“The menace of terrorism poses a threat to civilization and Algeria, while fighting terrorism, doesn’t associate it with Islam,” said Sellal. Good. Now if only he could convince the terrorists themselves not to do so. But in that effort, he faces some obstacles:
“We will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve for what they have associated with Allah of which He had not sent down authority. And their refuge will be the Fire, and wretched is the residence of the wrongdoers.” (Qur’an 3:151)
“When your Lord was revealing to the angels, ‘I am with you; so confirm the believers. I shall cast terror into the unbelievers’ hearts; so strike above the necks, and strike every finger of them!” (Qur’an 8:12)
“Make ready for them whatever force and strings of horses you can, to strike terror thereby into the enemy of Allah and your enemy, and others besides them that you know not; Allah knows them. And whatsoever you expend in the way of Allah shall be repaid you in full; you will not be wronged.” (Qur’an 8:60)
If the “terror” that is mentioned in Qur’an 3:151, 8:12, and 8:60 is something other than the terror that is caused by terrorism, where exactly in Islamic scripture or tradition is this distinction found, and what exactly is the difference between the terror that Muslims are told by Allah to strike in the hearts of unbelievers and terrorism as jihadis practice it today?
“Violent extremism has nothing to do with Islam – Algerian PM,” KUNA, April 10, 2016:
ALGIERS, April 10 (KUNA) — Prime Minister Abdulmalek Sellal affirmed Sunday that terrorism and extremism have nothing to do with Noble Islam.
“The menace of terrorism poses a threat to civilization and Algeria, while fighting terrorism, doesn’t associate it with Islam,” he said at a joint press conference with his French counterpart Manuel Valls at the end of the French-Algerian High-level Intergovernmental Committee (CIHN).
He called for concerted efforts by the international community to protect security of all countries and remove the root causes of terrorism including hatred and malice….
On his part, Valls said the relationship between Algeria and France is made of frankness and sincerity, but also common view on many subjects….
Regarding terrorism, Valls said that the international community “should have understood better what was happening in Algeria in early 1990s and its difficult choices.
“Algeria has suffered for several years. We should have had a better understanding of what happened in Algeria in the early 1990s,” Valls noted.
“Algeria and the Algerians fought bravely terrorism, we must remember it,” he added.
Yesterday Valls started a two-day visit to Algeria to co-chair with Sellal the third CIHN session.