Thursday, June 21, 2007

From the "truth is stranger than fiction" file

http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=498485

Scholars honour Bin Laden

ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Islamic scholars honoured Osama bin Laden today in response to Britain’s knighthood for Salman Rushdie, as a senior ruling party member said he would not hesitate to kill the novelist.

And they dont understand why we view muslim folks with skepticism?


Meanwhile the country’s religious affairs minister, who caused outrage by remarking that the award given to the "Satanic Verses" author justified suicide attacks, announced that he may visit Britain next month.

So you UK folks beware!

The Pakistani Ulema Council, a private body that claims to be the biggest of its kind in the country with 2,000 scholars, said it had given Bin Laden the title "Saifullah", or Sword of Allah, its top accolade.

"We are pleased to award the title of Saifullah to Osama bin Laden after the British government’s decision to bestow the title of ’Sir’ on blasphemer Rushdie," council chairman Maulana Tahir Ashrafi told AFP.

"This is the highest title for a Muslim warrior."

Uh huh. And no award for peaceful things? I mean I've been told a billion times islam is the "religion of peace"

Bin Laden has been blamed for the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people. He is widely believed to be hiding on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Later Afzal Sahi - the speaker of the Punjab province assembly and a member of the Pakistan Muslim League party that backs President Pervez Musharraf - said during a debate that he would murder Rushdie if he saw him.

"I am a Muslim and then a politician and it is ordained in Islam that the punishment for a blasphemer is death. If this man comes in front of me I will definitely kill him," he said in response to a question by an opposition MP.

Man, could you imagine him at a party with British notables! He'd be a blast...literally.

During a protest by thousands of people in Lahore against Musharraf’s suspension of the Pakistani chief justice, a large part of the crowd briefly chanted "Death to Britain, Death to Rushdie", witnesses said.

The neighbouring Islamic republics of Pakistan and Iran both summoned the British envoys to their countries on Tuesday as the row spread over the Rushdie award, which was announced on Saturday.

Britain hit back by expressing "deep concern" over the comments on suicide attacks by religious affairs minister Ijaz-ul Haq.

Gotta love that stiff upper lip. Can you see the meetings? They call the Brits on the carpet for knighting an author they dont like....and the brits response is..."uhm, hello, you folks are threatening to kill people over it. I think YOU owe an apology here..."

Haq - who later withdrew the remarks saying that he meant only that the award would foster extremism - said he now planned to visit Britain.

Liar.

"Yes, I may travel to Britain next month as a British delegation has invited me to guide them on how to engage khateebs and imams (sermon deliverers and prayer leaders) in a constructive dialogue," Haq told AFP.

The British delegation met Haq on Monday and included representatives from Britain’s Home Office and Foreign Office with responsibility for engaging with the Islamic world and preventing extremism, he said.

"I can confirm he did meet the delegation but I am not aware of any invitation," said Aidan Liddle, a spokesman for the British High Commission (embassy) in Islamabad.

Former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto has called on Haq to resign.

Haq is the son of military dictator Zia-ul-Haq, who ruled Pakistan from 1977 until his death in a mysterious plane crash in 1988. His father introduced Islamic punishments to the country including death for blasphemy.

A comment piece in Britain’s Daily Telegraph said that if Pakistan was so angry about the issue, it should return the 480 million pounds in aid promised by Prime Minister Tony Blair last year.

"If this is tainted money, it can presumably be returned," it said.

Thats right! Why give money to people that are threatening to kill you over items?


But in the Pakistani federal parliament Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said that Blair was "personally and mentally against Muslims."

Only those trying to kill or threaten his people. Its bad manners after all.....

10 Comments:

Blogger Terri@SteelMagnolia said...

Ah geez...

what a mess...

we live in an upside down world.

6:33 PM, June 21, 2007  
Blogger carmachu said...

We do. But as long as some folks stand up....all is not lost

7:27 PM, June 21, 2007  
Blogger Queen of the Mayhem said...

What a shame that the "establishment" lives in fear of angering the crazies!

Who would have thought!

Aren't these the same people who rioted for weeks over a cartoon?

10:05 PM, June 21, 2007  
Blogger Amie Adams said...

I fear the statesmen of the world have all gone into hiding.

10:44 PM, June 21, 2007  
Blogger carmachu said...

mamma:

Sadly I believe you are correct. You should hear the stories about our US state department....its like the work against us....

Queen:

Isnt it? Its always the minority that seems to run things sadly.

Yes, its the exact same type of people that rioted over the cartoons.

10:49 PM, June 21, 2007  
Blogger David said...

Now lets invite them to the USA where they will get invited to speak at universities as guests of honor.

11:52 PM, June 21, 2007  
Blogger Terri@SteelMagnolia said...

Ugghhhh!!

5:18 PM, June 22, 2007  
Blogger Chris H said...

Too true! It is a mad mad world out there.... lots of evil people, confused people, sad people, and people like me! Happy, contented, and I hope safe from religious Zealots like Osama Bin Laden. It is madness!

5:20 PM, June 22, 2007  
Blogger Attila the Mom said...

Oy!

2:39 AM, June 23, 2007  
Blogger NainaAshley said...

Crazy! These extremists just use the emotions of weak people to acheive their goals!

10:05 PM, June 26, 2007  

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