In response to the Richard Dawkins “Allahu akbar” controversy, Saudi-funded Georgetown University’s “Islamophobia” propaganda mill, the Bridge Initiative, has claimed that the phrase “Allahu akbar” has been “co-opted by anti-Muslim activists”:
The “factsheet” (in reality a deception sheet) that Bridge Initiative linked contains numerous false claims, including: “The phrase is ‘recited by Muslims and Arabic speaking Orthodox Christians as an expression of their faith.'” Although there are quotation marks in the Bridge “factsheet,” there is no indication of who is being quoted, and whoever is being quoted is a liar. I was in close, daily contact with Arabic-speaking Christians, including Orthodox Christians, for nearly two decades, and not only do they not repeat the phrase “Allahu akbar,” they recoil at it.
Why do they recoil at it? Here are two news stories just from today:
Egypt: Muslim mob screaming “Allahu akbar” encouraged by police in attack on church
And from July 15: Uganda Christian/Muslim debate: Muslims screaming “Allahu akbar” knock Christian debater unconscious with large stone
June 17: France: Muslima screaming “Allahu akbar” injures two with box cutter in supermarket
May 31: Ramadan in the Netherlands: Axe-waving Muslim screaming “Allahu akbar” stabs police dog to death
May 5: Netherlands: Muslim screaming “Allahu akbar” stabs at least three people
And that’s just going back two months. I could go on and present hundreds of examples of Muslims screaming “Allahu akbar” while committing acts of violence against non-Muslims. But for the Bridge Initiative, the problem is not those Muslims. For them, the problem is the non-Muslims who dare to point out the obvious connection between “Allahu akbar” and violence. They’ve “co-opted” the phrase, and are “anti-Muslim,” you see.
As far as the Bridge Initiative is concerned, if non-Muslims would stop reporting on how violent Muslims scream “Allahu akbar,” all would be well. The problem is not the reporting, not the stack of dead bodies.
If I had a college-age daughter, I would no more send her to Georgetown University than I send her to work in a whorehouse in Buenos Aires.
Rarely says
Buenos Aires? Why you Argentinianphobe!!
dan christensen says
The whorehouses in the city of Kassel in Germany are worse than those of Buenos Aires.
Rarely says
I wasn’t really commenting on Buenos Aires but trying, however awkwardly perhaps, to illustrate how easily and irresponsibly the “phobe” handle is passed out obviously trying to parallel the extensive misuse of “islamophobia”. RS might just as easily have used the whorehouses of of Timbuctoo or Melbourne.. (I think).. And in no sense was I trying to undermine RS’ message.
Tricia Stuercke says
Rarely, it cracked me up! Perfectly mocking of the Jihadi-sympathizer Lefties!
gravenimage says
+1
John the Mad says
Interesting. And how exactly do you know that? Tsk tsk. Something you’re not telling us Dan?
dan christensen says
A friend of mine was once tricked in such a Kassel whorehouse to buy several little bottles of champagne for 100 Euro a bottle; just to boost their profits when using the services of the house.
Also, in Paris, France at some other time, he was tricked by transsexual prostitute to believe that the prostitute was a female (in the dark).
BC says
You speak from wide experience of them both I assume!
Robert Spencer says
My reference actually comes from a song, “The Groom’s Still Waiting at the Altar,” by Bob Dylan, which contains one of his most marvelous and audacious rhymes, “January/Buenos Aires”:
What can I say about Claudette?
Ain’t seen her since January
She could be respectably married
Or runnin’ a whorehouse in Buenos Aires.
(It’s a great song.)
Tricia Stuercke says
Bob Dylan, The Great Lyricist! (that voice, tho?…just sayin’)
THANK YOU TO BOTH BOB’S!
gravenimage says
I hadn’t heard that song for ages! Here’s a live recording of Dylan performing it in San Francisco in 1980:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1k0tYy6p-I
Lydia Church says
The daily dose of sarcasm:
Right, right, it’s all the non muslims!
It’s their fault that they die or get injured after the term is shouted and violence follows!
