
Rexhep Idrizi (Photo: kitezh.com)
Many Americans on the Left like to equate radical Muslims with Christian conservatives. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, even George W. Bush — they’re all our own version of the Taliban, you see. I have encountered this phenomenon on many a radio call-in show, and I always try to point out one obvious distinction: Christian conservatives do not advocate or commit murder.
Overheated rhetoric that equates opposition to gay marriage with the Sharia’s prescription of capital punishment for homosexuals obscures the fact that the Sharia is a deadly serious thing. There are many in the world today who will institute its punishments if they have the power to do so, and are willing to commit violence in order to increase their power.
Evidence comes from Australia today: “a complaint made to Victoria Police alleges the chairman of the Board of Imams, Rexhep Idrizi, was reading from the Koran when he made derogatory comments about homosexuals and said they should have ‘their heads chopped off’.
“Imam Idrizi’s alleged outburst occurred before 1000 worshippers at a prayer service to celebrate the conclusion of fasting for Ramadan at the Albanian Mosque in Drummond St, Carlton.
“Imam Idrizi, whose son was jailed last year for bashing gays, said yesterday the claims were unfounded and he had a video of the service, in Albanian, to prove it.
“‘It’s just spite from idiots,’ he said. ‘All I said was that homosexuality is prohibited in Islam. I wouldn’t encourage anyone to attack my enemy. And if you put this in the paper, it’s discrimination against Islam and we will defend ourselves.”
Hmm. Has he been taking lessons from CAIR?
“But worshipper Asip Demiri, who was at the service, told the Sunday Herald Sun that Imam Idrizi had verbally attacked homosexuals. ‘I couldn’t believe it. I was sitting there with my son and he comes out with comments as if the Koran says it’s OK to attack homosexuals,’ Mr Demiri said. ‘He told us they should have their heads chopped off.’ . . .
“Last year, Imam Idrizi’s son was jailed for four years and eight months, with a minimum of 15 months, for bashing gays. Muhamed Idrizi, 20, and four others attacked a cyclist with a machete and bashed and robbed two other men. The court heard that the group had gone on what he called a ‘p–fter bashing’ mission.”