• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

Norway: Muslims affirm that Sharia punishments not “extreme,” they’re just Islam

Oct 22, 2013 12:29 pm By Robert Spencer

Watch this video. Norway Muslim leader Fahad Qureshi asks the assembled Muslims if they’re “extremists,” or just ordinary Muslims. They affirm that they’re all just ordinary Muslims. Then he asks them if they support Sharia punishments — stonings, amputations, the execution of gays, etc. — and they all affirm that as well. This is an audience of Salafis, to be sure, but the problem is that we do not see Muslims who reject this perspective standing up and countering it in any significant numbers.

This video is from last May, but it was brought to my attention only today by Jihad Watch reader Benedict, in alerting me to this post, “Qureshi in Norway,” by Sarah Brown at the U.K. Leftist dhimmi blog Harry’s Place. Harry’s Place ostensibly opposes jihad but much more energetically opposes all those who really oppose it, except for those who play similar games such as the Communist Jew-hater Maryam Namazie. It enthusiastically supported the banning of Pamela Geller and me from the U.K., while remaining silent, of course, about the factual basis of what I said to get banned, as well as about the implications of the fact that just days before we were banned, the British government admitted Saudi Sheikh Mohammed al-Arefe. Al-Arefe has said: “Devotion to jihad for the sake of Allah, and the desire to shed blood, to smash skulls, and to sever limbs for the sake of Allah and in defense of His religion, is, undoubtedly, an honor for the believer. Allah said that if a man fights the infidels, the infidels will be unable to prepare to fight.” Harry’s Place makes a show at finding people like al-Arefe distasteful, but it is clear that it considers people like Geller and me to be the real threat — without, of course, ever bothering to explain exactly why.

Anyway, today Sarah Brown, the egregiously dishonest individual who runs Harry’s (she has made outrageous false claims about me that I will not repeat, failing — of course — to offer any evidence when asked), wrote this about the above video:

…this is a particularly surreal example of the oft-noted mirroring between Islamophobes and their main targets.  Fahad Qureshi’s script is straight out of Jihad Watch.  I am, of course, more than happy to acknowledge Muslims who find such views appalling, to take at face value those who claim that they sincerely believe such punishments are unislamic, and welcome polls which show that most British Muslims are proud of the way our country treats gay people.  It’s good to note that Qureshi’s views may not be quite as widespread as that self-selecting audience might suggest.  However the first response to Qureshi, and those who agree with him, should not be to worry whether or not his views are representative, but to insist that, whether representative or not, they are barbaric.

True. And they are barbaric, although to enable herself to say so Brown has to hedge them away from the Islam that she imagines to be the genuine article, and to attack Jihad Watch for shedding light on what Islam actually teaches and how Islamic authorities throughout history and today understand those teachings. What is simply confirmation that I have reported accurately on Islamic teaching she takes, blinkers firmly in place, as a validation of “Islamophobia.” A commenter over at Harry’s summed up what was wrong with this, addressing the comment to Sarah Brown:

Fahad Qureshi asked and his Muslim audience answered. Do you think there is some kind of secret, ersatz Muslim society that attends ostensible Muslim events in lieu of actual Muslims? Where do you think your supposed, authentic Muslims are hiding out? From whom do you suppose they are hiding?

Not only that but you propose a false, factually untrue moral equivalence between the principals of Jihad Watch and Fahad Quereshi. The principals of Jihad Watch defend the rights of free speech, freedom of religion and freedom of conscience, without reserve or qualification. They defend the rights of people to love and live as they choose.

And for this you suggest that Jihad Watch and Fahad Qureshi are equally dubious and equally undeserving of your polite company?

And then, you close with this nifty:

“However the most important point to make in response to Qureshi, and those who agree with him, is not that his views are unrepresentative. It is that, whether representative or not, they are barbaric.”

Well, are his views representative or not representative? You already know the answer, but until you are willing to admit the truth I suggest you quit wasting everyone’s time with your narcissistic hand-wringing. The world is not about the emotional discomfort you feel about being unwilling to take sides. You despise Jihad Watch precisely because Jihad Watch says what you know to be true but won’t say: that the mainstream of Islam is barbaric.

If peaceful Muslims want to change that perception, they need to direct their efforts against the likes of Fahad Qureshi, refuting him on Islamic grounds, instead of whining about “Islamophobes.” After all, they don’t even need to bother with the “Islamophobes” — Sarah Brown is taking care of that for them.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: jihad charities, Sharia, Useful idiots


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • gravenimage on Iranian top dogs approve bill to end UN nuclear inspections, increase enrichment
  • OLD GUY on Biden vows to surrender to Iran, then negotiate
  • Peter Clemerson on New study reveals that Muslim religiosity strongly linked to hatred towards the West
  • Meena on India: Police make first arrest for ‘love jihad’ under new law
  • gravenimage on Uighur leader: ‘We’re actually quite worried’ about what Biden might let China get away with

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.