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March 1, 2006
Sierra Leone: Ahmadiyya Leader Condemns Muslim Cartoon Protests
All Africa.com reports that in Freetown, Sierra Leone, a leading figure of the Ahmadiyya or Ahmadi sect of Islam has condemned the worldwide protests against the Danish cartoons depicting Mohammed, the founder of Islam.
Speaking at a public lecture at the Miatta Conference Hall, Freetown, Maulana Lutfur Rahman Mahmoud stated: "The protests have ignited more publications to a point that a minister has to print the cartoon on a 'T' shirt," referring to Roberto Calderoli of the Italian Northern League. Maulana (one who has memorised the Koran) Mahmoud said that Muslims did not protest in Sierra Leone, but were no less respectful of their prophet.
Maulana Mahmoud, who is from the Amir Missionary group, in charge of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamat, said that if it had not been for political interference, the fuss about the cartoons would have fizzled out as soon as it had begun.
"The Danish paper apologized saying that they feel they have not done anything wrong and they feel they have the right to freedom of expression," he explained. He said he was unsure of the motives which led Danish Muslim leaders to go on a tour of Islamic countries to drum up support for the protests.
Speaking of the mosques and churches which have been burned down and Muslims being killed (he did not mention the Christians slaughtered in Borno state, Nigeria), he opined that "The western media is unfair with Muslims. This is injustice and intellectually misplaced."
"Violent protests will never be the solution to the problem. The Prophet should not suffer from the destruction done by extremists and fundamentalists," he stated.
Sheik Tejan Sillah, Chief Imam of Freetown Central Mosque said that the majority of those demonstrating were "Islamically illiterate" and said that international Muslim organisations should educate both Muslims and non-Muslims.
It is slightly refreshing to hear a Muslim condemning the sheer barbarism and stupidity of those whose protests against cartoons from a Danish newspaper have encompassed hatreds towards the US, local leaders (as in Pakistan) and of course, the perennial hate-figures for many Muslims, the Jews.
But the Ahmadiyya have little influence in the Muslim world. Because they revere their prophet Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, they are considered "heretical". Hate-sites against the group exist on the internet, and in Saudi Arabia, they are banned from entering Mecca to perform the Hajj, one of the "five pillars" of Islam.
The Ahmadiyya are widely persecuted by other Muslims, with extreme attacks taking place recently in both Indonesia, in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In the latter country these persecutions are enacted with the collusion of Islami Oikya Jote, one of the parties in the ruling coalition.
The Ahmadiyya have been martyred for their beliefs by extremist Muslims, which is a tragedy, as they follow a policy of non-violence, and thus are far more worthy of respect than some of the barbarians currently making their violent hatreds visible in the current cartoon crisis.
Keywords: Ahmadiyya, Ahmadiyyah
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at March 1, 2006 6:58 PM
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