Whether Tawhidi is sincere or not, it is noteworthy that publicly opposing “radicalization” and the imposition of Sharia in Australia gets him curses from his fellow Muslims there. This is why we see so few genuine Muslim reformers: those who do speak out frequently get abuse from other Muslims who ostensibly oppose jihad terror.
In Morocco a few years ago, Muslim activist Ahmed Assid said: “To call [upon people] to follow Islam by the use of violence and constraint is an act of terrorism.” For that, he was condemned, declared a non-Muslim, and threatened with death.
Now wait a minute. We’re constantly told that the overwhelming majority of Muslims condemn violence and terror and abhor the violence done in Islam’s name. So why wasn’t Ahmed Assid celebrated as a hero, instead of fearing for his life?
“‘May God curse you, you pig, you dog’: Islamic leader Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi abused by Muslims as he walks down the street in Sydney,” by Stephen Johnson, Daily Mail Australia, May 2, 2017:
An Islamic sheikh who speaks out against radicalisation and sharia law has been cursed and spat at while walking down the street in the Muslim heartland of Sydney.
Shia imam Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi was mobbed with abuse only moments after strolling along Haldon Street in Lakemba, which is home to Australia’s largest mosque.
A man shouted in Arabic as he ventured past shops with 7News reporter Bryan Seymour shortly before noon on Monday.
Asked by what the insult meant, Sheikh Tawhidi said: ‘It means, ‘May God curse you, you pig, you dog.’
After only a few minutes, Sheikh Tawhidi and the 7News crew returned to an unmarked van to avoid the possibility of violence.
Closed Facebook groups began sharing abuse online, with a Lebanese Muslim man using the Arabic word for dog to suggest there should have been a violent confrontation.
‘This kalb walking through Lakemba. Can’t believe no one did anything,’ he said.
Sheikh Tawhidi, who moved to Australia from Iraq when he was 12 in 1995, said this was the first time he had experienced abuse of this nature.
‘We were abused, spat at, insulted, called pigs and dogs and they gathered to try and intimidate us,’ the Adelaide-based religious leader told Daily Mail Australia shortly after the incident.
‘I have never been insulted or abused in Australia by any non-Muslim.
‘I have never suffered from racial discrimination at all and today was the first time that I ever experienced racial discrimination in my entire life and it was from a Muslim.’
Sheikh Tawhdidi said the holy Koran had influenced the men who abused him on Monday.
“Holy Koran”? Does the Daily Mail refer to the “Holy Bible”?
‘They believe the land belongs to God and they are the chosen nation of God and that everybody that doesn’t believe in the God that they believe in, the way they believe in, then it’s basically not their land and they have no right to be on it,’ he said….
Aniruddha Biswas says
That was Sydney. This is London. What’s the difference?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPJHGcovfyo
Bill W. says
Germany 1936 all over again in every Western Nation Black and Brown Shirt Islamic Nazi, march against all Kaffer why do we put up with this? Why is ever moslem nation that more then 80 percent moslem a mess?
gravenimage says
I’m glad to see some Brits standing up for their civilized society.
BC says
An interesting and instructive juxtaposition between the article above about RS being shouted down by students and the attitude of Muslims toward a Muslim cleric no less who opposes jihadists I wonder what the students would have to say to a Muslim who opposes or speaks against jihadists
mortimer says
Koran 8.60 “TURHIBUNNA” (terrorise them).
It’s hard to argue that Islam does not promote terrorism when the Koran, Sira, hadiths, canonical commentaries, fatwas and Islamic history ALL clearly support the use of terrorism to expand Islam.
Islamic terrorist acts now take place about 4.5 times EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.
One person has been killed by jihad every three minutes since Mohammed.
Jeanette says
Now THAT’S giving the old calculator a workout!
Thanks for that stat – it will come in very handy in the near future!
Monty says
Our Prime Minister is no different from most other world leaders. Islam? A problem? What problem? Australia spends a fortune on security, policing, special anti-terror squads, international cooperation with other agencies and prosecuting offenders. None of this would be required if Islam was not present. We have it easy compared to much of Europe, but it is changing. Only the truth will help but first you have to get people to accept what is right in front of them!