Why won’t people wake up to the fact that it’s not the term, it’s not the violence that follows, but it’s the dead or injured victims and the reporting of the violence following the term that is to blame! Ugh! (Sigh!)
(Arm over forehead after head thrown back in dismay)
Andy says
George Soros who has funded instability around the world says he ‘Doesn’t Want To Be A Democrat’
https://thefederalistpapers.org/opinion/george-soros-doesnt-want-to-be-democrat
Andy says
Leftwing Colleges Lose Students while Conservative Colleges Surge!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJaPptvIJQE
VRWC member77 says
And in what way does this video have to do with the above article?
somehistory says
Psychopaths always…always…point the finger of blame at someone else.
moslims and those who collaborate with them in their dirty deeds, cannot afford to let the truth about them and their wild beast of islam become common knowledge. They are trying to preserve an image that is a big fat lie.
But the truth is getting out to more and more people; hence, the pointed finger of blame for the infamous, lying phrase.
Wellington says
Agreed. And what you described is pure projection. Both Muslims and Lefties accuse others of what they themselves do (e.g., hatred of “the other”).
Mr Hype says
The greatest fear of a psychopath is to have his mask removed. Always…always keep pointing him out for what he is. Keep pulling at that mask.
And always ignore his/her counterclaims and immediately respond with another or the same truth that enrages them.
They counterclaim to deflect attention away from the original issue…themselves. Be single minded and keep the original issue at the fore even if it means keep saying the same thing like a playback loop.
Bullyonline.co.uk has some good ways of doing this. Read it….
Benedict says
“Allahu akbar” means that whatever a Muslim does, no matter how heinous, if only he verbally exalts Allah while doing it, it becomes a virtue.
Being a Muslim means never having to say you’re sorry.
Kay says
40 years ago there was some discussion about the wisdom of accepting foreign funds to run our universities.
I guess wisdom lost that battle.
gravenimage says
Grimly true.
mgoldberg says
And no one will hear what a giant pile of bovine fertilizer the statement is.
No one will be allowed to call it a lie, nor call them liars who deserve to be called liars and worse.
They are deliberately lying, deliberately misdirecting and the antidote would be in depth examination of
the facts that would indeed show the lies, the liars and educate the public. But it won’t happen… and that is the problem.
No Muzzies Here says
Remember now, the Saudis are our friends and enjoy special privileges.
I quote Vanity Fair: “Just days after 9/11, wealthy Saudi Arabians, including members of the bin Laden family, were whisked out of the U.S. on private jets.” I remember that. I have a good memory.
Just what is the special relationship? Why have presidents given them respect?
dsinc says
Does oil have something to do with it?
Wellington says
+1
gravenimage says
Saudi-funded Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative claims “Allahu akbar” “co-opted by anti-Muslim activists”
………………….
In other words, how *dare* we notice that Muslims scream “Allahu Akbar!” before slaughtering us? Bad, bad dhimmis…
Note, too, the claim that if you are against Jihad terror attacks, that you are “anti-Muslim”. Hey, if the shoe fits…
gravenimage says
Here’s another story from today:
“Egypt: Muslim mob screaming ‘Allahu akbar’ encouraged by police in attack on church”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/07/egypt-muslim-mob-screaming-allahu-akbar-encouraged-by-police-in-attack-on-church
FYI says
yep.Bob Dylan is great.
Say,have you heard of the anti-islamic terror version of John Lennon’s “Imagine”?
imagine there’s no islam
it’s not so easy .. try!
nothing to kill or die for
above us only sky
imagine all the people
living life in peace
[oooh yeah ah}
Imagine no jihadis
ok it’s hard to do..
no more islamic violence
And peace and freedom too.
You may say that I’m a dreamer
but I’m not the only one,
I hope someday you’ll join us
and the world will be as one.
Norger says
Indeed non-Muslims recoil at these words. Recall that the four page letter found in the luggage of 9/11 terrorist ringleader Muhammed Atta included the following instruction:
“When the confrontation begins, strike like champions who do not want to go back to this world. Shout, ‘Allahu Akbar,’ because this strikes fear in the hearts of the non-believers.”
