Lee Kuan Yew gives warning to Islamic moderates

AFP / Taipei Times ^ | 3/28/04 | Staff

[tubavil]

Lee Kuan Yew gives warning to Islamic moderates

AFP , Singapore Sunday, Mar 28, 2004,Page 4

Moderate Muslims must take a stand against religious extremists, Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said, warning that failure to do so would lead to Islam being "hijacked."

In an interview with the BBC's East Asia Today program Friday night, Lee said the silence of moderates over deadly bomb attacks such as the ones in Bali and Madrid made it appear that only the US and its allies were fighting extremists.

Lee said "the crux of the battle, really, is between moderate and extreme Muslims."

However, moderate Muslims were "keeping out of sight" at the moment, he said.

"But if Madrid, 9/11, Bali and so on keep going on and the moderates in the Muslim world keep silent, either condone or duck the issue, then there is a danger that the West may begin to feel, that really, there are no champions to counter these terrorists," Lee said.

"That would become a very dangerous problem," he said in the interview.

"I am saying that moderates in the Muslim world, by not being able to take a stand and take the lead and start the argument with the extremists in the mosques, in the madrasah [religious schools], they are ducking the issue and allowing the extremists to hijack not just Islam but the whole of the Muslim community."

The former premier said there was a danger the war on terror would widen the differences between Islam and the West, but this could be prevented if the moderates made their stand clear.

"Let's take 9/11 or Madrid," he said, referring to the September 11, 2001 airborne attacks in the US and the March 11 bombing in the Spanish capital that killed 190.

"If nobody except Europeans and Americans and those who are already committed condemn this -- I mean if all Muslim countries stay silent or Muslim groups stay silent -- then there is the danger that the Europeans and Americans may come to the conclusion, `Look, there's really nobody on the other side that's standing up against this evil.'"

[tubavil]

Tip o' the hat to Internet Hagannah

[GeronL]

Sometimes I think I am the only one here. And then I'm not.

Sure feels like it sometimes.

[KangarooJacqui]

Lee said the silence of moderates over deadly bomb attacks such as the ones in Bali and Madrid made it appear that only the US and its allies were fighting extremists.

Lee Kwan Yew, I salute you. Right on the money.

[GeronL]

From your FR homepage I get the distinct feeling you've been researching this stuff.

So... is there such a thing as a moderate muslim??

[KangarooJacqui]

Sometimes I think I am the only one here. And then I'm not.
Sure feels like it sometimes.

Have you seen a psychiatrist about this?

[Drammach]

Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew appears to have his head on straight..
Unusual for a politician, regardless of nationality..

I think this is the 1st time I have seen/heard/read of a Senior political "anything" make this sort of statement..
Islam needs to hear it more..

[GeronL]

I spilled DrPepper on my desk.

*slurp, slurp*

[tubavil]

So... is there such a thing as a moderate muslim??
_______________________________________________

No.

If one identifies with the hate-filled Satanic cult-of-death known as "islam," calling themself a muslim, then, by definition, they are not moderate.

[tubavil]

This is my standard list of questons for FR muslim terror apologists. Of course the questions have never been answered.

List ten islamic organizations or religious leaders actively fighting islamic terror.

What specific actions have they taken?

How long have they been fighting islamic terror?

What specific successes have they had?

How many of the 1.1 billion muslims are their members/followers?

[GeronL]

LOL

It will never be answered

[highlander_UW]

I think this is the 1st time I have seen/heard/read of a Senior political "anything" make this sort of statement.. Islam needs to hear it more..

I agree, I think this IS one of the first "officials" I've seen calling for moderates to stake out where they believe how Islam should be. The proof will be in the pudding.

[Robert_Paulson2]

"Lee Kuan Yew gives warning to Islamic moderates"

---

in other words, he's speaking to an empty conference hall...

[Robert_Paulson2]

Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said, warning that failure to do so would lead to Islam being "hijacked."

---

this guy.....
clearly not the sharpest knife in the islamic drawer...

a little slow on the uptake.

[Robert_Paulson2]

yeah...
the 98 percent of islam that supports violence and terror, is giving the peaceful 2 percent a bad name...

[GeronL]

Speaking to all 42 world-wide members of Moderate islam in the Grand Conference Hall... /sarcasm

[Robert_Paulson2]

ten new age "mullahs" and the other 32 were their multiple wives.

[GeronL]

haha.

goodnight..

[AmericanVictory]

Maybe if we have the courage and the will to buck big ethanol and big oil and their paid supporters and take away the oil weapon we'll find out.

[dennisw]

Moderate Muslim = Muslim who ignores the Korans many murderous dictates. Means a Muslim who ignores the Koranic commandments to emulate the life of Muhammad which happens to be that of a homicidal maniac.

[tkathy]

Every Muslim should be supporting GWB and the WOT.