Here again we see “Islamophobia” used in the sense of criticism of Islam. “Anti-Islamophobia” initiatives advance in the West under the guise of combating vigilante attacks against innocent Muslims. But once they’re in place, these measures are used to silence any negative discussion of Islam, including discussion of the role of Islamic texts and teachings in inciting jihadis to commit acts of violence.
If el-Sisi is really worried about Islam’s image, he should be working to stop Muslims from committing jihad terror attacks in the name of Islam and in accord with its teachings. Islam’s image will clear right up.
“Egypt President Urges Scholars to Counter Islamophobic Content in Virtual Space,” International Quran News Agency, August 3, 2021:
TEHRAN (IQNA) – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi called on Muslim scholars to counter Islamic content [sic] in cyberspace.
Addressing the participants in an international conference on “Fatwa Authorities in Digital Age”, Sisi said erroneous thoughts that spread in the virtual space with the aim of distorting the image of Islam must be countered by religious scholars in the world.
He also welcomed the participants at the conference and underlined the need for Fatwa authorities to employ modern world advances, especially the virtual space.
El-Sisi further highlighted the importance of reforms in religious dialogue at the level of individuals, groups and countries, al-Tareeq website reported.
Scholars, Muftis, religious leaders and public figures from 85 countries are taking part in the conference, held under the umbrella of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide….
MIke says
way to late. Islam has threatened the world
Your race will have to stop all hostiles
period
can this be done
no
mortimer says
President el-Sisi has said that ‘Muslims cannot continue to threaten the whole world.’
gravenimage says
Kinda. If this is the reference that I am thinking of, Mortimer, this is just about ISIS, not all of Islam–and he considers other Muslims to be the ones most at threat:
SISi on U.S. action against ISIS: Imagine what would happen if you leave it without action. We still need more effort — it should not be limited to Iraq and ISIS. This is a threat not just to the Middle East but to the whole world … I want to be clear with you that this ideology constitutes a problem.
https://time.com/3426794/after-the-revolution-sitting-down-with-egyptian-president-abdul-fattah-al-sisi/
In fact, al-Sisi himself has been embracing Islam more and more:
“Egypt’s President Turns to Religion to Bolster His Authority”
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/world/middleeast/egypt-abdel-fattah-el-sisi-islam.html
He has also claimed that no one has the right to say anything that offends any Muslims:
“Egypt says freedom of expression ‘stops’ when Muslims offended”
https://www.reuters.com/article/france-security-boycott-egypt-int/egypt-says-freedom-of-expression-stops-when-muslims-offended-idUSKBN27D18K
mortimer says
El-Sisi made the comment about threats to a closed session of Al Azhar University. He was speaking to Islamic experts. He is now trying to censor speech about Islam so that Muslims will see him as a hero of Islam.
El-Sisi is playing a duplicitous game, hoping that neither Muslims nor kafirs will see what he is doing. He is denying that jihad is a core principle of Islam, while trying to control speech of KAFIRS about Islam.
El-Sisi is like King Canute ordering the tide not to come in. Denying the realities of jihad will not cause the primary source texts of Islam to vanish. As long as people believe the primary texts are ‘inspired’, there will continue to be jihad.
gravenimage says
Good analysis, Mortimer.
It seems that King Canute was actually making a point about the limits of royal (and by extention all earthly) power, though–not that he actually thought that the tide would obey him.
Infidel says
Yeah Graven, that’s how I read King Canute’s act as well. He was trying to prove wrong his courtiers who were trying to flatter him by claiming that he could command the sea waves to do what he liked
peter says
Sisi is first and foremost an adroit politician .He will say anything and do anything that will help him to stay in power! It is our folly if he confuse him to any kind of statesman!
Rob Porter says
Mortimer, almost needless for me to say, this from el-Sisi is pure twaddle: “… erroneous thoughts that spread in the virtual space with the aim of distorting the image of Islam must be countered by religious scholars in the world.” These negative thoughts of Islam are not “erroneous”. For all sane people to see, Islam is an intolerant, bigoted, hate-filled and violent ideology that is devoid of merit.
gravenimage says
Mike, Islam is not a race–it is an ideology.
mortimer says
El-Sisi is actually asking Islam’s scholars to hide jihad from the world and then deny it is normative Islam. However, neith he nor anyone else can change the reality of Islam. This is a game of trickery … he must be hoping the world will not notice and that organizations like the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS and Al Qaeda will dry up. If they do, other Islamic terror groups will replace them.