Benedict says
Should our sympathy lie with Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi – ?
Don’t be deceived and don’t let Muslims play both sides of the fence. Islam in all its editions is a permanent source of strife and contention and ultimately murder and mayhem!
Guest says
Careful …. lest you throw the baby out with the bathwater.
The wholesale blanketing of Muslims in this manner dismisses the possibility of help with the Muslim Problem coming from within their own ranks. This is a crucial factor. If there is to be any reformation in the Islamic world it will come from within Islam.. The call for reform must come from authoritative figures WITHIN Islam for it to have any impact. The same call for reform coming from a kafir would only be regarded as a vile insult and summarily dismissed. So don’t be too quick to dismiss this man for he may be one of the drops in the swell that is needed for a change.
More on what this Imam said can be found here … https://www.memri.org/reports/australian-shiite-imam-entire-religion-needs-review-australian-intelligence-should-monitor
Benedict says
I don’t believe it. I know it is the Daniel Pipe position. I like to paraphrase Karl Kraus:
Islam is that mental illness for which it regards itself as therapy. –
Ultimately it will be the Mr. Hyde face of Islam that will gain the upper hand.
You can’t separate the conjoined twins of political Islam and religious Islam – which must be achieved for Islam to be accepted in the West – without the “baby” being mortally wounded.
gravenimage says
So far some of what I’ve seen on Tawhidi looks pretty good–he is opposed to violent Jihad and Shari’ah law, and actually supports Israel.
On the other hand, three years ago he said, “If Salman Rushdie, the son of zina, was put in a room with Mr. Khomaini – he would kiss his feet and thank him”. Remember that it was the Ayatollah Khomaini who put out the death Fatwa on Rushdie.
That same year, he also said, “It’s 2013. No such thing as Taqiyyah”, which is quite ridiculous.
He also appears to be a Shia supremacist, who hates Aisha and virtually worships Ali. That in an of itself would be enough for many Sunnis to hate him.
So–is he a real reformer? Unclear, especially given the appalling quote about Rushdie. But it is enough to get him insults and death threats from his more orthodox coreligionists, in any case.
Benedict says
Islam is a recipe for disaster i.e. “the war of all against all.” (Hobbes)
gravenimage says
True, Benedict.
carpediadem says
Correct, well said. There various Muslims who have helped to stop terror events by alerting police, pretty brave considering the intimidation and family-type surveillance so common in these areas.
Benedict says
That’s because they espouse a morality that is not inspired by the Muslim canon.
gravenimage says
When Muslims are good they are being bad Muslims.
Jeanette says
Naive trust can be fatal.
Correction: Naive trust has already been fatal.
RG says
Benedict, I totally agree! “Guest” is coming at this thing from a ‘logical Western’ mindset, but in islam there ain’t no such animal….. The only sensible solution to pisslam is eradication and exposition! As the saying goes, “You can’t fix stupid”!!!! If this Sheikh Tawhidi thinks he needs to reform and revamp his FALSE “religion” then let him declare loud and clear, ISLAM IS A SICK, DEMENTED, DEMONIC FALSE religion! Ok, we all know that won’t happen, but neither will islam ever be reformed–you might as well preach to the devil that he “needs to change his evil ways”!!!!! Haaaaaaaa!
Michael Copeland says
“They believe the land belongs to God and they are the chosen nation of God and that everybody that doesn’t believe in the God that they believe in, the way they believe in, then it’s basically not their land and they have no right to be on it,”
The “they” in this statement are not poor deluded ones who have “got it all wrong”. That is what they are INSTRUCTED.
Muslims have no choice about what to believe – “they have no option” says Koran 33:36.
The quoted statement above is ordinary orthodox Islam.
Santa Voorhees says
‘I have never been insulted or abused in Australia by any non-Muslim.
‘I have never suffered from racial discrimination at all and today was the first time that I ever experienced racial discrimination in my entire life and it was from a Muslim.’
And this statement comes from a Sheikh. Sharia May and all the other dhimmis in the UK, please take note.
John A. Marre says
Anybody still think there’s hope for a reformation in Islam?
Guest says
It first starts with the attempt and I do see glimpses of that.