The BridgeInitiative is beyond disingenuous, these people are outright liars.
Tricia Stuercke says
JW, Robert Spencer, & “Commentees”,
Excellence all round!
Let’s not forget, Georgetown University- still claiming to be Catholic Christian- rolled right over at high speed to accomodate Obama’s demand to cover all crosses & religious symbols before he spoke there. Many offenses since then, countless now FAVORING ISLAM AT THE FIGURATIVE & LITERAL EXPENSE OF HISTORIC CATHOLIC CHRISTIANITY! This is spreading like wildfire throughout the Fallen members of Church “Hierarchy”, but there’s a growing underground of Conservative Traditionalists who are Scripture-faithful, God-fearing, Christ-loving “Remnants” who are actively working to “right every ship” we can & will press on through the inevitable Schism “Pope Francis” seems to be leading us to. Europe’s a disaster, with A MOSQUE BEING BUILT AT CATHOLIC EXPENSE (a dangerously-dopey group of “dogooders” who are going to “Love their Islamic Brethren” right into their own graves.
balam says
The Americans must have been very foolish to have put HUSSEIN OBAMA-a SHIITE MUSLIM in the WHITE HOUSE.Deep in his heart,he was Anti-American and Anti-Jews and Anti-Christians.
Indiana Tom says
I thought he was Sunni?
Westman says
Ah, the Bridge Initiative – how to finish Georgetown University in massive debt while becoming an unemployed Community Organizer who rejects the very nation of opportunity. Grande..
Indiana Tom says
the Bridge Initiative, has claimed that the phrase “Allahu akbar” has been “co-opted by anti-Muslim activists”:
Yeah, and “Heil Hitler” has been co opted by anti Fascist activists.
gravenimage says
Yes–terrifying reference, Jay Boo.
duh swami says
Allahu Akbar means, ‘God bless you’,,,We know that because Senator John McCain said so…
strong aingel says
Akbar is a Chaldean loan word. From a dictionary prepared for The Right Reverand Thomas Valpy French (First Bishop Of Lahore) by Thomas Patrick Hughes circa 1885 … “ALLAHU AKBAR “allah is great” or Allah is most great” An ejaculation which is called the TAKBIR. It occurs frequently in the liturgical forms and is used when slaying an animal for food.” Remembering kafir are classed below animals its a useful slogan for all murderous occasions.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
No learned muslim is disputing that the phrase “Allah Akbar “is chanted in valid jihad fighting. It is also used in muslim daily life like prayers, call to prayers, expressing sympathy for loss or condolences, showing love or admiration, all being related to glory of Allah. But Islamaphobes and other hate campaigners against muslims , especially in the west, have restricted its usage to acts of violence by terrorists who are not even fighting valid jihad.
Nanette says
I’m an Islamopobe. Phobia means fear of, so Islamophobia means fear of Islam. As a woman, you bet I’m afraid of Islam! Muslims men are terrible to women and children! Why do you worship Allah who tells people in the Quran to kill people, smite them in the neck? We need a god of love, not one who tells his followers to kill people, that it’s o.k. to bear their wives.
Nanette says
That last sentence should read “beat their wives.”
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Nanette, your satan god inspired mithraist christians in Samuel 15:3 to kill those living with exception of little girls to be kept as sex slaves and mithraist churchmen carried it out during crusade wars and in Spain, they are now having anus and vaginal sex with kids under their care. You see nothing wrong in all these because Paul the liar said all your sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus, which is a lie?
gravenimage says
What a load of projection.
balam says
Jihad is the other name for ISLAMIC TERRORISM.For the sake of PEACE,the world JIHAD and its practice should be taken out from the dictionary of Islam OTHERWISE THE CRUSADES SHOULD BE RESUMED TO ELIMINATE THE evil Islam FOR GOOD.
WPM says
Without Jihad, hate of the unbelievers ,hate of other “MOslems ” hate of freedom for women , no freedom to leave Islam ,what would Islam be a short pamphlet on how to go to the bathroom not eat pork and pray with your butt up in the air..
