This article I think portrays the worldview and concerns of 57 countries, 1.5 billion people, a quarter of the world's population, many of which used to be staunch american allies. it's something we as americans have got to understand before they really turn against us. Islamic nations cite U.S. 'threat' Monday, October 13, 2003 Posted: 0559 GMT ( 1:59 PM HKT) http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/10/13/malaysia.oic.ap/index.html PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) -- The host of the world's largest summit of Islamic nations has denounced the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and Israel's treatment of Palestinians, saying they represented a threat to "the very survival" of the worldwide Muslim community. "We are gathered here at a time characterized by great challenges confronting the Muslim Ummah (community)," Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said. "The threats of unilateralism, globalization and terrorism, the precarious situation in the Middle East and the uncertain future of Iraq ... have only served to threaten our very survival." Syed Hamid was speaking at the opening of the foreign ministers meeting of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), preparing the way for a summit by national leaders later this week that will be preoccupied with the occupation of Iraq. The gathering marks the body's first summit in three years, when terrorism has clouded the world's view of Islam and Muslim nations are incensed by the continuing occupation of Iraq and by Israel's repeated crackdowns against Palestinians in the occupied territories. A day after a twin suicide car-bombing rocked a Baghdad hotel where officials of the U.S. occupation authority stay, Syed Hamid said that the Muslim world was deeply worried by the worsening situation in Iraq, saying security was "at its lowest." Stabilizing Iraq and ending U.S. occupation of the country has led to a dispute within Muslim countries over whether to dispatch peacekeepers, desperately sought by the United States to ease the burden on its 130,000 troops inside the country. But only Turkey so far has agreed to send peacekeepers without control over the country first being shifted to the United Nations. Pakistan, another U.S. ally, is trying to get a proposal on the summit agenda for the OIC to send a peacekeeping contingent under a U.N. mandate. Though several nations have said they would consider sending troops only under U.N. auspices, the Pakistani proposal for an OIC contingent has not made it onto the agenda, the Malaysian news agency Bernama cited a diplomat as saying. Legitimate The U.S.-picked Iraqi Governing Council is being welcomed at the summit, despite concerns raised in preceding weeks by host Malaysia about its legitimacy. The powerful Arab bloc has said the council is transitional and legitimate enough, for now. Iraq is represented at the meeting by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, a Kurd, and by Ayad Alawi, current holder of the council's rotating leadership. A resolution welcoming the Governing Council will be approved, but will also stress that full sovereignty should be returned to Iraq, as well as control over its oil. "Foreign occupation of Iraq today is a reality (as is) the existence of the provisional Governing Council," Syed Hamid said. "However, foreign occupation of the country must be brought to an end as soon as possible. ... It is our moral duty to assist the people of Iraq to regain their sovereignty and integrity." Syed Hamid also lashed out at Israel, saying that "the Israeli army's vicious military campaigns, provocations and destruction of Palestinian homes will only lead to a spiraling upheaval in the already volatile situation." "Israel should immediately cease ... all acts of violence, terror, provocation, incitement and destruction in the occupied Palestinian territories," Syed Hamid said. Malaysia, a moderate Muslim nation, has been a longtime critic of Israel and of U.S. policy in the Middle East. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad denounced both nations over the weekend for allegedly trying to spark a wider Middle East war following Israel's airstrike against an alleged Palestinian militant training camp in Syria. Other speakers at the meeting also denounced Israel's policies, including its threats to deport Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is prevented from leaving the occupied territories by Israel and has sent longtime envoy Farouk Kaddoumi to represent the Palestinians. Echoing a widespread feeling among the member states, Syed Hamid complained that the 34-year-old Organization of the Islamic Conference is crippled "by its inability to move with time, to project and develop an Islamic perspective of events and issues affecting the Islamic world today." Malaysian officials say their nation, as chair for the next three years, will strive to transform the organization into an effective advocate for Muslim interests. OIC Secretary-General Abdelhouahed Belkeziz said that the Muslim world was being threatened by "enormous dangers." "They are so overwhelming that they are probably unequaled in contemporary Islamic history," Belkeziz said. "Islam itself stands accused."
