French philosphy teacher in hiding after criticizing Islam

New York Times ^ | September 30, 2006 | ELAINE SCIOLINO

[saberman]

Teacher in Hiding After Attack on Islam Stirs Threats— A French high school philosophy teacher and author who carried out a scathing attack against the Prophet Muhammad and Islam in a newspaper commentary says he has gone into hiding under police protection after receiving a series of death threats, including one disseminated on an online radical Islamist forum. The teacher, Robert Redeker, 52, wrote in the center-right daily Le Figaro 10 days ago that Muhammad was “a merciless warlord, a looter, a mass-murderer of Jews and a polygamist,” and called the Koran “a book of incredible violence.” The Redeker case is the latest manifestation in Europe of a mounting ideological battle that pits those who believe Islam and the Prophet Muhammad can be criticized in the name of free speech against those in the Muslim community who believe no criticism can be tolerated...In his commentary, Mr. Redeker compared Islam unfavorably to Christianity and Judaism, although he admitted that the history of the Catholic Church was “full of dark pages,” and he criticized the hostile reaction to the pope’s remarks. “Jesus is a master of love; Muhammad is a master of hatred,” Mr. Redeker wrote, adding, “Whereas Judaism and Christianity are religions whose rites forsake violence and remove its legitimacy, Islam is a religion that, in its very sacred text, as much as in some of its everyday rites, exalts violence and hatred...” Immediately afterward, Mr. Redeker,the author of several books on philosophy, began to receive death threats by telephone, e-mail and through the online Islamist Web site known as Al Hesbah, a password-protected forum with ties to Al Qaeda. The forum published photos of him and what it said was his home address, directions to his home and his cellphone number...”

[saberman]

This article speaks for itself. My comments are essentially superfluous. The only thing I will say is that I looked up Mr. Redeker's writings. Though he is not a stranger to public commentary, he is by no means an ultra-right activist and appears to have solid credentials as an educator and a philosopher. My French is pretty weak, but from what I found of his writings I would not call him an "Islamaphobe" or even more to the right than "right center." But he believes that free speech and other freedoms are under strong attack and the reaction he got certainly proves it.

[Free ThinkerNY]

Stand and fight the Left and their IslamiNazi allies.

[kinoxi]

The teacher, Robert Redeker, 52, wrote in the center-right daily Le Figaro 10 days ago that Muhammad was “a merciless warlord, a looter, a mass-murderer of Jews and a polygamist,” and called the Koran “a book of incredible violence.”

They (the muslims) certainly can't sue him for libel.

[Mr. Mojo]

The teacher [wrote] that Muhammad was “a merciless warlord, a looter, a mass-murderer of Jews and a polygamist,” and called the Koran “a book of incredible violence.”

Nothing Islamics hate hearing more than the truth.

[ExTexasRedhead]

History is repeating itself and the world better wake up and that includes American Liberals and RINOs.

[Free ThinkerNY]

[YdontUleaveLibs]

This is serious especially since Theodore Van Gogh was killed merely for pointing out the plight of Muslim women.

[pawdoggie]

The (non-Muzzie) French must "hold their manhood cheap" that one of their number must go into internal exile in order to avoid the Islamist Headhunters.

[DJ Taylor]

“Whereas Judaism and Christianity are religions whose rites forsake violence and remove its legitimacy, Islam is a religion that, in its very sacred text, as much as in some of its everyday rites, exalts violence and hatred...”

What Redeker said with this sentence is that Western Civilization has become too civilized too soon, and it begs the question, can a kind, forgiving, and tolerate people coexist with barbarians? The answer to that question is, of course, no.

[mjp]

Teacher in Hiding After Attack on Islam Stirs Threats

If the Europeans don't do something soon to protect it's own people from this evil, it will be a sign that they have lost the will to survive.

[Republicain]

from what I found of his writings I would not call him an "Islamaphobe" or even more to the right than "right center." But he believes that free speech and other freedoms are under strong attack and the reaction he got certainly proves it.

For the one's who read french a very good opinion about Redeker on this french leftist (and republican) site :Robert Redeker : Première victime de la fatwa en France

The Liberty Vox forum has texts and opinions about Mr Redeker

Another french leftist blog pro-Redeker : NE LAISSONS PAS REDEKER AVOIR RAISON

A petition to support Redeker

The anti-Islamisation site France-Echos

[BW2221]

"Nothing Islamics hate hearing more than the truth."

And, nothing Islamics love more than hate.

[opinionator]

Candidate for Darwin Award.

[backtothestreets]

Nothing Islamics hate hearing more than the truth.

And nothing they fear more than the truth. The Koran, written thousands of years after the Torah was begun, is packed with historical inaccuracies, and incorrect lineage of people. Until the New Testament, the Bible contains the history give in the Torah, and is thus fact based.

Mohammad himself did not write the Koran as he was illiterate, but gave verbal misrepresentations of what the Torah and Bible contained, and his scribes twisted what Mohammad himself did not.

Mohammad was a liar, the Koran a false testament, and Islam is a lie fearful of being held up to the truth. The only means of Islam defending the lie is through violence as a honest comparison of the Torah, Bible and Koran would be scathing to Islam.

Just a thought ... Radio Free Europe was a key instrument of truth during the Cold War. While I doubt any western governments would undertake a similar tact in the war Islam has launched on non-Islamic countries, might it be possible for a Christian group to have a satellite launched into space that will transmit television and radio broadcasts of the truth into the Islamic states. Private companies have satellites in space, why not a Christian group?

[cricket]

Did not check to see what page this is on; but interesting that NYT's picked this up. . .interesting that he criticizes as well, Chrisitanity and the Pope; but the impetus of his writing is of course, the real problem and his focus.

Michelle Malkin as well. . . has posted Redeker translated into Engllish. . .link. . .

. . . .two separate entries/commentary on and by Redeker. . .

[cricket]

Private companies have satellites in space, why not a Christian group?. . .

Think terrorism wins here. . .probably escalate the 'Holy War' against every Christian. . .

Really, there are few solutions here; the best one; being the worst one. . .and one that 'civilization' does not entertain; by 'virtue' of being civilized.

[cricket]

Thanks for these links. . .

[Republicain]

You welcome.

another one : Primo-Europe

[TheCrusader]

"A French high school philosophy teacher and author who carried out a scathing attack against the Prophet Muhammad and Islam in a newspaper commentary. The teacher, Robert Redeker, 52, wrote--- that Muhammad was “a merciless warlord, a looter, a mass-murderer of Jews and a polygamist,” and called the Koran “a book of incredible violence.”

Here, here. I think Pope Benedict may have started a Western trend. A German politician also spoke out against islam today..... All it takes is somebody to lead us, and the West will squash islam.

[backtothestreets]

Really, there are few solutions here; the best one; being the worst one. . .and one that 'civilization' does not entertain; by 'virtue' of being civilized.

If I'm thinking like you, I believe that "worst one" is exactly what I'm entertaining. I see no other way. I may mark myself as uncivilized for what I envision, but I can burden that if civilization is protected.