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| North Africa |
| Morocco passes anti-terror law |
| 2003-05-28 |
| Morocco's parliament has overwhelmingly passed a controversial anti-terrorism law in the wake the Casablanca suicide bombings 11 days ago. All 89 legislators present in the upper house on Tuesday voted in favour of the bill, which broadens the definition of terrorism and increases the number of offences punishable by death. The measures were withdrawn for amendment in April, following strong criticism from human rights groups. The bill was passed by the lower house a week ago but will not take effect until it is gazetted. It defines a terrorist act as "any premeditated act, by an individual or a group, that aims to breach public order through terror and violence". Those C-4 alarm clocks are one hell of a wake up call. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #8 Aris: You are missing the point. The founder of Christianity was persecuted and meekly went to his death rather than compromise his beliefs. The founder of Islam was persecuted, changed his beliefs, and killed his persecutors. So Christian martyrs go to their death wrapped only in their faith. Muslim "martyrs" go to their death clad in C-4 and nails. As to your specific charges, Jesus and his interpreter Paul both state that the Way overturns the old Jewish law and that seeking revenge is no longer acceptable. The saints in Revelations are asking God to avenge them in the afterlife. Some scholars consider the author of Revelations to be a survivor of either Nero's or Domitian's persecution of the Christians. Given that, surely you can cut the guy some slack for being a little pissed off? |
| Posted by: 11A5S 2003-05-28 19:20:18 |
| #7 As for commentary supporting lying, hatred, hypocricy, etc, you can find some in the Bible as well. Like the genocidal extermination of the Midianites in the Old Testament. Or, in Revelations, white-clothed saints asking God to take revenge on their behalf. Once upon a time Islamic countries used to be more tolerant than Christian ones; allowing the free existence of Christian and Jews within their borders, even as Christian countries rarely tolerated people of other religions... The difference since then is, I think, that Christianity has had a Reformation, which offered new ideas about the relationship between church and believer. But Islam has not had any such Reformation... |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-05-28 18:23:32 |
| #6 The two most notable killers of mankind throughout history are religion and politics - and politics is often religion in disguise. If you look at Islam and basic Christian and Jewish teachings, there's one heck of a lot of overlap. What seems to differentiate Islam most from the others (in my opinion) is the relative degree of intolerance and unwillingness to adapt to the "real world" as it evolves. Note that I said "relative degree," since they are all intolerant at some level. |
| Posted by: LVK 2003-05-28 17:27:05 |
| #5 Actually, the difference between Christianity and Islam is that you can find verses in the Koran and in supporting commentary authorizing lying, hate, hypocrisy, and virgins in paradise. Christianity was the religion that MADE hypocrisy the sin that it is,and sets the bar so high, people complain it can't be kept. Which is quite true. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-05-28 14:51:36 |
| #4 The problem with the Imams, Mullahs, Muftis et. al. is that the believe their own s--t. At least until they face the business end of a round. Then they die a fanatic, or they try to talk their way out of it, or they run away. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-05-28 14:28:23 |
| #3 "To listen to a muslim teacher is to be lied to." Non-religious folks like me believe the same about teachers of Christianity. Except that "lied" implies intentional misinformation, and I rarely think that's the case. |
| Posted by: Aris Katsaris 2003-05-28 13:37:03 |
| #2 I don't think its any perversion of Islam. Since it's all made up it's whatever some fool thinks it is. And make no mistake, those mosques going up all around the world are teaching a lie. To listen to a muslim teacher is to be lied to. You will know them by their deeds. I reject anything about any holiness of Islam, pure lies. Be good Rantburg rocks. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2003-05-28 11:53:41 |
| #1 The bastards in al-Qaeda are having "trouble" striking at the non-Muslim infidels who live in America and Britain. Thus, their targets shift to those countries that are helping in our worldwide war on al-Qaeda. What a perversion of Islam these evildoers represent. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-05-28 11:03:16 |