What’s that? Don’t they long for “freedom”? And what’s this about their urging worshippers to “pick up a gun”? Don’t they know that Islam is a religion of peace? What are they, some kind of Islamophobes?
Notice also how they present themselves as the exponents of “real” Islam. As I have pointed out here ad infinitum, this is an appeal to which Muslims who would be regarded as moderates by most Western analysts have as yet formulated no effective response. Tiny Minority of Extremists Update: “Kabul clerics rally behind Taliban: Urge worshippers to `pick up a gun’ against government: Death toll from surge in violence surpasses 190 over 5 days,” from the Toronto Star, with thanks to RGF:
KABUL””Clerics in Kabul mosques are urging worshippers to join the Taliban’s fight against the Afghan government and international troops.
Insurgency has spread recently, with many provinces falling under control of Islamists intent on driving out foreign forces. Encouraged by this growing militancy, some imams here believe the time is right to call for holy war.
“The only thing (people) can do is fight against the government and I am telling them they can do that. They can pick up a gun and fight against the government,” said Abdullah, a 52-year-old imam wary of giving his full name for fear of reprisals….
The Taliban now control many rural areas south of the capital and their increasing success is finding favour with fundamentalists here.
“It’s a reality, the fighters are getting stronger and stronger because the government is alienating the community and the people,” Abdullah said.
“Real mullahs, imams and anyone with a knowledge of Islam has to say it’s time for jihad. Those people who are fighting against the Americans and the government are doing good, but the government and the Americans say they are terrorists just because they want to give them a bad name.”