Category Archives: Islam

All Saints Church creates ruckus by hosting Muslim Public Affairs Council Convention

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From here:

For the first time in its history, the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is holding its annual convention at a Christian church. But now the council’s host, All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, Calif., is facing vitriolic backlash.

The church has received over 25 hate emails and threats since Friday, Rev. Susan Russell, senior associate for communications at All Saints, told The Huffington Post Wednesday. She blogged about the MPAC event for HuffPost Tuesday, and spoke to the negative reception the church has faced so far.

The delicious irony in this is that Rev. Susan Russell is a former president of Integrity USA, an organisation that lobbies for the normalisation of homosexual behaviour. It does not appear to have occurred to Susan Russell that the religion of the group she wants to accommodate in her church tends, when given free rein, to support the summary hanging of homosexuals.

Muslim Public Affairs Council to hold convention in TEC church

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The Muslim Public Affairs Council is taking the “next step in its mission” by holding its 12th annual convention in an Episcopal church: All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena. An obvious choice really: something needs to fill the faith void in TEC.

MPAC’s founders were active in the Muslim Brotherhood – the organisation which has been so instrumental in bringing democracy to Egypt – it sponsors anti-Israel rallies, surreptitiously promotes jihad against the West, and supports Hezbollah and Hamas.

Apparently, MPAC is looking for allies; where better to look than among a bunch of witless Episcopalians:

MPAC explains that the holding of its convention at the All Saints Episcopal Church of Pasadena is a reflection of its focus on winning allies among other faiths. It boasts of establishing partnerships with the National Association of Evangelicals, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the Catholic Archdiocese, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Union of Reform Judaism and other faith groups. MPAC and similar groups like the Islamic Society of North America have created an interfaith bloc willing to defend them against Rep. Michele Bachmann and other opponents.

Muslim chaplain calls prison cuts a 'fatwa'

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The federal government is cancelling the contracts of non-Christian chaplains at federal prisons. An imam, Zia Khan, doesn’t like this much; in fact, he dislikes it so much (nothing to do with the money, I’m sure) that he has declared it a fatwa against – he doesn’t actually say, but Islam, presumably.

The only problem is, ‘fatwa’ means ‘a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority.’ So by declaring this a fatwa, the imam is recognising at as a legitimate ruling of sharia law. Why is he complaining, then? He is complaining because he is using ‘fatwa’ in a more westernised colloquial sense of issuing a death sentence against someone.

Clearly, Zia Khan needs to go back to imam school for re-education – before he goes too far towards a wrong end.

From here:

Zia Khan is an imam and the director of the Centre for Islamic Development in Halifax.

He has visited about 70 inmates over the past two years; until the word came last week that their contracts will not be renewed.

“Last time we went, we said, ‘See you in the beginning of October,’ and all of a sudden, this fatwa, if you would call it, came down from the mountain,” he said.

“It’s an egregious violation of the charter, and I think people need to stand up and really say something because I think the country is starting towards a wrong end.”

 

The bacon hate crime

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Bacon dumped on the doorstep of a mosque may be a ‘hate crime’, apparently. I concede that the act may have been motivated by hatred – or it could have been a practical joke – but where is the crime? No-one was injured, nothing was stolen, no Korans were injured, desecrated or despoiled and the Prophet, peace be upon him, was not depicted in effigy in a sexually compromising position or with a bomb in his hat. There was no crime.

To his credit, the Muslim in charge of the mosque doesn’t seem overly perturbed – perhaps he is a closet bacon lover – but the constabulary, whose cholesterol aversion sensibilities must be more finely honed, are “disturbed” by the incident.

We have progressed to the era of the “I am offended” crime.

From here:

Mounties are investigating the possibility of a hate crime after several piles of bacon were found outside a mosque in Port Coquitlam, B.C.

Police say it’s the second such act of vandalism and mischief at the Islamic Society of British Columbia mosque and Islamic centre in the last 18 months.

Muslims consider pork a symbol of impurity.

Society president Saad Bahr says it’s clear the action was intended to offend, but his group would welcome the opportunity to speak to those responsible to have them learn more about Muslim beliefs.

 

Welcome to Pakistan Railways

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Where the trains are run by “professional management and competent staff ” whose leader, Ghulam Ahmad Balor, is using the money he earns by making the trains run “strictly in accordance to time table“, to offer a $100,000 reward for the murder of an American citizen.

It’s not the first time that someone has been mentally derailed by the strain of keeping the trains running on time.

From here:

ISLAMABAD – A Pakistani Cabinet minister Saturday offered a $100,000 reward for the death of the person behind the anti-Islam video made in the United States that has roiled Muslims around the world, even suggesting that Taliban and al-Qaida militants could carry out the killing.

Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Balor said at a news conference in Peshawar that he would personally finance a bounty aimed at the maker of the crude, low-budget video that denigrates the Prophet Muhammad.

Balor acknowledged that incitement to murder was illegal but said he was “ready to be hanged in the name of the Prophet Muhammad.” And he invited the Taliban and al-Qaida to be “partners in this noble deed,” according to news reports.

 

Emmanuel College, University of Toronto offers new degree in Muslim pastoral care

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Emmanuel College is associated with the United Church of Canada. This becomes obvious when you enter the grounds and are greeted by a statue of a crucified woman.

What does an ostensibly Christian Theological College know about Muslim pastoral care? It’s pretty simple: whatever you do, don’t speak about Mohammed. If you are careless about the context of your remarks, fail to say “peace be upon him”, use poor inflexion, bad diction, stutter, giggle at the wrong moment or, Allah forbid, absent-mindedly doodle a Mohammed, the object of you pastoral care may decide to behead you.

Having learned that, you have earned your degree.

From here:

Emmanuel College at the University of Toronto has enlarged its Muslim Studies certificate program to prepare people for pastoral care in social agencies that serve Canada’s growing population of Muslims.

The new two-year program, offered through the Master of Pastoral Studies degree stream, grew out of the United Church of Canada theological college’s three-year certificate program, launched in 2010 to enhance interfaith dialogue between Muslims and Christians.

The new program will train students from various religious communities to specialize in pastoral care and serve as chaplains in facilities with clients of the Islamic faith.

 

Anglican Churches in Iran, Pakistan and Persian Gulf condemn anti-Islam film

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They couldn’t find it in themselves to condemn the death and possible rape and torture of U.S. ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens, though. Funny, that.

From here:

TEHRAN – Members of the Anglican Church in Iran, Pakistan and the Persian Gulf issued a statement on Wednesday condemning production and showing of an anti-Islam film on the internet or on any other media outlets anywhere.
“Christians strongly believe in harmonious existence and understanding among people of all faiths especially among the people of Abrahamic faiths with their roots in believing in one God revealed in their Holy Scriptures,” said the statement a copy of which was sent to IRNA news agency.

It added, “In concordance with our Muslim neighbors in Iran, Pakistan and the Persian Gulf, we demand that international media leaders to develop a code of conduct which will stop hateful anti-religious views to be promoted, provoking the sentiments of millions of people across the globe.”

The statement also demanded that international bodies like the United Nations and the World Council of Church, “to expedite the formation of international laws prohibiting such moves and declaring them illegal and punishable crimes in the future.”

Update: The Episcopal News Service has joined in the chorus of those excoriating the makers of the inane little film while completely ignoring the murder of J. Christopher Stevens.:

Leaders across the Anglican Communion have spoken out about The Innocence of Muslims, a film containing anti-Islam content that has so far triggered protests, violence and death in countries like Libya and Egypt.

Both Anglican and Roman Catholic archbishops in New Zealand have condemned the film, its message and its promotion, alongside the Federation of Islamic Associations president and the city of Wellington’s Regional Jewish Council chairperson, Race Relations commissioner and local bishops.

In the Anglican world of indaba, Hegelian middle ground, compromise, a metaphysic without hell overseen by a mushy-love god who appears to be stoned most of the time, it’s remarkable just how judgemental bishop Pierre Whalon becomes when it suits him:

According to Whalon, those who planned and created the film would have much to answer for when they came before the judgment seat of God.

Conservative Anglican bishops call for limiting free speech

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From here:

Four North African and Middle Eastern Anglican bishops have written to U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon urging the adoption of an international declaration against religious defamation.

Bishops Mouneer Anis of Egypt, Michael Lewis of Cyprus and the Gulf and assistant Bishops Bill Musk of North Africa and Grant LeMarquand of the Horn of Africa wrote to the U.N. leader on 15 Sept 2012 following the attacks on the U.S. embassy in Cairo and consulate in Benghazi on 11 Sept.  In the days that followed mobs demonstrated outside American diplomatic posts across the Middle East and attacked U.S., German and British embassies in Tunis and Khartoum, ostensibly in response to a Youtube video that attacked Mohammad.

The bishops wrote that in “view of the current inflamed situation in several countries in response to the production of a film in the USA which evidently intends to offend our Muslim brothers and sisters by insulting the Prophet Mohammed, and in view of the fact that in recent years similar offensive incidents have occurred in some European countries which evoked massive and violent responses worldwide, we hereby suggest that an international declaration be negotiated that outlaws the intentional and deliberate insulting or defamation of persons (such as prophets), symbols, texts and constructs of belief deemed holy by people of faith.”

