“Senior U.S. officials said the Taliban received significant donations from Pakistan — where sympathy for the group is widespread in the country’s Pashtun community — and Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.” Tiny Minority of Extremists Alert. And with respect to the involvement of Gulf nations, this story again demonstrates the urgency of […]
Archives for May 2009
Standard & Poor’s launches Sharia-compliant index in Canada
The article states that “Shariah law, based on the teachings of the Koran, does not allow for investment into companies that deal in pork, alcohol, gambling or pornography,” and hey, that sounds nice, doesn’t it? But here is the problem: Efforts to compartmentalize Sharia are undertaken for Western consumption, in order to give the impression […]
Malaysia court refuses to let Church use the word ‘Allah’
There is a great deal of misunderstanding about this issue. Arabic-speaking Christians have used the word “Allah” for the God of the Bible for centuries — some sources say since before the advent of Islam. But a Malaysia court now says the word is the property of Muslims only. Islamic Tolerance Alert and an update […]
Coordinated attacks in Peshawar; Taliban leader instructs followers to target soldiers’ homes and children
The Taliban launches another attack on Peshawar, even as they ask to return to the truce they failed to observe in the first place, so they can regroup and fail to observe it some more. “Bombs, gun battle, rock Pakistan’s Peshawar,” by Alamgir Bitani for Reuters, May 28: PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) — Two bombs exploded […]
Islamophobes bomb mosque in Iran, killing 15 — no, wait…
Whoever turns out really to have done this, do you think there will be worldwide protests at the desecration of the mosque? Or are such protests reserved only for when American or Israeli troops respond to fire that comes at them from mosques? “Iran mosque bombing kills 15 worshippers,” from AFP, May 28 (thanks to […]
Syria teaching jihadists that their jihad is illegitimate
“I told them that there are restrictive rules in Islam for waging holy war. Jihad must be under the umbrella of the state and should be approved by one’s parents.” Unfortunately, probably many of the Muslims who hear this message know that in Islamic law defensive jihad becomes obligatory upon every individual Muslim when a […]
Singapore: Christians convicted of sedition for criticizing Islam
It is a crime, apparently, to cast Islam in a negative light, and once again those who commit this crime are not violent Islamic jihadists, but those who speak about the actions or motivations of those jihadists. “Christian couple convicted for anti-Muslim booklets,” from AFP, May 28 (thanks to Twostellas): SINGAPORE (AFP) — A Christian […]
National Association of Muslim American Women: Bronx synagogue jihadists wuz framed
The National Association of Muslim American Women (NAMAW) says it was all a frame-up: the diabolical FBI first persuaded these innocent Muslims that their religion mandated violence against unbelievers, and then involved them in this plot to blow up synagogues. Well, that makes sense. After all, who ever heard of a Muslim arriving on his […]
UK: Muslim jailed for shining laser at landing plane
He did it because of the dope, doncha know. He was high, that’s all, and just having some fun by trying to bring down an airplane. What’s the big deal? I mean, who ever heard of a Muslim trying to crash an airplane as part of his jihad? “Man jailed for shining laser at landing […]
Abbas to meet with Obama today, demands that Netanyahu accept Palestinian state
Not that he has ever accepted the principle of a Jewish state. In any case, I expect that the contrast between this meeting and Obama’s chilly meeting with Netanyahu will be marked, and we will see considerably more warmth and enthusiasm — and considerably less talk of responsibilities and obligations — from the sainted new […]
Pakistan: Pastors arrested for using loudspeakers in Christian majority villages
Meanwhile in the UK, Muslims get to go around screaming through loudspeakers that Jesus was a Muslim. “Pakistan: Pastors arrested for use of loudspeakers,” from Compass Direct News, May 27 : Police claim amplified Easter Sunday service defamed Islam. ISTANBUL, May 27 (Compass Direct News) — Nine pastors from two neighboring villages in Pakistan could […]
Indonesian Facebook Fatwa
The ulema would like Muslims to limit their use of Facebook — even though it certainly has its uses. “Indonesia: Muslim edict issued against Facebook,” from Adnkronos, May 27: Jakarta, 27 May (AKI) — Around 700 ulama or Islamic religious leaders have issued an edict to limit use of the popular Internet networking site Facebook […]
Tanzania: Muslims drive church from worship place in Zanzibar
“Angered by a recent upsurge in Christian evangelism in the area, church members said, radical Muslims had sent several threats to the Christians warning them to stop their activities.” Sounds similar to recent events elsewhere in the Muslim world. “Tanzania: Radical Muslims drive church from worship place in Zanzibar,” from Compass Direct News, May 26: […]
Taliban claims Lahore suicide attack killing 24
“[T]he attack targeted the ‘nest of evil’ in Lahore, and was a ‘humble gift’ to the mujahideen.” “TTP claims Lahore suicide bombing,” from The News, May 28: ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing on rescue 15 police building that killed 24 people, a US specialist Islamist monitoring group said. […]
Taliban blows up (yet another) girls” school
They did warn that, “If we now kill schoolgirls, you shouldn’t be surprised.” “Taliban blow up girls” school in Hangu,” from the Daily Times, May 26: LAHORE: The Taliban destroyed a girls” school in Hangu on Monday, a private TV channel reported. According to the channel, the Taliban had planted explosives at the government school […]
Spencer: Jailhouse Jihad
In the featured article at Human Events this morning, I discuss jihadist recruitment in prisons, which should be a chief concern of law enforcement officials in the wake of the Bronx synagogue jihad plot, and the implications of all this for the Gitmo inmates. Should we bring Guantanamo inmates to U.S. prisons, as the Obama […]
Rabbi in area of targeted synagogues says, “Don’t blame Islam” for jihad plot
Rabbi Weiss’s words are yet another example of the denial that is almost universal among analysts of the jihad threat today: in most circles, if you don’t affirm that Islamic jihad supremacism as it is manifested today all over the world has nothing to do with the true, peaceful Islam, you won’t even get in […]
Afghanistan destroys books deemed insulting to Sunnis
In the recent case, it was a load of pro-Shi’ite books from Iran that was destined for the bottom of the Helmand River. Ironically, the Afghan government has thus ignited sectarian strife by supposedly aiming to prevent it. And the question remains: are they concerned about Shi’ite Islam as a vehicle for Iranian influence, or […]
Pakistan: Jihadists attack historic church, burn Bibles, destroy altar and cross — police reluctant to investigate
“They are not investigating it as they would if the attack had been on a mosque.” “Suspected Al Qaeda, Taliban Militants Destroy Pakistan Church, Christians Say,” from Worthy News, May 26 (thanks to Weasel Zippers): ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (Worthy News)– Suspected Muslim militants with links to the terror groups Al Qaeda and the Taliban attacked a […]
Hamid Dabashi and Raymond Ibrahim debate “Islam and the West”
“Clash of Civilizations” The Intercollegiate Studies Institute recently posted a video of a debate I had with Columbia University”s Hamid Dabashi, entitled, “Islam and the West: Clash of Civilizations?” In part due to Dabashi’s adamant and passionate position, I consider this one of the more meaningful debates I have engaged in. Intellectual successor to the […]