Posted on 11/06/2004 1:47:06 AM PST by Snapple
(Washington, DC--November 1, 2004) The escalation of violence by Islamic extremists over the past year has mobilized moderate Muslims to speak out against Islamic terrorists, an expert on suicide bombers told an RFE/RL audience last week.
Joyce M. Davis, author of "Martyrs: Innocence, Vengeance, and Despair in the Middle East," and an associate director of broadcasting at RFE/RL, said that the terrorists perpetrating violence in the name of Islam are at "war with Islam" itself, and that Muslims who believe in the peaceful tenants of their faith are the ones "who will have to defeat them." Davis said that she sees evidence that these voices of moderate Islam are now speaking up in defense their faith, "even at the risk of themselves becoming targets, which is a real threat."
Davis said that, while many Islamists consider the United States and the western world as the enemy of Islam, her research -- particularly interviews with scholars in the Middle East -- refutes this conclusion and supports the view that "extremists who act against the religion's teachings are actually its true enemies." While acknowledging the history of martyrdom and its significance in the expansion of Islam, Davis said the violent actions taken by terrorists in the name of God are not supported by Islam and its religious texts.
According to Davis, many of Islam's most prominent scholars have concluded that the September 11 attacks and similar attacks on civilians are not justified by Islam's teachings. For instance, Abdulaziz bin Abdallah al Sheik, the leading religious authority in Saudi Arabia, declared in April 2001, "Any act of self killing or suicide is strictly forbidden in Islam. The one who blows himself up in the midst of the enemies is also performing an act contrary to Islamic teachings." More recently, Grand Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi of the Al Azhar Mosque in Cairo -- considered the highest authority in Sunni Islam -- told a conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in July 2003 that extremist Islamic groups had appropriated Islam and its notion of jihad, or holy struggle, for their own ends, asserting that "Extremism is the enemy of Islam."
Davis argues that the only way the war against terror can be won is by giving a voice to moderate Muslims, just as RFE/RL is doing in its daily broadcasts. She encouraged more moderates to reclaim their religion from the extremists whom they feel are "the greatest threat to the survival of Islam in the modern world." At the same time, Davis suggests the United States do more to engage the moderates and their defense of the true nature of Islam, which celebrates world peace. She noted this is not easy, because of the risk that moderates themselves will be targeted for attacks. To hear archived audio for this and other RFE/RL briefings and events, please visit our website at www.regionalanalysis.org.
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Basayev, Maskhadov Lead Chechen Separatists Through Different Paths
André de Nesnera
Washington
13 Oct 2004, 15:04 UTC
Listen to Andre de Nesnera's report (RealAudio)
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For the past 10 years, Chechnya has been the scene of violence as Russian forces try to defeat separatist rebels.
Last month, Chechen separatists attacked a school in Beslan, North Ossetia. They took more than 1,100 people hostage. The three-day siege ended in a battle between Russian security forces and Chechen rebels that left more than 330 people, half of them children, dead.
Former Chechen president and rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov denounced the Beslan attack, saying there is no justification for such action. But another Chechen separatist leader, Shamil Basayev, claimed responsibility for the school raid.
"Shamil Basayev is a very extraordinary character, a sort of talented 'wastrel' people used to call him," said Thomas de Waal, an expert on the Caucasus and has written extensively on Chechnya. He is the Caucasus Editor at London's Institute for War and Peace Reporting. He says Mr. Basayev is a ferocious warlord... "He dropped out of university in Moscow and toured places like Afghanistan and Tajikistan, training to be a warrior," said Mr. Waal. "He fought in the war against Georgia in the Black Sea province of Abkhazia in 1992-93 alongside the Russians.
"He then went back to Chechnya and of course when the war broke out, he was a man much called upon because he was by then an extremely formidable and ruthless warrior," he added.
In 1995, Mr. Basayev led Chechen fighters to the southern Russian town of Budyonovsk. There they took over a hospital and 1,500 hostages. Russian forces failed to dislodge him. More than 120 people were killed. Eventually, Mr. Basayev negotiated with the Russian government, released his prisoners and got safe passage to Chechnya.
Mr. De Waal says it is Mr. Basayev's incursion from Chechnya into the neighboring Republic of Dagestan that forced then Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to send troops into the region.
"Since then, Basayev has proved to be a very formidable propagandist. He has had an Islamist website and he has claimed not only responsibility for the Beslan massacre, but also for the theater siege in Moscow in 2002. So he is obviously now turned from a sort of small-time Chechen warrior to a major international terrorist," he said.
Experts say Aslan Maskhadov is far more moderate than Shamil Basayev. Trained as an artillery officer, Mr. Maskhadov spent many years in the Soviet army, serving in Hungary and Lithuania. After the collapse of the Soviet Union 13 years ago, he returned to Chechnya and under his leadership, Chechen forces defeated the Russian army in 1996.
Mr. De Waal says although he was fighting a war, Mr. Maskhadov was always trying to negotiate with the Russian government. He was elected President of Chechnya in 1997.