I would just like to say that 57 governments - not necesarily = 1.5 billion people from these countries. Carry on.
why you gots to piss people off with comments like dat. thats like saying US and UK have chrisitian run Govs, because of the fact that bush and blair are christians, just a year ago china was run my buddhists, but you never hear BUDDHIST run gov.'s are the biggest part of the problem, how do you justify that statement of yours. i do not comprehend dakota
wait...hold up...countries like Iran don't claim to be anything other than theocracies. they lament governments that aren't run based on the fundamental tenets of the Koran. there's a gigantic difference between that and the UK. gigantic. we're not talking about the personal faith of those in power...we're talking about setting up systems to enforce specific tenets of the Koran. see the difference? we're talking about literally implementing Islamic law...prosecuting crimes with punishments specifically allocated in the Koran, etc.
the thing is, malaysia is only called a 'muslim-run' (or maybe you meant islamic nation) government because more than half of its citizens are muslims. we dont follow islamic law (none of that stone throwing i know you're so worried of or even hand cutting), or have an islamic way of ruling a country. do you think islam is bad, meaning no matter how good the government is it will ultimately collapse simply because it is islam?
the quran is a way of life, and i dont see anything wrong with punishing someone if they fit the crime. i agree it is a little violent, but thats why thats where some of the least crimes occur. It never says anything wrong in the quran, say anything and i will defend it truthfully, and will refer to the quran. maybe some of it is being misinterperated, and misused by some, but thats a whole nother story. for example suicide: it is the worst sins in islam, but many think of it as the basis of islam. jihad: not the same as suicide bombings, its more like the crusades meant for defense. and terrorism is another thing frowned upon by islam, if a gov was being run by a correct for of islam, i dont believe there would be problems. but when you have soicial influences form western countries they expand the mind of these terrorists/suicide bombers, who now think they are doing the right thng in protecting their country, while they forget that the concept of SUICIDE is HARAAM( not allowed at alll)
I don't think that some people are looking at this from the other perspective...at all. Imagine that you were a resident in a Muslim nation. Now forget the Crusades for a second, and concentrate on recent history; A nation led by a Christian leader who often quotes God when outlining policy has invaded two Muslim nations in two years, the latter one in complete defiance of global will. In addition he has already made ominous noises towards other nations in the region...all of whom happen to be Muslim; Syria, Iran,etc. Additioanlly, this same nation is far and away the number one supporter or what is percieved by those in the region to be the greatest affront/threat to Islam, Israel, even in terms of supplying/funding military resources, and has funded/supported the overthrow of several Islamic based popular governments, to replace them with tyrants, such as in Iran. At the same time, other non-Muslim nations who pose at least as great a threat, such as North Korea, seem to be left alone. I am NOT AT ALL saying that the reason for our actions is religion; I am saying that,were you not an American, it could certainly appear that way, and were you a Muslim, ot probably looks that way.
dude u are a genious great post. u sound like my GOV teacher, and dat mans got a Doctorate in Middle east studies i think bush is afraid of Korea... no joke
IF and only if the UK and the USA were truly Christian Countries , there would be PEACE! AS there isnt PEACE they are not Chrisstian.
fine...but don't act as if that's not theocracy...you're turning religious law and turning it word for word into secular law. that's the difference...
Our government has a specific SEPERATION of church and state. Macbeth knows this and is pandering to the lunitic fringe. We do NOT run the country based upon religion....you are free to worship whomever you choose....Jesus, Allah, Buddha...etc..etc... The difference is that we don't take some old written parchment as literal and use it as a basis for our government. Theocracies are the problem.....they DON'T WORK !!! Communism is better than theocratic rule. The countries that have MUSLIM governments that govern by the Koran...are doomed to fail. They will fall one by one...mark my words.......once people get tired of corrupt spiritual leaders....they will come around......DOOMED I SAY...DOOMED !!! And good RIDDANCE !! DD
What a joke !! You are blaming the western influences for Suicide bombings....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!! It is the muslim leaders that are condoning this, and asking this of their children. The Quran is written BY MAN, and thus is corrupt in nature, and CAN not be followed to the letter. It is a set of guidelines....NEVER meant to be rules for government. Religion has a place....but not in government, and the very fact that you are blaming the west for suicide bombings, shows your ignorance. Muslim leaders asking kids to blow themselves up for the cause of ISLAM, is not a western issue. Read a book, pickup a newspaper, watch TV....do something other than burying your head in the misused quran. SHEESH !! DD
The far religious right in this country has similar thoughts. Just replace Islam with Christianity and there you go.
i agree. so? i mean...how is that relevant to this discussion? there are some who would like to make this a theocracy...or at least more along those lines. but we're not.
Exactly. That's why why govt. is supposed to be secular. Even in the so-called "moderate" Arab states, much of the brutal Islamic law is followed. We have nothing to do with it. I'm tired of all these people, instead of blaming the people who are doing, trying to find fault with US! It's like a dumbass running a redlight that had been red for a couple of minutes, sideswiping your car and you blaming yourself. Idiotic.
