It is well known that Sharia forbids the propagation of non-Islamic religions. But simply going about one’s business in normal, daily life while identifying oneself as a non-Muslim is to make a non-Muslim faith visible. That appears to be all Dr. Maher Ayyad has done, though in a civilized society, there would be no such restrictions on his preaching openly if he so desired.
Compliance with the dhimma restrictions on the visibility of non-Islamic faiths is always in the eye of the Muslim beholder, and non-Muslims who stop short of cowering under a rock in fear may find themselves at risk — whether Christians in Gaza, or Ahmadis in Indonesia.
Incidents like this, which fit the pattern of an increasingly intrusive, aggressive enforcement of Sharia in Gaza will only help to empty the area of educated professionals — Christian surgeons included. In other words: jihad causes poverty. Not that it will stop anyone from blaming Israel, of course.
“Gaza assailants plant bomb under Christian car,” from the Associated Press, February 27 (thanks to Kevin):
A prominent Christian surgeon in the Gaza Strip said assailants threw a bomb at his vehicle and sent him threatening messages.
Dr. Maher Ayyad, 55, says no one was hurt in Friday’s bombing, though the explosion damaged his brother’s vehicle.
He said Sunday that after the blast, he received text messages to halt evangelical work or face harsh punishment. Ayyad says he does not preach his faith.
There are some 3,000 Christians in Gaza amid a population of some 1.5 million Muslims. They mostly have good relations. But some Gaza Christians have reported harassment by religious hardliners since the terrorist Islamic group Hamas seized power in 2007.
There have been sporadic attacks against Christians.
Funny how that keeps happening.