Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood MPs: The Koran Encourages Terrorism; “Bin Laden, Al-Zawahiri and Al-Zarqawi are Not Terrorists in the Sense Accepted by Some” From MEMRI:
“‘Terrorism’ is Not a Curse When Given its True Meaning”
Question: “Does it make sense to you that a Muslim should claim that the Koran incites to terrorism?!”
Egyptian MP Ragab Hilal Hamida, from the Muslim Brotherhood: “I said these things in an [Egyptian] parliament session dealing with the Inter-Arab Agreement on Combating Terrorism. I noticed that the report of the [Parliamentary] Committee for Defense and National Security and the Egyptian Foreign Ministry were inaccurate when [they] dealt with terrorism, since [they] dealt with it in general [terms]. I specifically wanted to explain that [the term] ‘terrorism’ is not a curse when given its true meaning. [When interpreted accurately,] it means opposing occupation as it exists in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq!…
“From my point of view, bin Laden, Al-Zawahiri and Al-Zarqawi are not terrorists in the sense accepted by some. I support all their activities, since they are a thorn in the side of the Americans and the Zionists… [On the other hand,] he who kills Muslim citizens is neither a jihad fighter nor a terrorist, but a criminal and a murderer. We must call things by their proper names!”
Question: “Do you regard the Palestinians who are prepared to sacrifice their lives as terrorists?”
Hamida: “Yes. According to the shari’a, a Palestinian who is prepared to sacrifice his life deters the enemy, in the way [sanctioned by the Koran]: ‘Make ready against them your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah knows.'” [3]
“This Palestinian is therefore [called] a terrorist, but he does not care that he is called a terrorist, since the Koran calls him so! We must realize that all religions forbid the killing of Muslim citizens. But anything related to countering occupation – is not a crime or [an act of] violence, but rather jihad or ‘terrorism’ in the sense of deterring and scaring [the enemy], and this is emphasized by the language and by shari’a!”
“It is [Our] Duty to Repel any Enemy of the Islamic and Arab Countries, Using ‘Terrorism’ Rather Than Using Violence”
Question: “Do you think that this is the [appropriate] time to repeat such provocative statements, when we are trying to improve the image of Islam in the West and to refute the accusation that [Islam] is a religion of terrorism, as [some] are claiming?”
Hamida: “Islam does not need improvement of its image… But there are some ignorant Muslims who do not understand the tenets of their faith… It is [our] duty to repel any enemy of the Islamic and Arab countries, using ‘terrorism’ rather than using violence. We need an accurate definition of [the term] ‘terrorism’ in the negative climate in which we live – a climate that makes no distinction between a criminal and one who is prepared to sacrifice his life or a terrorist. In defining [this term], we must not be influenced by American pressures, but consider the issues in the light of shari’a. They should not tell us to fight terrorism and to fight it as they command us to. The Americans are the ones who perpetrate violence in the Arab countries!…”
“Islam Encourages Terrorism and Jihad – [Though] Not Terrorism in the Common Sense of the Term”
Question: “How do you regard [the possibility] that some organization or country hostile to Egypt and to Islam might use your remarks to distort the image of our religion and criticize us abroad?!”
Hamida: “If some respectable organization came to me and asked me, it would [receive an answer and] understand what I mean. Islam encourages terrorism and jihad – [though] not terrorism in the common sense of the term – to prevent our holy places and our property from being easy prey for [our] enemies. As for killing civilians in Islamic and Arab countries – that is forbidden by the law and by shari’a. And those [who carry out these acts] are criminals and murderers according to the faith!”