Giacomo Latta says
So, **it*ace, we westerners are forcing Muslims to shout ”allahu akbar” before they perform some terrorist act otherwise we are going to take away their terrorism privileges. Have I got that straight?
Norger says
You admit that it is chanted in “valid jihad fighting” (i.e. mass murdering civilians). We can disagree as to whether any of the 30,000 jihad terror attacks since 9/11 are “valid” in any sense of that word, but at least you’re honest that a primary usage of the term is a savage war cry used by terrorists as they murder innocents. Case closed.
SK says
Well, no. The real problem is that Muslims have used it in ways that refer to a violent victory over other groups.
The fact is, they have simply been able to find people using it, regardless of whether you define what they are doing as “valid”, because the people using it think they are valid, and the people in the West you want to talk about don’t really see a difference between them and the kind of jihad you are willing to validate because they expect the difference to be something entirely arbitrary.
gravenimage says
The foul Ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
No learned muslim is disputing that the phrase “Allah Akbar “is chanted in valid jihad fighting.
………………….
That’s right–murdering unbelievers.
More:
It is also used in muslim daily life like prayers, call to prayers, expressing sympathy for loss or condolences, showing love or admiration, all being related to glory of Allah.
………………….
In other words, ‘I pray that we murder lots of Infidels’, ‘come and listen to a Kutbah telling you to murder Infidels’, ‘sorry you were unable to murder more Infidels’, and ‘I admire how you are so good at murdering Infidels’…
More:
But Islamaphobes and other hate campaigners against muslims , especially in the west, have restricted its usage to acts of violence by terrorists who are not even fighting valid jihad.
………………….
In other words, it’s hateful for you filthy Infidels to say anything negative about Muslims slaughtering Infidels.
Oh, and if Ibrahim itace muhammed were *really* concerned that sometimes Muslims are invalidly slaughtering Infidels, he would be chiding his murderous coreligionists, not castigating the good Anti-Jihadists at Jihad Watch.
WPM says
Allah Akbar is a supremist slogan used in daily life by Moslems, like Hail Hitler was use in dally life in Germany by Germans in the late 1930s to 1945.It is shouted at non-believers to intimate ,like screaming F**k Y*U at someone you hate and disrespect .
terry says
Lies concerning those who wish to murder, supplant, dominate, and conquer will not change nor alter what islam is and has been since its founding; if those who wish others to believe these false statements, then it is muslims responsibility to live so as to make these statements true. BUT it is also their responsibility to cease attempting to make lies that will always be lies, into anything but a lie- no Christian who calls Jesus Christ God come in the flesh uses this phrase of death and mayhem! The words written in the koran and hadithes about the gospels of Jesus Christ, the Father, and the Holy Ghost ARE NOT the Jesus Christ of Orthodox Christianity; or, any creed of Christianity that professes the Old and New Testaments concerning GOD, Jesus, and the faith of who Christ is and those who follow him! Any other things written by others, in any other book outside of these two Testaments are false, by false prophets! And any American believes in any one having the right to belief in what is their faith- false or not! BUT NO ONE has the right to make my faith in WHO Jesus Christ become their false views of whom he is NOT! Jesus Christ is my Lord God come in the flesh; my King and my Saviour, my Faith, given to me by the Father and the Holy Ghost to believe upon the name of Jesus Christ as given to me by the Apostles in the New Testament, and by Moses and the prophets in the Old Testament: NO OTHER BOOKS outside of these represent my faith as a Christian! Period.
SK says
They are not honest with their readers when they want to say critics co-opted it. The critics just noticed some usages they deemed unfavourable. This is really what happened.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Norgan, 9/11 and terrorist attacks on civilian population are invalid because Prophet Muhammad explicitly stated that civilian population shall not be attack. Note:jihad fighting is an organised warfare between Muslims ànd hostile non-muslim combatants. See Hamidullah’s work on Islamic law of war and peace”(in English) for more details
gravenimage says
What a load. Ibrahim itace muhammed *himself* has said that Muslims have the right to murder all Infidels who do not submit to Islam.