Three notes about Islamic anti-Semitism. Where is the tolerance that Muslim apologists so often claim is a hallmark of Islam?
First, from the Jerusalem Post (thanks to all those who sent this to me, and apologies for my lateness in posting it): “A devout Muslim college student in Canada known for her pro-Israel views on campus has received death threats after expressing support for the Jewish state’s right to exist. ‘As a result of my pro-Israel views, I have received a lot of verbal assault, and a few threats to my life,’ Sarah Nasser, a third-year student at the University of Toronto, told The Jerusalem Post.”
“‘I received some violent resentment from the pro-Palestinian left-wing majority on campus. Most of my Muslim friends do not respect my views,’ she said. Born in Canada to parents who migrated from Tanzania, Nasser is a religious Muslim who covers her head with a veil and lives according to the rules of the Koran. She recently returned from a visit to Israel, and signed a petition to the United Nations denouncing suicide bombings.’
“‘Being a supporter of the existence of Israel does not conflict with Islam, it complements Islam,’ she said. ‘The Koran does not have any verses that do not allow for the Jews to return to the Land of Israel.’ Nasser says that the North American media fails to portray the ‘severity’ of the Palestinian uprising, and says that the armed uprising is proof that ‘Yasser Arafat and his followers will do whatever it takes and cause as much bloodshed as is necessary to overtake all of Israel.'”
Second, from the Toronto Star, covering an Islamic conference in that city.
The article’s title is “Pluralism is key, Muslim forum told.” But it notes that one speaker at this conference was not necessarily all that pluralistic: “In reference to another speaker at the conference, Chanicka denied that organizers knowingly invited someone who is alleged to have ties with American groups that have a racist agenda. ‘We have no business being involved in inviting anyone who shares any agenda of hate and racism, because we don’t find that to be anything within the realm of Islam or beliefs as Muslims, especially within the purpose of this conference, which is promoting a pluralistic Canadian society,’ Chanicka said.
“He was responding to allegations made by Bernie Farber, executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Farber alleged that panelist William Baker, founder of Christians and Muslims For Peace, had been connected with American groups with a racist agenda.”
LGF quotes an Orange County Weekly story that says that “Baker, who runs Christians and Muslims for Peace (CAMP), has a long history of anti-Semitic politics and held a leadership position in neo-Nazi organizations. . . . Baker had peddled an anti-Semitic book titled Theft of a Nation. Baker was chairman of the neo-Nazi Populist Party in 1984 and organized its national convention that year.”
Third, actor Omar Sharif, according to Al Bawaba, “infuriates Muslims with his latest remarks about Islam.” (Thanks to Nicolei.)
What were his terrible remarks? “According to the London based Elaph, the remarks that caused the storm of anger were Omar’s revealing that he has two grandchildren, one Jewish and the other a Muslim. The actor had stressed that he does not interfere in religious matters and is giving his grandchildren the freedom of choosing which religion they want to follow. Omar added that he will not in any way try to influence them to both follow Islam even if his Muslim grandchild wanted to convert.”
In other words, Omar Sharif is under fire for affirming religious freedom instead of anti-Semitism and dhimmitude. Even worse, from this noxious point of view, is the fact that “the actor did not deny making such remarks with regards to his grandchildren and attempt to calm the storm of Anger.” A friend tried to calm the waters on his behalf: “On a different note, his good friend Egyptian actress Nadia Lutfi denied that Omar made such comments stressing that he would never say such a thing.”
It is a sad commentary on the Islamic world today that such remarks would stir controversy — just as it is sad that in Toronto a young woman received death threats for pro-Israel statements, and a neo-Nazi spoke at an Islamic conference. The anti-Semitism is so thick today that Sharif also drew controversy for defending kissing a Jew: in the same controversial interview, he said, “My philosophy is that when I go out of my room, I”m prepared to love everybody I meet, unless they”re bad. If they”re bad, I”m prepared not to love them and to dislike them independently of the fact if they”re Jewish or they”re Black or White or Christian or Muslim. It’s like when we did ‘Funny Girl’ during the Six Day War. A lot of the Arab press naturally said, ‘This man is a traitor. He’s kissing Barbra Streisand who’s giving dollars in favor of Israel.’ There was a lot of press asking, ‘What do you think of this press saying that you kissed Barbra Streisand?’ I said, ‘Nor in my professional nor in my private life do I ask a girl her nationality or her religion before I kiss her. That has nothing to do with it.'”
Against this real-life backdrop, Sharif’s new movie, according to Al-Bawaba, “is a story of love between a lonely old Muslim shopkeeper and a neglected Jewish teen in Paris during the 1960s, who flee loneliness together through a unique relationship and friendship. During the course of events in the film, the Jewish man eventually decides to convert to Islam due to its nature of forgiveness and teachings.” Sounds like a fantasy to me.
UPDATE: Dave at Israellycool has turned up some evidence that Sarah Nasser has been misunderstood.