TL says
What EXACTLY should be the correct new form of a religion which prescribes superstition and ambushes against infidels? To reject the superstition and ambushes of Islam is to reject the very nucleus of Islam. To preserve the superstition or the ambushes would merely replace one toxic cult with another toxicity in the guise of Islam—in which case there would be always the threat of recidivism to the nucleus.
It’s by the way that “reform” has already been tried among both Sunnis and Shiites. Iran and the Middle East are now thoroughly recidivist.
So just admit that if the call for reform has any merit, it is because “reform” can divide Muslims against each other and, for some individual Muslims, begin a process of committing apostasy. Reform is otherwise useless.
Guest says
Unlike yourself I do not see reform in Islam as an irrefutable impossibility an unchangeable proposition.
Where you see absolutes I see possibilities, as small as they are.
gravenimage says
It’s not theoretically impossible, Guest–but there are few “reformers”, any who do exist are violently marginalized–as here–and there is no Islamic basis for reform. The revered “Prophet” is thoroughly violent.
And, as is so often the case, a lot of these “moderates” are not really all that moderate. Note above, where Tawhidi lauds Khomeini, who put out the death Fatwa on Salman Rushdie.
TL says
Your evasive complaint about “absolutes” is fashionable, but it does not make it adultlike and reasonable to believe that Islam can be reformed, except as I have suggested already.
Now, what EXACTLY are the “possibilities” which you claim to see? Please do show that they would not be repetitions of inititiatives which have been tried—but failed—during, say, the past 100 yrs in Iran, Iraq, and elsewhere. Finally, be specific, or admit that your supposed possibilities are just an idle fantasy and wishful thinking.
Benedict says
Moderate Muslims are the only hope for reformation of Islam.
But a moderate Muslim is a Muslim who has turned against himself,
so how could he possibly reform Islam?
Yokel says
The Gates of Ijtihad (interpretation) are closed. Muslims know that they know and understand all that there is to know and to be understood from the Sunna of Mohammed.
https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3114/muslims-ijtihad
In the West, where at present it might be useful, some semblance of a re-opening may be permitted temporarily. But any reinterpretation that does not strictly follow conventional Sunni Islam will surely go the same way as the Ahmadi. That is they will be tolerated in the West to distract from Sunni islam, while they carry water, but once the “brothers” get to dominate society then they will be hounded into a fearful minority or extinction.
Buford says
These Demented creatures are the Devil’s own & need to be exterminated like Mosquito s
mortimer says
Disagree. I request that you repent of your vicious, genocidal, sinful thoughts.
Benedict says
Agree: A good Muslim is a bad Muslim is an apostate Muslim.
gravenimage says
“May Allah curse you, you pig, you dog,” says Muslim to imam who opposes jihad terror
………………………..
And, of course, this pious Muslim was not the only one:
An Islamic sheikh who speaks out against radicalisation and sharia law has been cursed and spat at while walking down the street in the Muslim heartland of Sydney.
Shia imam Sheikh Mohammad Tawhidi was mobbed with abuse only moments after strolling along Haldon Street in Lakemba, which is home to Australia’s largest mosque…
After only a few minutes, Sheikh Tawhidi and the 7News crew returned to an unmarked van to avoid the possibility of violence.
………………………..
And this is not happening in Dr-al-Islam, but in civilized Australia’s greatest city.
More:
‘This kalb walking through Lakemba. Can’t believe no one did anything,’ he said.
………………………..
And not just insults–clearly, this Mohammedan is calling for violence.
And why? Because Tawhidi–publicly, at least–opposes Jihad terror.
But haven’t we heard that only a “tiny minority of extremists” support Jihad?
More:
‘I have never been insulted or abused in Australia by any non-Muslim.
………………………..
This should surprise no one.
Jeanette says
I’d take a dog over a Muslim any day. And the only pigs I’ve been around were intelligent, friendly and clean – again, preferable to Muslims.
Guest says
TL
You speak about “idle fantasy and wishful thinking”
Well …. you may be right, I may “suffer” from that condition, more so, I hope I do.
I think there was a good deal of that that finally got man on the moon and many other Impossible” pursuits.
Thank God in those who have hope and fantasy, for once that is gone things really do seem impossible.