El-Sisi seems naïve about the impossibility of reforming Islam.
Infidel says
I read Graven’s account above of what he really means, and think that it’s true. However, if he was genuine about his claim that muslims can’t continue to threaten others and face no consequence, then he might like to team up w/ MbS and Assad (who too would probably like a reform of islam, since his Alawite sect is a heterodox, if not downright heretical, sect) and start working on the attempts to reform islam, as tall an order as it may be
If he was not genuine, he might as well play to the jihad gallery, now that Biden is in power and looks more favorably at the Muslim Brotherhood aligned parties in the region
mortimer says
The aim of Sisi is to polish the IMAGE OF ISLAM, rather than remove the source of the threats of Islam in the hadiths, Sira, Koran, canonical commentaries (tafsirs) and in Sharia law the summary of all the list.
Sisi wants to POLISH THE IMAGE, rather than change the reality by purging Islam of jihad references.
Nevertheless, Sisi will eventually see that Islam cannot be reformed or modernized … it is frozen in the year of the Closing of the Doors of Ijtihad in 1111 AD.
Infidel says
I just hope that MbS, Sisi and the leaders of UAE find a way to work together at a high level to eliminate all the problematic aspects of islam, be they from qur’an or sunnah. And expand the club to include leaders of countries like Bahrein, Gen Haftar in Libya, Assad in Syria, Dahlan in ‘Palestine’ and so on, so that this reform attempt gets traction
I don’t expect it to actually happen, but I do hope they make the attempt
Ray Jarman says
Infidel, et al,
I have enjoyed and concur with most of the opines but regarding El-Sisi, I am waiting for him to protect the Copts and help them and other Christian communities rebuild their places of worship in Egypt.
Infidel says
Ray
Absolutely fair point!
gravenimage says
Egypt’s Sisi: Islamic scholars must counter ‘erroneous thoughts that spread with aim of distorting image of Islam’
…………………..
Another story, same day:
“Pakistan’s president urges Islamic countries to counter ‘Islamophobia’ and change world’s perceptions about Muslims”
https://www.jihadwatch.org/2021/08/pakistans-president-urges-islamic-countries-to-counter-islamophobia-and-change-worlds-perceptions-about-muslims
Funny how Islam is the only major faith with so many problems of perception…sarc/off
PMK says
“Islamophobia’? It doesn’t exist anywhere. Many of us have a totally rational fear of an Islamic regime’s possible impact on our lives and freedom. We just have to look at countries like Iran to see what the future holds. Closer to home, we look at the Squad and CAIR and what is being done in our universities. If wanting to preserve our freedom is Islamophobic, then call me crazy.
gravenimage says
+1
jule says
No, really al Sisi means Muslims Bros first and for most. That why he had to kick out Morsi during the MB Spring that Obama set up in his ignorance.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
“You can put lipstick on a pig,
but it’s still a pig.”
Giacomo Latta says
I can tolerate el-Sisi dragging out the old Good Islam (muslims who haven’t killed or maimed anybody yet) vs Bad Islam (those who have) comparison if it helps him stay in power. The only option to him is the Muslim Brotherhood and even Egyptians don’t care to experience that again. I can’t think of anyone else preaching Good Islam that support.
OLD GUY says
The islamic/muslim plan is world domination and they will say and do what ever it takes to achieve that end. The Islamic dictatorship that they dream of can’t happen. Hitler tried it 80 yrs ago and got defeated in a brutal fight, now the muslim leaders want to do it again. Islam’s plan is slightly different in that they are using MIGRATION INVASION of young islamic men and women to disrupt the host country. As seen in Africa they use extreme violence against the non-islamic citizens. In Europe the islamic migrants are destroying the society and culture from within using violence and political propaganda to make no go zones and install sharia laws. Across the world islam is using the propaganda of islamophobia to stop any discussion or political actions against its invasion or violence.
Our political leaders are doing the same thing they did in the 1930’s when Hitler started his world domination ideology and plan. They ignored the threat then and are doing the same thing today with ISLAM. You would think we would learn from history when these evil people start this crap again.