Monday, January 03, 2011

Suicide bomber a "normal Muslim"

The wife of Stockholm suicide bomber Taimour Abdulwahab had no idea what was afoot:
Taimour was a normal person, a normal Muslim. There were no alarm bells.
That a man regarded as a normal Muslim blew himself up in attempting to kills innocents sets off my alarm bells.

9 Comments:

Anonymous Dan Lewis said...

There is no other religion, a section of whose members need to be defined as "moderate".

Whilst we keep hearing how it's only a "minority" of Muslims who are responsible for so much violence, I am completely skeptical.

At worst, a tiny minority of the world's nearly 2 billion Muslims, amounts to a VERY large bunch or people who want to see me dead.

At best, why hasn't the alleged 'majority' done anything significant to squash the group they insist are the minority?

Silence is acceptance.

If Israel bombs a few terrorists, the local Muslim community (aided by their feral left comrades) can have thousands marching in the streets in a matter of hours. Yet I've never seen any worthwhile gathering of Muslims against Jihad or terrorists within their ranks. There's no excuse - we know they can get a crowd together when it suits them.

Antony Loewenstein can lie as much as he wants about Jews, Israel (and his own credentials) without the slightest fear of reprisals. Jews don't issue Fatwas. Too bad there aren't more Muslim dissidents.

6:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dan you must never state the obvious. Or you will be labeled. Or libeled. Remember any harsh truth is for evil right wingers.

9:09 PM  
Anonymous Adrian of Adelaide said...

Dan, agree mostly with your comments but I still hold out some hope for the existence of 'moderate Muslims'.

I think it is fair to say the majority of Muslims are just as terrified of the crazies as the rest of us. Don't forget that, despite high-profile attacks in the West, most victims of Islamic extremism are other Muslims. I know many Muslims who abhor the violence but are just too scared to speak out, let alone march. They don't want to be beheaded any more than I would.

Have a look at the link below and it might give you some heart and maybe some comfort that not all Muslims are total nut-jobs. I found it while looking through MEMRI - a very useful site which monitors Arab/Farsi TV channels and translates into English. 99% of the clips feature the usual rabid preachers, demanding death to infidels.

However, have a look at this guy, a Saudi poet who categorically states Islam has lost its way and needs to have a long hard look at itself. He denounces the reaction to the Danish cartoons and it's apparent the interviewer is not well pleased with his stance:

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2743.htm

You'd have to say he's fairly courageous to say what he has and in many years I've never heard such a straightforward, public condemnation from a Muslim person; devoid of any weasel words. I tried to find more information on him but couldn't - guys like him could use a bit of support from the West. Maybe Beck could find some contact for him and we could send a ‘good onya’ e-mail?

10:24 AM  
Anonymous Adrian of Adelaide said...

Dan, I identify with your frustration and I have a lot of Muslim friends who, in private, are as outraged as the rest of us about what is happening – I’m married to an Indonesian who is about as fundamental a Muslim as I am a Catholic! However they are terrified to say anything publicly much less march. They don’t want to be beheaded any more than I would. They also point out that although attacks on the West are always high profile, it is actually far more likely for Muslims themselves to be victims of these crazies.

Have a look at the link below which I hope might give you some heart. This guy is a Saudi poet who is pretty forthright in saying Islam needs to have a long hard look at itself. He has denounced the reaction to the Danish cartoons and hasn’t made himself many friends by saying so – even the interviewer seems hostile.

I don’t think I’ve every heard a Muslim speak so straightforwardly in public before; and without any weasel words about ‘legitimate grievances’. I’ve tried to find out a bit more about him – wouldn’t mind sending him a ‘good onya’ e-mail, but apart from this clip he’s a bit of a mystery.

I think he shows a lot of courage and commonsense – pity there weren’t more like him…..

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/2743.htm

2:19 PM  
Anonymous Melanie said...

Adrian, that is true that Muslims are the biggest targets. The worst sin in Islam is apostasy. It can be a death sentence. Many muslims don’t even allow themselves to think critically about Islam out of rear.

10:35 PM  
Anonymous Adrian of Adelaide said...

Very true Melanie. The fear is so palpable many are afraid to even explore the issues in their own mind; lest their heresy somehow become apparent in their demeanour or a slip of the tongue. It is simply too hard when the penalty can be, as you say, death.

This fear exists even in ‘moderate’ Indonesia. I have travelled and lived there since the early 90’s and well remember the fear of ordinary people toward the Suharto regime. Rebellious youngsters or academics were hushed by nervous friends and family if they criticised Suharto publicly – to do so risked being ‘disappeared’.

Democracy has now freed Indonesians to the extent they can comment freely on political matters. However I have seen the old fear replaced with a new fear of radical Islam. People are now terrified of the fundamentalists as they watch them conduct ‘sweeps’ of shops and tourist areas, smashing anything suspected of being alcohol or tearing up supposedly pornographic magazines like Vogue.

I firmly believe Indonesia does exhibit the most moderate incarnation of Islam in the world; however it is a sad fact that literally a few hundred crazies out of a population of over 230 million can paralyse a country with fear.

Nevertheless the astounding successes of the Indonesian police in locating and capturing many of these fanatics is encouraging. Someone must be telling them where these cockroaches are hiding and I’m fairly sure it’s the average Indonesian who is doing it. Every time I hear of another bust and another fanatic shot down in a hail of bullets I cheer. Although not surprisingly this has greatly offended the Left who have (incredibly) questioned the high level of fatalities in Detachment 88 operations and are clamouring for judicial enquiries etc.

6:48 AM  
Blogger Anita said...

I feel for the people who’s freedoms are threatened by the Islamists. But my understanding is that as well as the immediate fear from Islamists, there are also a lot of people who have been brought up to believe that even questioning Islam will throw them into the eternal hellfires. It is inherent in Islam not to question. This is why many are so prone to believing in conspiracy theories. Anything but having to question.

But I also get angry at the Left who turn a blind eye to the oppression of those that can’t speak out. The Left instead turn their outrage to those that are genuinely fighting radical Islam.

8:44 PM  
Anonymous Dan Lewis said...

Muslim on Muslim violence is absolutely likely. Yet you'll seldom hear about it.

For example, on New Year's Day, some Muslims in Iran shot up a Mosque, killing about 40 wholly innocent people who were simply praying. It barely made the news.

Now think back to the number of angry op-eds, letters to the editor and blanket coverage when Israel shot a mere 6 people, aboard the Marvi Marmara, who were anything but innocent. See the double-standard?

In 2008, more Palestinians were killed by....Other Palestinians, than by Israel. Again, you'll never read about it.

Dan Gillerman said:
Every single day, Muslims are killed by Muslims. You do not see a single Muslim leader get up and say, “Enough is enough.”

It’s nearly as if we live in a world where if Christians kill Muslims, it’s a crusade. If Jews kill Muslims, it’s a massacre. And when Muslims kill Muslims, it’s the Weather Channel. Nobody cares.

9:04 PM  
Blogger Anita said...

"It’s nearly as if we live in a world where if Christians kill Muslims, it’s a crusade. If Jews kill Muslims, it’s a massacre. And when Muslims kill Muslims, it’s the Weather Channel. Nobody cares.”
And if Muslims kill Jews or Christians it is a reaction to oppression

10:26 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home