Posted on 10/08/2001 5:12:35 AM PDT by veronica
Leader of Boston mosque rips U.S. military action
by David Weber and Jules Crittenden
Monday, October 8, 2001
The leader of an Islamic mosque in Roxbury criticized the United States for attacking Afghanistan without proving to the Taliban government that Osama bin Laden was responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist strikes.
``What I do know is that America is waging war against a people they have not given any proof to. The Koran says never believe a wrongdoer until they provide some proof,'' said Abdullah Taalib Faaruuq. ``There have been lots of claims (by the United States), but no proof. They (U.S. government) are not treating the Taliban like they are worthy of any respect. It's entirely wrong.''
Faaruuq is a native Bostonian who converted to Islam 22 years ago and now heads the Mosque for the Praising of Allah. He said the United States must bear responsibility for much of the anti-American sentiment in Middle Eastern Muslim nations.
``A lot of people (in the United States) can look a little deeper and understand what our history is, especially in terms of giving support to Israel,'' he said. ``We need to talk to Israel about their mistreatment of people. We really have to blot out evil all the way around, including in the United States.''
Faaruuq charged that the United States - through the United Nations-approved economic blockade of Iraq - is to blame for starvation deaths of thousands of children in that country.
Faaruuq said he did not hear bin Laden's speech and therefore could not comment on it.
Like U.S. government leaders who have warned of additional terrorist strikes in response to U.S. military actions, Faaruuq said he fears there will be more violence here.
``I am concerned that eventually there will be repercussions (by Taliban sympathizers against the United States). I like the safety I live under,'' he said. ``But the United States seems to be the one being blamed for oppression in other countries.
``They (the Taliban sympathizers) are like trapped rats. There are too many of them around the world and they may react. When people are pushed into a corner, what do they do? They fight back by any means necessary.
``They're crazed. They're pushed into the corner,'' Faaruuq said.
Feroz Ahmad, a professor of history at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, said he believes most Muslims worldwide will wait and see how the Allied action against Afghanistan is conducted before deciding whether to condemn it or accept it.
``There might be anger but, by and large, there is moderation,'' Ahmad said.
``The humanitarian aid is an important gesture,'' said Ahmad, an Indian Muslim. He said antagonism toward the United States and Europe in the Muslim world and the Third World generally is rooted in a sense that the haves are acting in their own interest against the have-nots.
``In the Muslim world, it takes on a religious coloring,'' he said about skepticism of the West. ``This is an old problem. It is not just since Sept. 11.''
Ahmad said he and his students who are of Middle Eastern origin have experienced no backlash since Sept. 11. But there is an underlying fear of personal attacks, particularly if the current campaign against Afghanistan is answered with more terrorism. ``There is a concern, even among some of my students. This area is fairly cosmopolitan. But it can happen anywhere,'' he said, referring to attacks on Arab and Indian individuals.
Get a grip. We aren't trying to "punish one guy". We're in the process of dismantling a large terrorist network.
Personally, I think we should send him to NY to be grillled by the New York Fire Department Interrogation Team!
Yes we do and that evil is Osama the hyporicite..
I've read that most American muslims are cultists, and not in sync with the more benign worldwide practice of Islam. Anyone out there able to shed light on this?
For my money, most Americans who "convert" to Islam are doing so for political/sociological reasons, not religious/spiritual reasons, and are cultists. They are about as religious as the Weathermen. Over time, the religious part of the religion may start to sink in and cause a true conversion of manners, as I believe it did with Malcolm X after he traveled to Muslim countries and got in touch with the religion at its source.
I assume that many Muslims who came to the U.S. as Muslims are more acutely aware of their religion and may become more faithful than they would be if not in a foreign land, but that faithfulness may take the form of the more fundamentalist sects, like the Wahhabi sect many of us are hearing about for the first time lately.
Then of course there are the Muslims who came to be sleepers.
They say that most Muslims condemn the terrorist attack on America. Are any condemning it without adding a "but"?, like "but America deserved it, but America brought it on herself because of her (pick one) arrogance, foreign policy, moral degeneration, etc., and it all boils down to "but America caused the rapist to rape her..."
Those of you who are defending the Muslims, show me the money. Show me the Tony Blair passionate condemnation with no buts attached spoken by a Muslim. Show me one.
Oh?... like the respect they showed us in letting us know in advance that the two buildings would be coming down?
How long do we have to be tolerant of this crap!?!
Let the authorities be wary, our tolerance is paper thin...
Perhaps this man didn't hear OBL practically take credit for WTC in his "video" yesterday.
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