Another prominent Muslim denounces Islamic extremism

Kyai Haji Abdurrahman Wahid, the former president of Indonesia (the world's largest Muslim country), denounces Islamic extremism in this poignant article in the Washington Post. The article stems from a recent case in Afghanistan where Abdul Rahman, a convert to Christianity narrowly escaped death for the crime of apostasy. Wahid states in reply: 'Such punishments run counter to the clear Koranic injunction "Let there be no compulsion in religion" (2:256).' Wahid reveals more of the contradictions in Islamic extremism and portrays the true nature of such extremism to be political.

All of humanity, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, is threatened by the forces of Islamist extremism. It is these extremists, masquerading as traditional Muslims, who angrily call for the death of Abdul Rahman or the beheading of Danish cartoonists. Their objective is raw political power and the eventual radicalization of all 1.3 billion Muslims worldwide. Western involvement in this "struggle for the soul of Islam" is a matter of self-preservation for the West and is critical given the violent tactics and strength of radical elements in Muslim societies worldwide.

Muslim theologians must revise their understanding of Islamic law, and recognize that punishment for apostasy is merely the legacy of historical circumstances and political calculations stretching back to the early days of Islam.

...

People of goodwill of every faith and nation must unite to ensure the triumph of religious freedom and of the "right" understanding of Islam, to avert global catastrophe and spare millions of others the fate of Sudan's great religious and political leader, Mahmoud Muhammad Taha, who was executed on a false charge of apostasy. The millions of victims of "jihadist" violence in Sudan -- whose numbers continue to rise every day -- would have been spared if Taha's vision of Islam had triumphed instead of that of the extremists.

Washington Post

Frequently people ask, what are Muslims saying about extremism? Well, they are talking about it, they feel ashamed about it, and they are starting to make their voices heard. I've visited a local Islamic center here recently a few times, and constantly the Imams have urged the Muslims in the community to denounce these hypocritical extremists and to bring reason and honor back to their religion. I urge other members to post more articles of Islamic moderation and tolerance to help these Muslims have their voices heard.

Muslims are peacefull they live in peace.

Christians start all the wars ,and use military to kill thousands of people.Muslims just use extremism or low things as such.Though I have nothing against christians or anyone forget I said that'

Im peacefull cool with everyone every nation ,race etc.

Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Pagans, etc. etc. have killed plenty of people, and I don't think it's right or necessary to argue who killed more people. That will be not only pointless but an endless argument. People of every religion and every ideology have done bad things. The point I wanted to make is that a small number of Islamic extremists are trying to hijack the religion that over a billion peaceful Muslims enjoy. The situation is exacerbated by the media which likes to focus on the gloom and doom instead of the words of Muslims like Wahid who denounce extremist actions. It is important to show how true Muslims feel about extremism and what they are doing to remove this scourge on their lives.

[edit on 27-5-2006 by Jamuhn]

Originally posted by Jamuhn
Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Pagans, etc. etc. have killed plenty of people, and I don't think it's right or necessary to argue who killed more people. That will be not only pointless but an endless argument. People of every religion and every ideology have done bad things. The point I wanted to make is that a small number of Islamic extremists are trying to hijack the religion that over a billion peaceful Muslims enjoy. The situation is exacerbated by the media which likes to focus on the gloom and doom instead of the words of Muslims like Wahid who denounce extremist actions. It is important to show how true Muslims feel about extremism and what they are doing to remove this scourge on their lives.

[edit on 27-5-2006 by Jamuhn]

Well that is their war military just like christians have atom bombs and jet fighters bombers airforce navy ships tanks etc) the muslims use extremism and other low things like that for a war defense as a military.Because they don't have one/

Islamic countries are peacefull because they don't have as much wars as the christians do such as the crusades ,vietnam , korean war, iraq war ,2nd iraq war , ww1 ,ww2 , and all the other wars.

They are using extremism for defense because they don't have one so they use low defense,

Islam is just a religeion is has nothing to do with that because it's a peacefull religeion.

It's religeion verses people and war/defense.

But people can be good bad in every country nation so that is just a stereotype.

[edit on 27-5-2006 by Hawaii_boy]

Originally posted by Hawaii_boy

Islamic countries are peacefull because they don't have as much wars as the christians do such as the crusades ,vietnam , korean war, iraq war ,2nd iraq war , ww1 ,ww2 , and all the other wars.

You may think that's true but its not.
There were many, many, wars waged by muslims over the centuries and many acts of muslim Imperialism throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and of course the Middle East.

If you want recent examples, how about the wars between Pakistan and India in 1947–48 , 1965 and 1971. There was also the Tukish invasion of Cyprus in 1971, the Arab-Israeli war in 1973, the Indonesian genocide in East Timor in 1975, the Iran-Iraq war between 1980–1988, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the genocide in Darfur from 2003-present, etc...

Here are some older examples:

biblia.com...

Here is a list of European countries which were occupied by Muslims (either Arabs, Moors, or Ottoman Turks):
Spain 800 years, Portugal 600 years, Greece 500 years, Sicily 300 years, Serbia 400 years, Bulgaria 500 years, Rumania 400 years, Hungary 150 years.

Originally posted by AceOfBase

Originally posted by Hawaii_boy

Islamic countries are peacefull because they don't have as much wars as the christians do such as the crusades ,vietnam , korean war, iraq war ,2nd iraq war , ww1 ,ww2 , and all the other wars.

You may think that's true but its not.
There were many, many, wars waged by muslims over the centuries and many acts of muslim Imperialism throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and of course the Middle East.

If you want recent examples, how about the wars between Pakistan and India in 1947–48 , 1965 and 1971. There was also the Tukish invasion of Cyprus in 1971, the Arab-Israeli war in 1973, the Indonesian genocide in East Timor in 1975, the Iran-Iraq war between 1980–1988, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, the genocide in Darfur from 2003-present, etc...

Here are some older examples:

biblia.com...

Here is a list of European countries which were occupied by Muslims (either Arabs, Moors, or Ottoman Turks):
Spain 800 years, Portugal 600 years, Greece 500 years, Sicily 300 years, Serbia 400 years, Bulgaria 500 years, Rumania 400 years, Hungary 150 years.

Anyway I don't care im not even relgeoius all im saying is that it's just stereotyping over bad people.But not the good bright people that help.

Originally posted by AceOfBaseYou may think that's true but its not.
There were many, many, wars waged by muslims over the centuries and many acts of muslim Imperialism throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and of course the Middle East.

I know at least the Turkish invasion of Cyprus, Arab-Israeli war, Iran-Iraq War, Iraq invasion of Kuwait, and genocide in Darfur were not 'acts of Muslim imperialism.' I don't know the history surrounding the other wars. Many of the wars you cite were just between Muslims too. As well, portraying these as "Muslim" conflicts overlooks the politics involved.

It would be the same as saying that recent wars in the Americas, Europe, Africa, south Asia were waged by Christians. For example, we could say the Vietnam war was waged by Christians. It's just a silly way to refer to the war.

By the way, what is your opinion of the original article and Islamic extremism?