"What was remarkable about those elections was that Russia recognized them. The Chechens said it was an election for an independent Chechnya; the Russians said it was an election for a province of Russia and both sides agreed to disagree," he said. "But what they did agree on, was that there would be international monitors and those international monitors agreed that the election was free and fair and that Maskhadov was the legitimate president, and Maskhadov was duly congratulated by President Yeltsin as the leader of Chechnya."
But in 1999, as a result of Shamil Basayev's incursion into neighboring Dagestan, Russian troops entered Chechnya and ousted Mr. Maskhadov. Mr. De Waal says he is back in the hills of the North Caucasus, fighting a guerilla war against Russia.
Last month, Russian authorities offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of Mr. Maskhadov and Mr. Basayev. But many western experts on Russia say you cannot compare the two Chechen leaders.
George Washington University Russia specialist Peter Reddaway says the two men parted company several years ago.
"Maskhadov included Basayev in his initial government, but Basayev broke with the government in 1998 and ever since then, there has been a big gap between them,"said Mr. Reddaway. "That gap has been even further widened because Basayev has claimed responsibility for the Beslan tragedy and Maskhadov issued an extremely tough denunciation of Basayev for doing that, and said that as and when Chechnya becomes independent Basayev would, if he is still alive, would be, if possible, captured and put on trial for what he did in Beslan."
Since Mr. Maskhadov's ouster, there has been a succession of pro-Moscow governments in Chechnya. The violence there has not stopped.
Many experts believe a political solution can only be found if the Russian government agrees to talk to Chechen separatists. But up to now that has not happened, since Moscow believes Mr. Basayev and Mr. Maskhadov are terrorists.
After 1400 years they are still trying to 'sort this out' - really?
"He [Basaev]fought in the war against Georgia in the Black Sea province of Abkhazia in 1992-93 alongside the Russians."
Notice that Basaev, a terrorist, fought alongside the Russians against {Christian) Georgia.
Notice also what Peter Reddaway, the smartest expert on Russia in the world, says about Maskhadov.
If Putin wants peace, he is going to need Maskhadov to get Chechnya under control.
What is your solution, kill billions? You better hope this debate is successful.
This seems to me like the Renaissance or the Reformation.
Islam is changing. The fundamentalists are unhappy about that.
Mohammad was an Arab and Islam is an Arab religion. The Turks were conquered by the Arabs who then imposed their religion onto them. Turks are forced to bow to an Arab city 5 times a day to worship some meteorite there --- this guy isn't in a real position to rewrite Islam.
The other thing --- Mohammad himself was a murderer of many Jews and Christians --- he wrote the Koran and instructed his followers to do the same. Islam cannot be peaceful because it's founder was not a peaceful man. There are peaceful Muslims --- but the problem is they have no freedom of religion --- no one can leave the religion or even criticize it in any way without a fatwa -- a death penalty placed upon him.
Q: What's even more pointless and idiotic than moderate Islam speaking up in defense their faith?
A: Idoits like Joyce Davis trying to explain how effective moderate Islam can be in defeating Islamic terrorists.
Agree
"I keep asking myself if there isn't something that can be done,"
I really don't know, it seems to me the cure could be as bad as the disease. All I can say is we do what we can.
Mohammad was illiterate. He didn't write the Koran.
The Turks were conquered by the Arabs
Other way around.
There are mosques in Saudi Arabia that come from the turkish times there. The Saudis seem to be takeing them down.
I think the Turks were there at some point.
The British kicked the Turks out of lots of the ME during WWI.
I think Lawrence of Arabia is fighting the Turks on the side of the Saudis during WWI.
They have some mosques from some Turkish time in Saudi Arabia.
Joyce Davis is an associate director of broadcasting at RFE/RL.
She isn't an idiot. She is an expert. Not some troglodite in a cave with a computer--like you and OBL.
There is still the problem with the Koran no matter who actually wrote the thing -- whether it was Mohammad or one of his lackeys. It's clear on it's instructions --- kill all the Jews, Jews are monkeys and dogs, kill the Christians, kill those who try to convert into another religion or who criticize Islam in any way. Muslims are instructed by the Koran that they are never to live among the infidels without the intention of conquering them. There can be no peace until the whole world is forced into submission.
Islam could be reformed but it needs a new prophet and a heavily edited Koran. Following Mohammad can only lead the follower into violence because Mohammad was a violent man. Following Jesus or Abraham is different because they lived lives of peace.
I know a Jewish woman who serves ham for her Christmas dinner and buys everyone Christmas presents --- but at some point I think she actually quit being of the Jewish faith. Muslims who don't bother much with the Koran are usually good enough people but at some point they have become in name only --- which is perfectly fine and healthier for the rest of us.
LOL Probably an insult to troglodites everywhere.
I'm so comforted by the knowledge that you believe Joyce Davies is so worthy of respect.
Following Jesus or Abraham is different because they lived lives of peace.
Riiiight!
When ever you're talking about religion(any religion) you're talking about people, and let's face it we are a fairly bloodthirsty group.
The problem I have with folks that hold your position is you take the most extreme bloodthristy verses and present them as only thing the Koran have to say on this subject.
What violent act did Jesus or Abraham commit? Did they rape the women of the men they killed like Mohammad did? I didn't say Christians and Jews are never violent --- but if they follow the founders of their religion they never need to be violent --- but you couldn't say that about Mohammad and his followers.
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