick! Someone call a locksmith!
"Morocco to send "moderate" Muslim preachers to Europe to fight "extremism" in Moroccan communities during Ramadan"
Translation : morocco to send imams to Europe to tell muhammadans of different sects to avoid massacring each other during ramadan and concentrate on the Infidels instead.
Maybe its just like in the movie: Mars Attacks.
"We come in peace! Shoot to kill"
Posted by: erdebe
Loved that flick! It's a near-perfect analogy of the Moslem onslaught against civilization.
M. le president Sarkozy, with his dedication of a new wing of the Louvre for Islamic art, should be reminded of what happened to the French president, with his talk of brotherhood and understanding, in the movie.
Too bad we can't get rid of them just by playing country music. Come to think of it, didn't Bush I drive Norriega out of his compound by bombarding it with pop "music"?
@ebonystone
"his talk of brotherhood and understanding"
lol !!!
And ofcourse the evergreen: "why cant we al just get along"
anyway......
"Too bad we can't get rid of them just by playing country music"
Well, maybe we can. In a way.
As i remember it, it wasnt especially country music that did the trick. It was old fashioned music. Music from the 50's and earlier. The music that pre-dated the space age. So ironically, something from before the space age was needed, to kill the menace from outer space.
So when i think of islam and the trouble it is stirring up, all began somewhere in the sixties with turkish and morroccan "guest-labourers".
At least in the netherlands, and i suspect most west-european countries (allthough england and france ofcourse have a longer tradition of muslim immigration).
Ofcourse these guest-labourers never went back and not that they immediately caused problems but as their numbers increased, so did the problems.
So maybe we need something from before the time this muslim immigration began, to defeat the menace of islam.
But what could this be, i hear you ask.
Well, maybe we just need to get back to some of the old fashioned values that we, in western europe, had.
Maybe we should go back to thinking that western civilization, western culture is superior to all others. But this time not as a reason to behave in a selfish, dictatorial, imperialistic, colonialistic way, but as a reason to educate and emancipate the masses living in poor, underdeveloped, more backwards cultures. Couldnt the world be a better a place if the middle east was divided in french and english mandates like before WW2?? Or american, russian and chinese mandate territory's for that matter.
Or maybe thats an bad idea. Rascist, discrimitory and what have you. So maybe we should embrace the old fashioned values of the cold war period. Where we in the west, celebrated and flaunted our freedom and our rights in theface of communism. Because it was this that set "us" apart from "them". And again, this time doing it to islam not to humilate or degrade them but educate and emancipate. Mind you, all while dodging bullits, probably.
And maybe that is a bad idea as well. But im sure there are old fashioned western values out there that are the answer to the problem that is islam.
So all this from Mars Attacks!
Wauw!
Mind you, being dutch, i did have a bit of a herbal smoke, while watching it. So there you go....
****dont try this at home*****
@ebonystone
"his talk of brotherhood and understanding"
lol !!!
And ofcourse the evergreen: "why cant we al just get along"
anyway......
"Too bad we can't get rid of them just by playing country music"
Well, maybe we can. In a way.
As i remember it, it wasnt especially country music that did the trick. It was old fashioned music. Music from the 50's and earlier. The music that pre-dated the space age. So ironically, something from before the space age was needed, to kill the menace from outer space.
So when i think of islam and the trouble it is stirring up, all began somewhere in the sixties with turkish and morroccan "guest-labourers".
At least in the netherlands, and i suspect most west-european countries (allthough england and france ofcourse have a longer tradition of muslim immigration).
Ofcourse these guest-labourers never went back and not that they immediately caused problems but as their numbers increased, so did the problems.
So maybe we need something from before the time this muslim immigration began, to defeat the menace of islam.
But what could this be, i hear you ask.
Well, maybe we just need to get back to some of the old fashioned values that we, in western europe, had.
Maybe we should go back to thinking that western civilization, western culture is superior to all others. But this time not as a reason to behave in a selfish, dictatorial, imperialistic, colonialistic way, but as a reason to educate and emancipate the masses living in poor, underdeveloped, more backwards cultures. Couldnt the world be a better a place if the middle east was divided in french and english mandates like before WW2?? Or american, russian and chinese mandate territory's for that matter.
Or maybe thats an bad idea. Rascist, discrimitory and what have you. So maybe we should embrace the old fashioned values of the cold war period. Where we in the west, celebrated and flaunted our freedom and our rights in theface of communism. Because it was this that set "us" apart from "them". And again, this time doing it to islam not to humilate or degrade them but educate and emancipate. Mind you, all while dodging bullits, probably.
And maybe that is a bad idea as well. But im sure there are old fashioned western values out there that are the answer to the problem that is islam.
So all this from Mars Attacks!
Wauw!
Mind you, being dutch, i did have a bit of a herbal smoke, while watching it. So there you go....
sorry for the dubbel post :-(
What a wonderful idea! In my opinion they cannot send enough imams to European countries! Such imams can perform an invaluable community service, warning the devout followers of Islam of the collective spiritual suicide they are committing by knowingly accepting financial assistance, otherwise known as the dole, from the corrupt and vile governments of the European countries they inhabit. http://www.woerleenet.nl/islam-and-dole.html
The hardworking taxpayers of these countries may even be treated to taxation cuts as a result.
So welcome, welcome all imams. Come to Europe and spread your message of love to all your Moslem brothers and sisters!
swiffer