Leading Arab cleric calls for calm in France [Whine Alert]

Reuters ^ | 08 Nov 2005

[ncountylee]

DOHA, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Influential Muslim cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi has called for calm in French riots led by disaffected immigrants, many of them Muslims of North African origin, the official Qatar News Agency reported.

Qaradawi, dean of an Islamic college in Qatar known to millions of Arabic-speakers through a weekly show on the Al Jazeera television, also called on the French government to address the root causes of the violence.

"As Arabs and Muslims we wish for security, safety and peace for France and its friendly people, not least because France has an attitude towards Arab and Islamic issues which is just and free from American domination," the agency quoted him as saying late on Monday.

"He (Qaradawi) called on Muslim religious and political leaders in France to intensify their efforts and their calls for calm," the agency said.

"He called on the French government to deal with the situation not only from a security perspective, but also use dialogue with religious and political leaders to treat the real reasons behind the deteriorating conditions of (minority) communities in France."

France's conservative government has struggled to respond to two weeks of overnight rioting by youths frustrated over unemployment, harsh treatment by police and racism.

Qaradawi often addresses the situation of Muslim communities living in Western countries in his Al Jazeera appearances.

Though seen as a moderate in the Arab world, pro-Israeli groups in the West have attacked him for backing Palestinian suicide bombings and attacks on Israeli civilian targets.

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How does Youssef propose to punish those who refuse his "call for calm"?

[EBH]

Better yet, how does he propose to address the root cause of failure of the muslim society to intergrate.

[Bahbah]

France has an attitude towards Arab and Islamic issues which is just and free from American domination

Well isn't that just special.

[DustyMoment]

Leading Arab cleric calls for calm in France

Ah HAH!!! This should be every bit as effective as the mandatory curfews imposed yesterday.

Oh, wait. Those didn't work, either!!

Merde!! What to do, what to do??

[moose2004]

But wait, the MSM has been reporting that the violence in France has been carried out by dissafected youth, the poor and drug dealers, why would a muslim cleric issue such a statement?

[RetSignman]

" Can't...can't..we just..just all get along?"

[samtheman]

France has an attitude towards Arab and Islamic issues which is just and free from American domination

Yup. And it turned out very well for them. Can't argue with success.

[R.W.Ratikal]

Now that an Islamic Witchdoctor has called for calm in France the riots will no doubt subside. What took so long?

[CarrotAndStick]

France's conservative government has struggled to respond to two weeks of overnight rioting by youths frustrated over unemployment, harsh treatment by police and racism.

???

[GOPJ]

The French should have turned to their immigrants and said "Do you want to be Frenchmen"? But no, they asked instead "Will you work cheap?" The French are reaping what they've sown ... to hell with them.

[EmilyGeiger]

Why would an Arab cleric need to call for calm? It's not a Muslim riot. The media has told us it is the poor that are rioting. (alert:High sarcasm.)

[EmilyGeiger]

You beat me to it!! Yes, it doesnt' make sense, does it?

[Rapscallion]

The French should have turned to their immigrants and said "Do you want to be Frenchmen"? But no, they asked instead "Will you work cheap?" The French are reaping what they've sown ... to hell with them.

Have we done the same thing with illegal Mexican border jumpers? Hmmmm?

[Gritty]

This is no more than a call for France's capitulation - which it is doing already.

[trashcanbred]

"France has an attitude towards Arab and Islamic issues which is just and free from American domination..."

Let's face it... these clerics are going to get more political clout out of this and we can imagine what they plan to spend that clout on. The next time the US needs to do the right thing we can expect much more resistance from the French because now they have their hand up the French's wazoo telling him what to say.

[AliVeritas]

This guy... don't you believe it. Trust me.

[RoseofTexas]

Bawhahaha...we need the pic of that Iraq guy...DANG IT his name eludes me right now...ughhhh!! You know the funny guy...ughhh, brb need more coffee!

[Convert from ECUSA]

The official seal of Influential Muslim cleric Youssef al-Qaradawi and similar allahu fubarheads:

[NormB]

I thought it was just underpriviedged youths rioting? Why would a muslim be called upon to denounce the violence?