Muslim Reaction to Newsweek Apology: Too Little, Too Late

ABC News ^ | 5.16.05

[ambrose]

Muslim Reaction to Newsweek Apology: Too Little, Too Late

Distrust Intensifies Following Koran Desecration Allegations

News Analysis by HODA ABDEL-HAMID

May. 16, 2005 - Newsweek magazine may have apologized, but to many in the Muslim world, it's too late and much too little.

Muslims brushed off an apology to readers that appeared in this week's edition of the newsweekly that acknowledged errors in a story alleging U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay desecrated the Koran, Islam's holy book. Interestingly enough, Newsweek has an Arabic issue but there was no mention of the apology in this week's issue. Critics called it a strategic move in the face of the overwhelming and violent reaction. The report sparked protests in Afghanistan, where at least 15 were killed and more than 100 injured.

Many Muslims believe Newsweek succumbed to pressure from the U.S. government to backtrack. Many believe that that whatever the truth may be, the harm has been done.

Saudi Arabia was the first country to officially react by asking for an investigation. It was followed by blanket condemnation and demands for investigation from all over the region by officially appointed mainstream clerics or governments.

In Egypt, the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Mohammed Sayed Tantawi, the highest Sunni authority in the world, usually a subdued man, demanded immediate action. "The Koran's desecration is a great crime and should be dealt with at once," he said.

Reaction to the Newsweek article, which appeared in the May 9th issue, has been particularly virulent for a number of reasons.

In the Muslim world, Guantanamo has become the symbol of the confrontation between Islam and the U.S. The fact that this allegedly happened in Guantanamo makes things much worse. A member of the Muslim Brotherhood said perhaps if it had happened somewhere else, it would not have resonated so much.

Secondly, the Koran is part of the Muslim identity. By desecrating the Koran, one is desecrating the identity of all Muslims. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, desecration of the Koran is punishable by death, which explains the more violent reaction to the Newsweek story.

Many analysts believe this episode will just increase the level of distrust. The Arab world, especially the Middle East, is more likely to believe such reports after the prison scandal at Abu Ghraib in Iraq.

Moreover, many believe that a soldier or interrogator would not act without his or her superior's approval and say this episode is yet another reminder that the United States is at war against Islam.

One moderate cleric said, "the U.S. keeps on handing out reasons for extremists to become more ferocious. These stories are amazing recruiting tools and more young people will now join the fight."

The story has offended many non-Arab Muslims too. In Malaysia and in Nigeria, protesters chanted anti-American slogans and in Tajikistan, a Central Asian country abutting Afghanistan, a group of 300 clerics wrote a statement saying that, "if an investigation does not happen within three days, we will launch a jihad against America."

The so-called Jihadi Web sites are also full of calls for more killings of Americans.

Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures

[Quilla]

Interestingly enough, Newsweek has an Arabic issue but there was no mention of the apology in this week's issue.

Idiots.

[kromike]

Typical day for a Muslim extremist...

* Wake up
* Pray to Allah, asking for "permission" to die while killing non-Muslims
* Eat breakfast (Muslim food only, non-Muslim food is given to pigs & monkeys)
* Scour propaganda newspapers and al-Jazeera for something new, no matter how small, about America to hate
* At 8:00am, join a local protest
* Burn American flag / burn Bush in effigy
* Chant the original tag line, "Death to America!"
* If necessary, take time out for a family honor-killing or two
* At 5:00pm, go home
* Eat dinner
* Slap wife around
* Pray to Allah for something like the ten-billionth time
* Go to sleep, hoping to have good dreams of killing the infidel / America in ashes

Lather at the mouth, rinse the infidel blood, repeat...

[Truth29]

Is this another case of a news source wanting to believe something and running with the story on the flimsiest of sources? I wish there were a way to investigate Newsweek and its non source. This may be in the same league as Dan Rather and the Newsweek staff may be pleased with the result and publicity.

[CaptRon]

For some reason I wasn't an expecting an 'It's OK, forget about it'.

[Avenger]

Bring along some lard and a very big dog for extra fun.

[Little Ray]

Can we riot, burn the Saudi or Paki embassy and slaughter any Muslims we catch because some poor, raped girl is executed for adultry or because they executed somebody for converting to Christianity?

Nope. Guess not. What a pain it is to be civilized.

[Mears]

Interestingly enough, Newsweek has an Arabic issue but there was no mention of the apology in this week's issue"

---

Why the hell isn't Newsweek apologizing to the people who were offended and angered by their so-called journalism?

[subterfuge]

"They can call it sacred if they want to but they are not going to force me to treat it like they want it treated"

Agreed. I wonder how they'd feel about stuffing one into a ham?

[untrained skeptic]

"They can call it sacred if they want to but they are not going to force me to treat it like they want it treated. They don't hold the same respect for the Bible so why do they think we who are not Muslims should show respect for their book."

I don't suggest that you try and express that opinion in a Muslim country. I would also suggest not expressing it around too many Muslims. They consider the Koran to be much more than I book. Purposefully defiling the Koran is considerd a direct attack on their religion, and they take that VERY seriously.

There are a lot of things you can say or do that are legal to say or do in the US, but you know that are going to deeply offend some people. If you offend the wrong people badly enough, you're going to pay a high price regardless of the law.

I also think that Muslims do show considerable respect for the Bible as well. I wouldn't desecrate a Bible in a muslim country either if you value your health and freedom.

[Tx Angel]

Snip:
""Interestingly enough, Newsweek has an Arabic issue but there was no mention of the apology in this week's issue.""

[onyx]

Not to worry --- the magazine is taking a good sized hit,
but Muslims of the Koran/Quron are Muslims I fear.

I like your parenthesis around "moderate" as though there are such.

[beltfed308]

Gee. They sure are touchy about their precious book.

[manic4organic]

Religion of peace. Newsweek lied, but the Moose-lims killed their own. Savages.

[expatguy]

He doesn't sound very moderate if he considers lies to be valid reasons for extremists to become more violent.

Wonderful!!

You sir are on to something there. I only wish that many of our fellow FReepers would look at the situation with a little more scrutiny as you did.

Read the story again and you will begin to realize how the "facts" actually have no bearing in the case.

And so now, despite the event being untrue the Muslims are going to continue their riots and protests. Why?

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[proud American in Canada]

It was followed by blanket condemnation and demands for investigation from all over the region

I agree 110%!

Let's conduct a full, thorough investigation of who this "anonymous source" is. Let's find out exactly what happened over at Newsweek.

[ElPatriota]

No, no no... not so fast. I say we give them at least 3 heads...oopss errrr... I mean newsweek correspondent, as a gesture of peace. Would love to see how the reason with them :)

As to the apology... what good does that do? And apology only has value depending of where it comes from. An apology from this Rag?... It has no meaning to me or the Military. If they could be sued for imcopentent, shoddy reporting... that would mean something.

AND of course... no one in FR SHOULD EVER spend one penny on this RAG!

[Unicorn]

I guess that means they won't buy newsweek magazine,too bad.

[jackieaxe]

I don't agree with the implied premise that even if the story is true, that it's justification to riot, shout "Death to America", and declare Holy War. I wish the White House would grow a spine and communicate this position. Also, this so called cleric calling for Holy War against America should be hunted down and killed. Why do we as a country put up with this?

[processing please hold]

"The Koran's desecration is a great crime and should be dealt with at once..."

Has anyone asked Issakopf, exactly where that perticular law is written in America's laws? I don't ever remember hearing there was a law against it.

[processing please hold]

Particular*