Here is an exceptionally detailed Islamic Tolerance Alert, and also a case study in the limitations on the usefulness of the term "Islamist." The mainstream media uses it in some settings to describe proponents of Islam as a political platform (for example, in Turkey) who are not at the moment employing or endorsing open warfare; just as often, it is used to describe those who are, as a somewhat "softer" alternative to "jihadist." In either case, while the imprecision may not always be intentional on the part of the journalist, the reader must note with caution where the term may be used to sidestep the connection of "Islamist" activities with actual Islamic texts and teachings.
In this case, the Pact of Umar looms large, due the far-reaching precedent it set in prohibiting the building of new churches or repairing of old ones. And as always, there is the instruction from the Qur'an itself (9:29) that unbelievers "feel themselves subdued."
"Kenya: Islamists attack church in northern town," from Compass Direct News, September 29:
GARISSA, Kenya, September 29 (Compass Direct News) – A longstanding effort to replace a church with a mosque in Kenya’s northern town of Garissa culminated in an attack by 50 Muslim youths this month that left the worship building in ruins.
The gang stormed the building of Redeemed Gospel Church on Sept. 14 and pelted the congregation with stones, sending many Christians fleeing while others became embroiled in fistfights. Ten Christians received hospital treatment for minor injuries and were released.
Church leaders said the Muslim mob also destroyed pews, damaged the church building’s walls of corrugated iron, smashed the glass-mounted pulpit and burned the church banner with its stand.
“We had just started the Sunday service when, without warning, a rowdy group of about 50 Muslim youths invaded the church, pelting stones at us and destroying our structures,” said the church youth chairman, identified only as Suma.
Local media reported that the 10 church members were hospitalized, but a district nurse at the hospital told Compass that no one was admitted due to the violence. A church elder at East Africa Pentecostal Church in Garissa, about 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Nairobi, confirmed that the church members were treated at the hospital and allowed to go home.
Tensions between Christians and the Muslim-majority population in the semi-desert town of 20,000 people began simmering after Muslims built a mosque next to the church plot at No. 21 Windsor in June 2007. Purchasing its land on Nov. 1, 1999, the church had begun worshipping there by early 2001, eventually growing to 400 members.
Church leaders complained to the district commissioner in June 2007 that the new mosque was built too close to the church – only three meters separate the two structures – and that it was blocking the church entryway.
“Prior to that, the owner of that land had promised to use half of it and sell the other half to the church,” the church leaders reported to the district commissioner in June 2007. “But in 2007, she changed her mind and gave it to the sheikhs to build the mosque. We reported the matter to the DC’s office that it would not go well with the church.”
Officials had ruled that no further permanent structures were to be set up on the land by either party until a later date to be determined by the district commissioner.
“The church faithfully obeyed, but the Muslims defied the orders and began immediately to put up a permanent structure,” according to the letter church leaders wrote to the district commissioner. The building of the mosque was allegedly sponsored by M.K. Roble, a wealthy Muslim in Garissa, according to the letter.
“The problems between the church and the Muslims began and have escalated since then,” it states.
Government security intelligence had reported that Muslims planned to destroy the church if it continued to operate within the residential area, District Commissioner (DC) Alois Okango told Compass. The administration had proposed a new site for the church to worship, Jamhuri Club, but two days before the attack church leaders wrote two letters to Okango saying they would remain worshipping in their building.
“We would like to notify you that our church members have decided to have our Sunday service at our usual place on September 14 and not at the new site of Jamhuri Club,” they wrote in one of the letters, “because we have come to realize that the new site is only temporary, and we will only move out of our premise if we are guaranteed a permanent place of worship.”
Okango told Compass that to avert a crisis, the administration has decided that the church should relocate temporarily to a site near an agricultural showground. The government also advised the church to sell its property near the mosque and buy another piece of land, preferably outside Garissa town center.
This suggestion, Okango told Compass, did not augur well with church members, who felt they had already established the church at the site and that it was the mosque that should be moving. [...]
Land issues alone have not been responsible for tensions in the area. The Rev. Ibrahim Kamwaro, chairman of the Pastors’ Fellowship in Garissa, said Pastor Matolo had offended Muslims when he preached to a lame Muslim man.
Muslims were said to be upset that the pastor persuaded the disabled man to stop going to the mosque and instead join his church. Pastor Matolo’s alleged promise to the disabled man of a better life offended area Muslims, Rev. Kamwaro said.
Muslims restrict churches in Garissa in various ways: Christians are not allowed conduct prayers, sing or use musical instruments in rented homes owned by Muslims. No teaching of Christian Religious Education in schools is allowed; only Islamic Religious Knowledge is taught....
Interesting numbers here. 50 muslims "youths" had no fear of 400 Christians.
Lesson? Booby trap church, play Christian music to entice and enrage, teach lesson to community that will not soon be forgotten, move to new site and repeat.
Land wars...The Christians will lose as long as the Pact of Umar is in effect.
