The Qur’an says “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). However, what constitutes “compulsion” is in the eye of the beholder. The institutionalized subjugation of the dhimma, with its regular humiliation and harassment, from which one can be freed for the simple price of converting to Islam, is not considered compulsion. Remember Steve Centanni and Olaf Wiig, the journalists who were kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam — even though their conversions were obviously coerced, their captors made them say that they were converting freely, and the captors probably believed that themselves. After all, the journos could have chosen to be killed instead.
“Yazidis who suffered under Isis face forced conversion to Islam amid fresh persecution in Afrin,” by Patrick Cockburn, Independent, April 18, 2018:
The Yazidis, who were recently the target of massacre, rape and sex slavery by Isis, are now facing forcible conversion to Islam under the threat of death from Turkish-backed forces which captured the Kurdish enclave of Afrin on 18 March. Islamist rebel fighters, who are allied to Turkey and have occupied Yazidi villages in the area, have destroyed the temples and places of worship the Kurdish-speaking non-Islamic sect according to local people.
Shekh Qamber, a 63-year-old Syrian Kurdish Yazidi farmer who fled his town of Qastel Jindo in Afrin, described in an exclusive interview with The Independent what happened to Yazidis who refused to leave their homes. He said that some were forcibly brought to a mosque by Islamists to be converted, while others, including a 70-year-old man he knew, were being lured there by offers of food and medical attention.
Even the place names of Yazidi villages are being changed. Mr Qamber recounted a conversation he had with an Islamist militant who had arrested and questioned him near the town of Azaz when he was trying to escape. He was asked by his interrogator where he was from and he replied that he was from Qastel Jindo. The Islamist, whose groups often describe themselves as belonging to the Free Syrian Army (FSA), said: “it’s no more Qastel Jindo. It’s al-Quds now. We will give it the name of Palestine’s capital. These areas were occupied by the infidels and now it is [going] back to their original owners and original names … We came here to regain our lands and behead you.”
Mr Qamber recalls that he replied to this threat to kill him by a saying that what would happen would be by god’s will. His interrogator responded: “Shut up! You are infidel. Do you really know or believe in god?” Mr Qamber said that believed in one god and soon after he was released because, he believes, he was old and sick. He eventually found his way to the main Kurdish enclave in northeast Syria which is protected by the People’s Protection Units (YPG) backed by US airpower and 2,000 US troops.
There are frequent reports that many of the Sunni Arab fighters in the FSA, who are under the command of the Turkish military, are former members of Isis and al-Qaeda. In their own videos, they describe the existing Kurdish population as infidels, using slogans and phrases normally associated with al-Qaeda.
In addition, there were “there were temples and Yazidi worship houses, but all have been blown up and destroyed by the militants after they entered the village”. The Yazidi religion is a mixture of beliefs drawn from Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
Mr Qamber said he had spoken to people from the Yazidi villages of Burj Abdalo, Basufane, Faqira, and Tirende and they all said “the militants are teaching the Yazidis the Islamic prayer”….
Dry Academy says
And Neocon scum want this savagery for all of Syria. Vile wretches.
gravenimage says
No, they don’t. But deposing Assad–though he is a Jihadist himself–would likely allow even worse Islamic factions to take his place.
Rob says
Exactly! The West must learn to hold its nose and work with the dictators. The Kims, Husseins, Gaddafis and lately the Erdogans of this world crave acceptance and generational succession. Give it to them (apart from the odd war crime) and wean them towards better ways.
Sure it sticks in the throat but how many lives have been lost by direct action regime change?
Dry Academy says
Yes, they do. And Assad is not by any reasonable definition a “jihadist”. You’ve been listening to Neocon Russophobic propaganda.
gravenimage says
Assad backs, funds, and works with Hizb’allah, which regularly launches Jihad terror attacks against Israel.
This is not “Neocon Russophibic propaganda”.
“Iran-funded Hizballah recruiting Muslims in Judea for jihad attacks against Israel”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2015/08/iran-funded-hizballah-recruiting-muslims-in-judea-for-jihad-attacks-against-israel
Dry Academy says
I don’t care. He’s still not a jihadist. He sides with anyone who supports him against his enemies. Are the Israelis “jihadists” because they side with head-chopping Saudi Arabia?
You get Assad, who protects Christians and other religious minorities (yeah some Jihadist) or ISIS-style psychopaths who will butcher and rape them all.
Nearly all of Syria’s Christian population support him. Why would they do this if he was really a “jihadist”? They wouldn’t.
gravenimage says
So the Jihad against Israel is not Jihad? What rot. And no–no one is forcing Assad to wage Jihad agains the Jews.
But like other Jihadists like Gadaffi, he is still not the worst faction in the region.
Dry Academy says
He’s not :”waging jihad against the Jews”. Israel is trying to overthrow him, which would get all the Alawites, Christians, and other religious minorities slaughtered. He’s defending himself, as any sane leader would. What, he’s supposed to just surrender and let his family and people be butchered by Sunni fanatics?
gravenimage says
What tripe. Hizb’allah has been waging Jihad against Israel for decades now.
