While the Netherlands comes to grips with the fact that it is facing a jihad, Qazi Husain Ahmed in Pakistan illustrates why Muslim condemnations of terrorism so often ring hollow: they are not terrorists, you see, they are mujahedin, warriors of jihad. But Theo van Gogh now knows that in many cases that is a distinction without a difference. From the Daily Times:
KARACHI: The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal’s chief, Qazi Husain Ahmed, defended jihad on Friday and said it could not be equated with terrorism because it manifested struggle for the right of the oppressed against the cruel and was aimed at establishing a society based on justice.
Speaking at a Friday congregation in Masjid-e-Quba in SITE area, he said Islam emphasises justice and teaches its followers not to accept slavery of any aggressor and worship only Allah the Almighty.
This means that Sharia must be instituted. To order society by any other law would be to accept the “slavery” of the “aggressor.” This accords with the teachings of Ahmed’s mentor Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, and other influential radicals such as Sayyid Qutb, as I explain in Onward Muslim Soldiers.
“Denial of justice spawns cruelty in society and paves the way for injustice and atrocities against the oppressed and the poor,” he said. He said the Holy Quran was revealed in Ramazan and it teaches the Ummah to wage jihad against terrorism and establish a system based on justice and equity. He said Islam also teaches to Muslims strengthen themselves.
“The people of Kashmir and Palestine are facing state terrorism. America, Israel and India have become terrorist states and killing innocent people in the occupied Muslim territories,” he said.