Guest says
TL
You speak about “idle fantasy and wishful thinking”
Well …. you may be right, I may “suffer” from that condition, more so, I hope I do.
I think there was a good deal of that that finally got man on the moon and many other “Impossible” pursuits.
Thank God in those who have hope and fantasy, for once that is gone things really do seem impossible.
gravenimage says
Dear Guest, the first example is *aspirational*–people working hard on a difficult, so far unrealized goal.
The second is hoping that people who adhere to a vicious creed may somehow decide to reform their beliefs.
Civilized people like ourselves really have no control over whether Muslims decide to act like barbarians or not. But given their beliefs, we know that they are enjoined to do so.
Guest says
Contrary to your second sentence, I consider the hope of reformation in Islam as aspirational.
As far reaching a possibility as it may seem it is still aspirational.
Even if you consider it unattainable, it is still aspirational.
Do you consider, reform in Islam as something NOT to be aspired to.
There may be some here who are so firmly entrenched in their beliefs that they could never allow themselves to even contemplate such a thing.
As unrealistic and delusional you see the hope I have, I pray I never lose it.
al norm says
What do you know of this Shia? No one has bothered to ask him any real questions. The press and the “hopeful” are so smitten with this mini Mulla. They have zero knowledge of his beliefs. Pathetic. Yet again the West being taken for ignorant grinning idiots.
Guest: How can you reform the last word of Allah? Reform must mean interpretation, which is haram (penalty :death). If you don’t believe it is the last word you are not a Muslim
gravenimage says
Dear Guest, my point was that if one is aspirational for oneself, one can do something about it–such as working on the space program.
This is different from being aspirational on behalf of someone else–especially a group where most them despise what you want for them.
We can continue to hope for a “reform” of Islam–but in the meantime, we should stop Muslim immigration and defend ourselves against Jihad–or else this really *is* just wishful thinking.
trish says
What a pity the article does not include the film clip of the event. Australians are living with their heads buried in the sand. They are a genuinely multicultural country and have accepted successive waves of immigrants, who have by and large fitted well into the easy-going ethos and the laid-back lifestyle.
Not so the Muslims, especially the Lebanese. Whole suburbs in Western Sydney (and in other capitals as well) have been taken over. They are fast becoming no-go zones, along the likes of European cities, Northern English cities and Paris being prime examples.
Contrast this with the Chinatowns that spring up everywhere when Chinese immigrants move into an area for understandable social and economic reasons Or Sydney’s Cabramatta suburb, where Vietnamese immigrants have set up almost a little Vietnam. These places produce bustling market and restaurant streets where tourists and outsiders are welcome, feel safe, and enjoy a foray into an exotic Eastern environment. Many Sydney-siders frequently travel to these areas to eat well, shop for fresh produce. Every time I visit Sydney, I head to Chinatown for a yum cha. The feeling is friendly, safe and tolerant.
Contrast this with the Muslim areas, like the one featured in this story.. The streets are filled with men, mainly young men. Women are few and far between and often wear full face covering.. They are seen shopping at limited times of the day, but other than that are totally absent.
What is scary is that within minutes of the appearance of an ‘outsider’ the area is on full alert. Men get on phones, cars start to cruise, and virtually a flash mob is assembled at 5 minutes notice. (Makes you wonder how many of these young men spend their time either at the gym beefing up, or ‘patrolling’ the area, all the time funded on generous social welfare and unemployment payments).
This story is typical: within minutes, the Sheikh is spat at, cursed, and the threat of violence hastens the departure of him , the interviewer and cameraman or crew. Last year I watched on You Tube a clip concerning a Hindu driver who parked in a spot local Muslims considered their own (Bradford, I think). He was pursued into a café nearby, where Pakistani men tried to smash the windows to get at him. Meantime others slashed his tyres and shattered his car windows. All the men were in Pakistani dress; there was not a woman in sight. on the streets. I shuddered then, and I shudder now at the arrival of this
violent culture in Australia.
A male friend visiting family in this Sydney area was followed for several blocks by a young Muslim man making gun-shooting gestures at him. A young Greek male was recently assaulted on a city train by a Muslim gang, who tore off his crucifix and stamped on it.
