Muslims take stand against terror

A full 90% of Manitoba's estimated 6,000 Muslims support the aims of Muslims Against Terrorism, says the president of the advocacy group's Winnipeg chapter.

Dr. Asad U. Khan, a retired Winnipeg physician, was quick to issue a statement to the media strongly condemning the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, where the death toll yesterday exceeded the 191 killed in a similar action in Madrid two years ago.

An Islamic militant group seeking to end Indian control of Kashmir is believed to be responsible for the latest carnage.

In the past, Muslims have been criticized for being too silent -- or even ambivalent -- in the wake of terrorist attacks carried out in the name of Islam. Dr. Khan's organization, which started in Calgary and has chapters in other major Canadian cities, unconditionally denounces acts of violence directed toward innocent civilians.

Dr. Khan says his group does not sign up members as such but the overwhelming support of local Muslims has been evident in meetings and talks he's given throughout the city. I asked him about the estimated 10% who are not "against" terrorism.

"They are kind of indifferent," he says. "To them it's not an issue. Others say that terrorism is just a reaction to what's going on in the world. There's always people who live in their own world and don't pay attention to reality."

We've heard how mosques in the Toronto and Vancouver areas have been breeding grounds for militant Islam. Is Dr. Khan aware of similar elements here?

"No, I think we are very safe from that kind of thing. The Muslim community in Winnipeg is far more integrated than any other city in Canada."

The reasons for that, he says, are Winnipeg's relatively small size; the fact that Muslims live all over the city and are not concentrated in "ghettos" as they are, for instance, in Toronto; and the positive influence of religious leaders here.

Many Muslims have strong sympathies with fellow Muslims in hotly disputed regions such as Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya and Dr. Khan says it's especially important to condemn terrorist acts when they occur in those places.

"Terrorism, when it affects innocent civilians -- it cannot be justified," he says.

If the Bush takeover of Iraq is also seen by some as a form of terrorism, Dr. Khan replies: "Two wrongs don't make a right."

As for Canada's military role in Afghanistan, Dr. Khan says he supports it. "Canada has international obligations and they've gone there for a good cause. They're there to support a legitimate government."

The biggest problem for Manitoba Muslims, he says, is the scarcity of good jobs and the resulting exodus of young people to Alberta and Ontario.

[The remainder of the column is clipped because it is on an unrelated subject]

This peaceful position is because Mannitoba's Muslims are way less than 1% of the population of of 1,165,944.

As long as the Muslim population remains around 1% of any given country they will be regarded as a peace-loving minority and not as a threat to anyone. In fact, they may be featured in articles and films, stereotyped for their colorful uniqueness.

At 2% and 3% they begin to proselytize from other ethnic minorities and disaffected groups with major recruiting from the jails and among street gangs [Europe, Australia, USA and Japan]. Six percent of US prison inmates are Muslim. Like any other minority, they won’t integrate, but work to build their own separate community.

From 5% on they exercise an inordinate influence in proportion to their percentage of the population. South Africa's Muslim population is 2%, but they control 35% of the businesses, a large percentage of the banks and have five Cabinet seats while Christians (77% of the population) have none.

They will push for the introduction of halaal (clean by Islamic standards) food, thereby securing food preparation jobs for Muslims. They will increase pressure on supermarket chains to feature it on their shelves (along with threats for failure to comply).

At this point, they will work to get the ruling government to allow them to rule themselves under Sharia; Islamic Law. The ultimate goal of Islam is not to convert the world, but to establish Sharia law over the entire world.

When Muslims reach 10% of the population, they will increase lawlessness as a means of complaint about their conditions. (Ei: car-burnings in France last October.) Any non-Muslim action that offends Islam will result in uprisings and threats.

After reaching 20% expect hair-trigger rioting, jihad militia formations, sporadic killings and church and synagogue burning (India, Mindanao, Philippines).

At 40% you will find widespread massacres, chronic terror attacks and ongoing militia warfare [Indonesia].

From 60% you may expect unfettered persecution of non-believers and other religions, sporadic ethnic cleansing (genocide), use of Sharia Law as a weapon and Jizya (infidel tax). (Sudan, Kosovo, Lebanon and Egypt).

After 80% expect State run ethnic cleansing and genocide [Western Papua (New Guinea), Iran, Biafra, Turkey and North Nigeria].

100% will usher in the peace of "Dar-es-Salaam" - House of Peace - as in Saudi Arabia, Libya and Yemen.

The above is a description (slightly modified) from Dr. Peter Hammond's book: Slavery, Terrorism and Islam: The Historical Roots and Contemporary Threat. www.frontline.org.za/books_videos/sti.htm

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.