Islam in Afghanistan
Here are 2 quotes for you:
"The Prophet Muhammad has said several times that those who convert from Islam should be killed if they refuse to come back"
"Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, kindness and integrity."
Opposite ends of the scale aren't they. Showing the moderates from the radicals?
Sadly not, both quotes are from the same man from the same interview. Looks contradictory until you read the sentence which follows the kindness and integrity bit, "That is why we have told him if he regrets what he did, then we will forgive him"
So, basically, it's do as we say or you're in for it. That doesn't quite balance with the tolerance motif.
The man who said this stuff is one Ansarullah Mawlafizada, judge in charge of the trial against Abdul Rahman, who converted to Christianity 16 years ago. Unless he converts back to Islam, under the interpretation of Islamic Sharia law on which Afghanistan's constitution is based, he could be sentenced to death. Note the use of the word interpretation.
I don't believe this sort of attitude and lack of respect for individual freedom reflects modern Islam. Unfortunately it seems to be the way Afghanistan is running its affairs, and it certainly does nothing for the image of Islam as a modern religion.
Ref: BBC News
"The Prophet Muhammad has said several times that those who convert from Islam should be killed if they refuse to come back"
"Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, kindness and integrity."
Opposite ends of the scale aren't they. Showing the moderates from the radicals?
Sadly not, both quotes are from the same man from the same interview. Looks contradictory until you read the sentence which follows the kindness and integrity bit, "That is why we have told him if he regrets what he did, then we will forgive him"
So, basically, it's do as we say or you're in for it. That doesn't quite balance with the tolerance motif.
The man who said this stuff is one Ansarullah Mawlafizada, judge in charge of the trial against Abdul Rahman, who converted to Christianity 16 years ago. Unless he converts back to Islam, under the interpretation of Islamic Sharia law on which Afghanistan's constitution is based, he could be sentenced to death. Note the use of the word interpretation.
I don't believe this sort of attitude and lack of respect for individual freedom reflects modern Islam. Unfortunately it seems to be the way Afghanistan is running its affairs, and it certainly does nothing for the image of Islam as a modern religion.
Ref: BBC News
Comments
The extremists in any section of society are always the ones who get the attention, often because they are the ones willing to kill themselves and others to make their point. In the case of a whole country run by extremists, with the (pretty much) wholehearted support of their entire populace, what can you do? I don't think dropping bombs on them helps. In this case, huge international political pressure seems to have done the trick and resulted in a stay of execution.
Does anyone remember the United Nations? That was a good idea.