Memo to Osama bin Laden: stop equating jihad with terrorism, will you? It is astonishing that anyone after 9/11 would dare to suggest that the equation of jihad with terrorism comes from the West (I know, I know, there are a thousand academics suggesting just that every day in classes all across this fair land), but here it is.
From the PakTribune, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:
ISLAMABAD, December 30 (Online): Maulana Fazlur Rehman, opposition leader in the Lower House on Wednesday called upon Western world to stop equating ‘Jihad’ with terrorism.
Talking to Mayor of Italy Mr Lostanio at his (Fazl) residence here he said that religious parties of Pakistan are trying to play their role in settling the difference between Islam and West through negotiations.They discussed hosts of issues including role of international community in war against terrorism and bilateral relations between Pakistan and Italy.
“International community must address the real causes behind terrorism,” he noted.
Maulana Fazl said that terming Jehad a form of terrorism is wrong interpretation of Holy War and people fighting in Palestine and Kashmir are freedom fighters, they are not terrorists….
Oh, I get it now. If it’s jihad, it can’t be terrorism. I wonder if Maulana Fazl would be so kind as to let us know when terrorism is not jihad. What does he think, for example, of 9/11? Is any violence or brutality justified by the jihad?
He said religious parties favour peaceful political atmosphere in the country and are against any kind of repression.
“We want to settle all issues through negotiations,” he maintained.