Dry Academy says
Assad is not Hezbollah, he’s just allied with them. You seem to have a problem understanding that concept. Following your logic, The U.S. and Israel are guilty of everything Saudi Arabia and Turkey do.
gravenimage says
Assad is directly funding the Jihad against Israel, and has long befoe the Syrian civil war. And Israel is not trying to oust Assad–that would be the Sunnis.
Julea Bacall says
Its very very hard-next to impossible to say which would be worse. But Sunni are worse for Yazidi, Christians, Sufi, Zoroastrian, Druze, Kurds.
Richard says
Someone once wrote of the Romans: “They have made a desert and called it ‘peace'”.
Bobby says
Yes Richard.Another part of the speech of Calgacus says this… Making concessions and being moderate isn’t going to save us from their tyranny. They rape the whole world. When they’ve finished devastating the land they turn their attentions to the sea. If their enemies have wealth they want it; if they’re poor, it makes no difference, they still hunger for power. Nowhere, east or west, is enough for them – they’re the only ones who lust after everything alike, rich or poor. Abduction, massacre, plunder they misname ‘law and order’. Where they make a desert they call it ‘peace’….just like islam
Save Europe says
They shouldn’t have to, but in these scenarios I’d encourage Yazidis to formulate their own version of ‘taqiyya.’ Pretend.
J D S says
FORCE and FEAR…..the two main things holding islam together. Take those away and islam will start to crumble.
Terry Gain says
Leftist scum want the 2,000 American troops protecting the Yazidis withdrawn. Stop lying.
gravenimage says
Muslim newly persecuting Yazidis, forcing them to convert to Islam
………………..
These poor people.
So much for the idea that the only threat they faced was ISIS. Really, it is Islam.
Rob says
Excellent point.
gravenimage says
Thanks, Rob.
Wellington says
Yes indeed, gravenimage. ALL OF ISLAM.
Until this is realized we’re just playing games. Some games less idiotic and less lethal than others but games nonetheless.
Islam is the ultimate, only and final culprit, only the degree of Islam being a variable. So tired of those, including good-meaning people, who haven’t gotten this yet. Enough already.
gravenimage says
All truye, Wellington.
gravenimage says
true
Salah says
“Islam is the ultimate, only and final culprit,…”
Hi Wellington,
Although I agree with you (from a non-religious perspective,) allow me, as a catholic, to add a few more details:
You’re giving too much weight to this stupid ideology (Islam.) Islam is only a tool in the hands of the Ultimate, Only and Final Culprit: Satan.
Islam’s horrors are frightening because they are visible.
We, in the West, are perpetuating invisibly exactly the same horrors to our own babes under the guise of “Free Choice.”
We are destroying our own familes, therefore our own societies under the LGBT sexual “diversity.”
Contraception is another sure way to destroy any society.
We are working very hard destroying the greatest civilization ever: the Judeo-Christian Civilization.
Without our tacit consent, Islam can do NOTHING against the West. We are allowing our own demise because we have turned away from the great values of our ancestors, the values given to us by God, the God of the Bible.
“And God blessed them, saying: Increase and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it…”
Genesis 28
Julea Bacall says
Sadly, the fact is that no one can fight one religion with another religion.
It won’t work. there has to be another way. I wonder though, do you know how the progress is going with the Catholic exercism of entities or Jinns, like the one who possessed Mohammed. Those entities are real. Not all are so extreme as we see on horror shows but they are definitely real and not known much about at all by the West. The East has been very familiar with all the kinds. I do not believe it is as simplictic as to say those life parasites are ‘Satan’ but just another form of life we know not much about but which can be very dangerous and drive people insane and to do things completely unnatural. Mohammeds first wife helped him forgo suicide and make his experience into something he could see as Good and like Jibral (Gabriel) talking to him as a great messenger. If not for her, he would have killed himself. I heard there is one older Catholic priest who is quite good at exorcism today. I hope so. The West needs a lot more today. There are lots of things about different life forms we do not know all over the place and in the ocean. We really do not know all that much and have to depend on our 5 or 6 senses. But there is More to life than that. I just cannot call these things Satan. Thats too easy.
mortimer says
Agree with Wellington: WORD GAMES!
TAQIYYA ALERT !!! Muslims lie about FORCIBLE CONVERSION …
MOHAMMED PRACTICED FORCIBLE CONVERSIONS ! Muslims imitate Mohammed.
“[Muhammad] said: “Woe to you Abu Sufyan, isn’t it time that you recognize that I am God’s apostle?” [Sufyan] answered, “As to that I still have some doubt.” [Ibn Abbas] said to [Sufyan], “Submit and testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is the apostle of God before you lose your head,” so [Sufyan] did so.”