They said such a declaration would not be a violation of the right of free speech, but would encourage people to be “responsible and self-restraining in expressing or promoting offensive or malicious opinions with regard to the religions of the world.”

I suppose this just goes to show that even theologically conservative Anglican bishops can do strange things when they stray uninvited into politics.
A few points:

First, if the bishops had appealed to fellow Christians to exercise restraint when tempted to mock Islam and its founder because it is a less than effective way of winning Muslims over to Christ, I would have no objection. That’s not what they have done, though: the letter was addressed to the Secretary of the U. N. – not exactly a Christian organisation.

Second, the bishops are clearly making a political point: make insulting Islam and Mohammed illegal. Why? Not because it would put off potential Muslim converts to Christianity, but because of the massive and violent responses worldwide. In other words it’s political appeasement, a willingness to submit to bullies, an act of poltroonery, a grovelling before the barbarian hordes.

Third, the bishops have said nothing that I know of to condemn – let alone call for the banning of – expressions of hatred for Christianity that are routinely displayed in western art – a crucifix immersed in urine, a Virgin Mary covered in dung, and so on – let alone the anti-Christian diatribes that flow with tedious predictability from the likes of Bill Maher. Nor, in the letter, is there any mention of outlawing the anti-Semitism with which Arab nations gleefully indoctrinate themselves and their children.

Fourth, many Islamic nations outlaw Christian proselytising; presumably this is just fine with the bishops since, after all, Christian evangelism offends Muslims.

The complete letter can be found here – until someone decides to outlaw it.

More on that film

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The U.S. has responded to the murder of its diplomat and destruction of its property by hunting down and killing the murderers? By cutting off financial aid to the countries responsible? By treating the well organised invasion of its territory as an act of war and responding accordingly? By withdrawing embassy staff from unstable Middle–Eastern countries – those still living – and cutting off diplomatic relations? Not exactly. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department is interviewing Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, maker of the film that is the latest flimsy excuse for Muslim hatred of the West.

Toronto Hindus are going to screen “Innocence of Muslims” at an undisclosed location amid heavy security. There is currently no estimate of how many viewers will die of boredom.

Muslims in Niger destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary because they don’t like “Innocence of Muslims”. Western countries are on high alert in preparation for the inevitable violence from rampaging Catholics.

Muslims in London and Sydney are rioting in protest against “Innocence of Muslims”; none of them have actually seen the film, but they are all unemployed, have nothing better to do, and, riot or no riot, will continue to receive their welfare cheques, so why not indulge in a little recreational rioting?

Egypt’s PM, Hisham Qandil, sees it all as a series of “unfortunate events”: as Exodus 20:13 admonishes: “You shall not murder because it would be an unfortunate event”. Qandil goes on to note that it is unacceptable to insult our prophet – peace be upon him and that the West needs to curtail its unfortunate tendency to allow speech free enough to insult our prophet – peace be upon him. The thing is, the true identity of Muslims is that they are peace loving; unless you insult their prophet – peace be upon him – because then they will want to behead you. So we must put a stop to these films so that Muslims can live according to their true identity. For their prophet – who absolutely loved peace in the sparsely occasional moments he wasn’t at war. Peace be upon him.

“Innocence of Muslims” film maker identified

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The film that has become the latest excuse for Islamist mayhem was, according to the FBI, created by Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a character on probation for “financial crimes” living in California.

Watching the trailer is enough to convince any sane person that the entire film must be execrable tripe. Tripe or not, Islamist reaction to it was predictably demented and, even though he made a dismal job of it, it’s pretty clear that Nakoula intended his creation to inflame those eager to vent their righteous indignation by murdering people.

In the almost civilised West, one of the things we do is allow people to say insulting, aggravating things about anything they like – in public. It’s called free speech. The ludicrous thing about what has happened is that Islamists have been set off, not by the best we have to offer, but by an atrocious piece of drivel so badly executed that it should never have seen the light of day.

This is not so much a clash of civilisations as a clash of barbarities.

The clip is below for those with sufficiently numbed sensibilities.

From here:

Federal authorities have identified a Coptic Christian in southern California who is on probation after his conviction for financial crimes as the key figure behind the anti-Muslim film that ignited mob violence against U.S. embassies across the Mideast, a U.S. law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

The official said Thursday that authorities had concluded that Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, was behind Innocence of Muslims, a film that denigrated Islam and the prophet Muhammad and sparked protests earlier this week in Egypt, Libya and most recently in Yemen. It was not immediately clear whether Nakoula was the target of a criminal investigation or part of the broader investigation into the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans in Libya during a terrorist attack.