And still the authorities tell us Muslims are only 2% of the population, are mainly all peaceful and moderate, with only a handful of radical Islamists. Said handful soak up millions of our dollars on anti-terrorism measures. The Sydney Police department even has a special Middle Eastern Crime Squad to try to cope with, mainly Lebanese, crime.
gravenimage says
trish wrote:
What a pity the article does not include the film clip of the event.
…………………
Clip is here, Trish:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1456235/Sheikh-Tawhidi-abused-streets-Lakemba-Sydney-s-west.html
And you are quite right about “Muslim areas”–dangerous No Go Zones, rather than the safe tourist areas that are common with other immigrant groups.
FYI says
Oh my goodness ,allah and his followers really have a serious problem with pigs and dogs..
“Angels do not enter a house which has either a dog or a picture in it”*
{sahih al-bukhari vol 4 bk 59 no 3322}
allah gets everything wrong.
allah believes Jesus(who he thinks is muslim)will return to “break the Cross”,islamize the whole world,wipe out the Christians and get this ..”kill all the pigs”
{sahih al-bukhari vol 4 book 60 no 3448}
allah and his angel jibreel are absolutely terrified of pigs.
allah’s greatest fear?
Flying pigs
*So I guess a child’s picture of a dog would be a definite No-No.
Sarah says
I have doubts about this man. I see a lot of people getting all excited over what he’s saying, they are seeing a Muslim stand up and point out the inconsistencies that the rest of us can blatantly see, within Islam.
Notice though, that this is an Iranian Shiite Muslim. And every attack he has made so far, has referred to Sunni Muslim’s within Islam. He’s smart enough to not just come out and say ‘Sunni bad, Shiite good’, but he’s not slamming Islam as a whole; he’s slamming the Sunni version.
99% of the reason why every Islamic nation on the planet is riddled with violence, conflict, hatred,poverty, misery, economic failure and disharmony is due to the endless Sunni vs Shiite bickering. The Yemen War right now is purely a proxy war between Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia.
I am glad that someone is finally standing up, from within, to point out the stupidly obvious truth – but I strongly question his motive’s. This dude just wants to drag the Sunni vs Shiite conflict into our street’s here. I really wish people who blindly support his statement’s, or those who blindly support Islam as the ‘religion of peace’ would just get off their lazy backside’s and do some really easy and simple self education. That’s all it takes. Its not like the Islamic world is trying to hide its plans for the rest of us. They’re proving by deed and action, explaining by word and frankly, shrieking their intent for all to see and hear. If anyone wants to have an opinion on ANYTHING in life – no matter what that opinion may be – at least be goddamn educated and factual in that opinion. Its not too much to ask.
Aussie Infidel says
How right you are Robert. Most Aussie’s – and I suspect most Americans and other Westerners – are factually ignorant of Islam. Although on a subconscious level, many realise that there is something seriously wrong with Islam, others (mainly Leftists) still just echo the Muslim propaganda that Islam is ‘a religion of peace’. I have friends who have never read the Quran, or anything else much about Islam, despite my urging them to do so for over 30 years. In the days before the Internet, I gave some friends Qurans as presents, but many still haven’t read them; and unless some jihadi attacks them personally, I don’t think they ever will. Since then, I’ve passed on references like quran.com, thereligionofpeace.com and jihadwatch.org etc, but they usually just reply, “That’s only someone’s opinion!”
As for Sheikh Tawhidi, I would like to believe that he is genuine about his many statements against jihad and other Islamic norms. But I still doubt his sincerity. Why does he still remain a Muslim? Does he now realise that the West (with all its faults), is light years ahead of the Islamic world in almost every possible way? And the reason is that Islam stultifies everything worthwhile? As you point out, simply by opposing the Sharia, makes Tawhidi an apostate, which according to that iniquitous legal system, is punishable by death (Reliance of the traveller O8.1). Does he hope to influence enough other Muslims to start an Islamic reformation? Does he really think that would work, with 85% of the Islamic world (the Sunnis) against him? Does he believe there is anything worth salvaging from Muhammad’s totalitarian ideology.
On the other hand, I hope Tawhidi proves me wrong. I’ll be among the first to congratulate him.