– Tabari pt2,pg157; Ibn Kathir ‘Biography of the Prophet’ pt3,pg549
katherine says
Interesting development. Now we know that Erdogan’s army has joined forces with the neo-ISIS but why is Turkey still inside NATO ?.
This could be the vanguard of Merkel’s new European Army with the duty to convert ALL humanity to Islam.
Is Trump watching this – what’s next for NATO ?
gravenimage says
Yes–Turkey should be expelled from NATO.
Manos says
Expel Turkey from NATO. But if Turkey attacks Greece will NATO intervene?? The answe is no.
NATO, EU, UK, US doesn’t have the guts to stand up to Turkey. The only nation that had the guts was ISRAEL.
NATO will not expel Turkey. They don’t have the guts. Europe has become EUROABIANS.
Ahem says
According to my summary of 200+ abrogations, Koran 2:256 was abrogated by the verse of the sword:
Koran 9:5 But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.
Is my summary of abrogations incorrect?
gravenimage says
Exactly, Ahem.
Battle says
Genocide on Armenians now includes genocide on Yazidis.
gravenimage says
The Armenian Genocide really targeted all Christians. And Muslims hate *all* Infidels.
balam says
@ gravenmage: recently, two more Christians were kiled by the Musimsin Quetta and five seriously injured while they were coming out of the Church How long,the poor Christians have to suffer these atrocities by Muslims in Pakistan?
gravenimage says
Unfortunately, there is only a remnant of Christians–and Hindus and Sikhs–surviving in Pakistan.
At this point, I would advise them to flee to India if they can. There is no future for Christians or other Infidels in Pakistan.
Lydia Church says
No one can force me to convert to anything, islam included.
I will gladly die for my Christian faith!
I’m not saying that they don’t do all they can to pressure people, it’s just an issue of the fact that they can’t actually force you (or me). That is how we got all the early Christian martyrs. And all the others up until now and into the future.
Ginny says
By dying a martyr you are just giving the nwo what they want — one less free-thinking opponent. This is a proxy war against freedom, common sense, and God.
Courtney Hole says
This news is horrendous. The truth about Islam must be exposed. It certainly doesn’t belong in America. My sisters & I will be spreading the word.
Baucent says
“There are frequent reports that many of the Sunni Arab fighters in the FSA, who are under the command of the Turkish military, are former members of Isis and al-Qaeda.”
That seems plausible. Turkey was always the gateway through which ISIS recruits passed on their way to Syria. It was also the gateway through which it’s Oil exports passed and the financial channel that kept the Caliphate afloat. So it makes sense that the ISIS fighters that fled to Turkey now have been recycled in another Turkish proxi-army.
Joe says
“Meet the new boss, just like the old boss.” (The Who). In this case, it sounds like meet the new boss, he was the old boss but works for a different Islamic organization.
We should respect Islam. When Muslims say it is Islam against the world, we should respect that as a war cry.
Felix Quigley says
YES YOU CAN BE FREED FROM ISLAM…BY BECOMING A DHIMMA
The Qur’an says “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). However, what constitutes “compulsion” is in the eye of the beholder. The institutionalized subjugation of the dhimma, with its regular humiliation and harassment, from which one can be freed for the simple price of converting to Islam, is not considered compulsion.
So ask yourself how the lies of Trump in that seven minute speech the other day fit into this…Clue that speech has finished Trump forever
gravenimage says
There’s a lot Trump does not know about Islam. I don’t think Hillary would have been an improvement, though.
Colin Henderson says
I think the no compulsion in religion refers to there being no reason to maintain religious beliefs other than Islam, because the path of Islam is clearly the (only) right path.
gravenimage says
That Qur’anic verse was abrogated, Colin.
But you are right–this is often how Muslims define “religious freedom”, as freedom to practice Islam only.
Coach Martin says
United Nations, Globalists, ISIS, Turkey, Caliphate, Erdogan and Obama are all part of the Muslim Brotherhood plan to destroy the world. Islam has 150 votes in the United Nations. Obama is fixing his appointment to Secretary General while Erdogan calls himself te new Caliph of the Muslim world. The rest should make sense to anybody following these events. Turkey is simply continuing where ISIS left off. Our leaders are too naive to even consider the documentation that shows this clearly. We are convinced that when Islam says they wil kill and when the Koran says they have an obligation to kill it could not possibly be true . . . even after 1400 years of killing and 760 million deaths. Even after the warnings given to us by leaders like Luther and Churchill.
Julea Bacall says
What I got from when i read the Qur’an and letters to non Muslim countries from Mohammed at his time, was that there is no compulsion…only choice. People will be told of Islam and Allahs Command to follow Mohammed and they can choose to obey Allah or become ‘enemies’ of truth. Enemies can be killed. They could, in some cases, pay the protection tax and act as slaves but not teach other than Islam to children. That is what they mean by no compulsion. Choose to convert, be a slave and pay, be killed. Totally your choice.