Sorry, No More Ham, Ed...that is what Muslims would do, not Christians. What Christians should do is be absolutely bold in their witness. No apologizing for speaking truth to cowards. Will they be killed? Probably. But bravery speaks louder than appeasement with Muslims on the fence about their faith. And they should continue to worship in their church. Boldly. No matter what happens.
Kenya, huh? Shouldn't we be hearing from a certain presidential candidate about his outrage over oppression of Christians in his paternal homeland? Maybe as part of his foreign policy?
If he did this believably, maybe I'd reconsider.
They deliberately build their mosques practically on top of churches.
http://www.hvk.org/articles/1105/99.html
Ralpj Peters - The Other Jihad
The mosque stood empty beside the road in a Christian town in Kenya. Funded by Saudis, it wasn't meant for worshippers. It was meant to stake a claim.
The mosque annoyed the locals. Windows were broken. A goat grazed in the garbage-speckled yard. Yet that shabby mosque was part of an extremist campaign that threatens widespread strife in the years ahead.
On a trip to Kenya and Tanzania last month, I saw recently built mosques wherever I went. Even along the predominantly Muslim coast, there were far more mosques and madrassahs than the worshippers needed. I counted seven mosques along one street in a Mombasa slum - most of them new but neglected.
The construction boom is part of what my personal observation convinces me is "the other jihad," the slow-roll attempt by fundamentalists from the Arabian Peninsula to reclaim East Africa for the faith of the Prophet. We dismiss Osama bin Laden's dream of re-establishing the caliphate, Islam's bygone empire, as madness. But Saudis, Yemenis, Omanis and oil-rich Gulf Arabs are every bit as determined as bin Laden to reassert Muslim domination of the lands Islam once ruled.
No region is as vulnerable as Africa. The differences between the Saudi ruling family and bin Laden aren't so much about goals as about methods. The Saudis were furious over the 1998 embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam not because of the viciousness of the acts, but because the attacks threatened to call the West's attention to quiet subversion by fundamentalist Wahhabis in the region
Too bad we couldn't broker some kind of deal. Take in 10,000 persecuted Christians from muslim countries, give back 10,000 muslims. Works for me.
Silvester: Thanks for the link - I've saved the article.
Ms. Atkins..thank you for your comments about "turning the other cheek". Perhaps I should incorporate this theme more often. As a non-practicing Christian who has plenty of experience dealing with bullies, I can tell you that any time you "turn the other cheek", a psychological event takes place. Turning the other cheek actually "trains" the bully to bully you more. Thats how it works, ask any police officer who ever served a single day putting their rear-end on the line.
Peole who have ZERO experience with violence really have no idea how how bad life can be, and have never had the stark realization that no one will be coming to help, no matter how many prayers are sent out. Having to draw on your "non-civilized" portion of your brains' survival instincts is no fun, ruins your feelings of well-being forever, and wakes a person completely up to the true nature of life and death.
A few posts back, the kind person who posts under the name taanstafl (sic) talked about taking fencing in high school and how he could take the Imam who brandished a sword. Please believe me when I say this person is completely deluding themselves in a very dangerous manner. Fencing clases or Archery classes have NOTHING to do with purposely injury or killing another human. Killers don't need "fencing class". They will kill with a piece of rope, let alone a sword.
Hmm, maybe Senator Obama can give his ol' buddy/relative/tribesman Raila Odinga a call and ask him to help out over there in Kenya ... ohhh yeah that's right ... Odinga was linked to the slaughter of 50 Pentecostal Christians in 2007.
Maybe not.
Palin/McCain '08
No More Ham, Ed ...I agree about bullies.
If one wishes to turn the other cheek, the bully will certainly slap it, and give you a hard punch to the gut as well, then he will take away your milk money. You better bring more tomorrow.
There is a pecking order in jails, institutions and on the streets...The cheek turner is on the bottom.
It's fine to take the moral high ground and turn the other cheek, but be prepared to be punished for doing so...
Thanks for clarifying, NMH Ed. I think there is great value in defending yourself and your values. If anything, I don't think Christianity is or should be a doormat and punchingbag. Vigorous defense on a purely moral basis is only right. Bullies stand down in the face of a vigorous and courageous opposition. If you look at our own history, when we had backbones, we stood against King and Country, both ostensibly Christian, and fought them for our democracy. Kenyans who love their freedom, the Christians, should stand up against Muslim tyranny, which is localized and fought assymetrically. Neighbors need to fight together against neighbors.
It is interesting that the “Pact of Umar” link at the beginning of the post sets down precisely the muslims agenda in the west. Reading this we can see their attitude when they come into our countries makes perfect sense. They are only demanding the “right” to treat us as they have been taught they should and as they always have.
BTW I agree with No More Ham, Ed that turning the other cheek to bullies is of very little use. Hard experience has shown me an immediate smack in the teeth is much more effective and has a lasting effect.