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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Ahead of Iraq Deployment, 37 Korean Troops Convert to Islam |
| 2004-05-29 |
| "I became a Muslim because I felt Islam was more humanistic and peaceful than other religions. And if you can religiously connect with the locals, I think it could be a big help in carrying out our peace reconstruction mission." So said on Friday those Korean soldiers who converted to Islam ahead of their late July deployment to the Kurdish city of Irbil in northern Iraq. At noon Friday, 37 members of the Iraq-bound "Zaitun Unit," including Lieutenant Son Hyeon-ju of the Special Forces 11th Brigade, made their way to a mosque in Hannam-dong, Seoul and held a conversion ceremony. The soldiers, who cleansed their entire bodies in accordance with Islamic tradition, made their conversion during the Friday group prayers at the mosque, with the assistance of the "imam," or prayer leader. With the exception of the imam, all the Muslims and the Korean soldiers stood in a straight line to symbolize how all are equal before God and took a profession on faith. They had memorized the Arabic confession, " Ashadu an La ilaha il Allah, Muhammad-ur-Rasool-Allah," which means, "I testify that there is no god but God (Arabic: Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of God." Moreover, as the faithful face the "Kaaba," the Islamic holy place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, all Muslims confirm that they are brothers. For those Korean soldiers who entered the Islamic faith, recent chances provided by the Zaitun Unit to come into contact with Islam proved decisive. Taking into consideration the fact that most of the inhabitants of Irbil are Muslims, the unit sent its unreligious members to the Hannam-dong mosque so that they could come to understand Islam. Some of those who participated in the program were entranced by Islam and decided to convert. A unit official said the soldiers were inspired by how important religious homogeneity was considered in the Muslim World; if you share religion, you are treated not as a foreigner, but as a local, and Muslims do not attack Muslim women even in war. Zaitun Unit Corporal Paek Seong-uk (22) of the Army’s 11th Division said, "I majored in Arabic in college and upon coming across the Quran, I had much interest in Islam, and I made up my mind to become a Muslim during this religious experience period [provided by the Zaitun Unit]." He expressed his aspirations. "If we are sent to Iraq, I want to participate in religious ceremonies with the locals so that they can feel brotherly love and convince them that the Korean troops are not an army of occupation but a force deployed to provide humanitarian support." |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #14 Hizbollah TV commentator sez: al-Sistani is in the jihad game: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=5&article_id=4634 "And very importantly, Sistani did not call for a jihad against the occupation forces, as he believes that circumstances are not yet ripe for this." Let me say it again: Bush-Powell are delivering Iraq to Iran, at US taxpayer expense. |
| Posted by: Dog Bites Trolls 2004-05-29 3:54:20 AM |
| #13 badanov: this is life. that happens already. read daniel pipes on Al Fadl who proposed constitutional amendment in the United States. |
| Posted by: Anon1 2004-05-31 3:12:05 AM |
| #12 Remember liberal mean submit. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-05-29 3:41:01 PM |
| #11 I don't give a rats whether the Iraqis think I'm Islamic or Moronic but if thinking I'm Islamic makes them more willing to co-operate with me as a foreign soldier then I'd consider it a psy-ops tactic to help me achieve my goal. So, a deception is fostered by you in order to maintain cooperation. Once the mission is accomplished, do you think you and the jihadis will go to the local tavern to laugh about the massive deception you fostered on them while you buy them a round? Remember, we're sposed to be at war, and while deception is a major part of war, one thing you do not do to allies is to deceive them about your views and/or intentions. You do not want them coming to the conclusion that it is also alright if they allow a few Al Qaeda folks in their camp while they make you believe they are not radical. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-05-29 1:47:50 PM |
| #10 Huh? Who the hell cares if you "convert" to islam purely for the purpose of advancing your goal: being an effective soldier in Iraq and possibly helping you to stay alive! I'd have no problem with this convenient tactic as a westerner who doesn't believe in gobbledygook religion anyway. I don't give a rats whether the Iraqis think I'm Islamic or Moronic but if thinking I'm Islamic makes them more willing to co-operate with me as a foreign soldier then I'd consider it a psy-ops tactic to help me achieve my goal. |
| Posted by: Anon1 2004-05-29 1:42:10 PM |
| #9 These folks are in for a suprise when they find out that 'arab' muslims are holier then 'non-arab' muslims.... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-05-29 11:29:18 AM |
| #8 Anon1 - Maybe they just think they will be more likely to stay alive and not be a target of ambush or beheading if they convert nominally for the period of their tour of duty. A smart idea, I'd do it myself! That's just the attitude we need in this hour of peril. Let's do what is thought to be the easy or safe way. This is the attitude which could ultimately bring us down. The Islamonutzoids at least will defend their belief system, no matter how satanic it may be. On the other hand, there are people on "our" side who would change their belief system at the drop of a hat (or head) to save their sorry-ass hides. Not sure if your on "our" side Anon but your attitude allowed me to vent. |
| Posted by: Constitutional Individualist 2004-05-29 11:16:46 AM |
| #7 This is what happens when there is 'sensititvity training' on Islam and it doesn't include the truth about Islam. Anon1..you will be a target of ambush and beheading unless you join the jihadis, look how many Iraqi Muslims the jihadis have killed...and you will be a target for death if you become an apostate when you get back home too. If one only converts for their tour of duty, they better watch their back when they get back home. |
| Posted by: TS(vice girl) 2004-05-29 11:11:43 AM |
| #6 Maybe they just think they will be more likely to stay alive and not be a target of ambush or beheading if they convert nominally for the period of their tour of duty. A smart idea, I'd do it myself! |
| Posted by: Anon1 2004-05-29 10:59:50 AM |
| #5 Phil that may be true but Islam is a one-way ticket. I'm not sure about converts but theres a death-sentence for anyone born a moslem who decides to change teams. A few of them might be in for a nasty surprise when they confront the real Islam. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2004-05-29 9:37:20 AM |
| #4 I wouldn't read too much into this. Religious affiliation in East Asia seems to be a different concept than in the West and the Muslim world. I have known people who claimed to be Buddhist, Daoist and Christian, and saw nothing unusual in this. |
| Posted by: Phil B 2004-05-29 4:35:17 AM |
| #3 "I became a Muslim because I felt Islam was more humanistic and peaceful than other religions. And if you can religiously connect with the locals, I think it could be a big help in carrying out our peace reconstruction mission." It will be a big help alright, maybe not to the USA though. Taking into consideration the fact that most of the inhabitants of Irbil are Muslims, the unit sent its unreligious members to the Hannam-dong mosque so that they could come to understand Islam. Some of those who participated in the program were entranced by Islam and decided to convert. Good plan, commander. Your unit is full of fifth columnists now. A unit official said the soldiers were inspired by how important religious homogeneity was considered in the Muslim World; 'Religious homogeneity' That's the nice way of saying, 'Death to the Infidels!' if you share religion, you are treated not as a foreigner, but as a local, and Muslims do not attack Muslim women even in war. Is there another Islam being talked about here? What I have read, one of Islam's ideas of religion is to attack women. He expressed his aspirations. "If we are sent to Iraq, I want to participate in religious ceremonies with the locals so that they can feel brotherly love and convince them that the Korean troops are not an army of occupation but a force deployed to provide humanitarian support." Keep thinking that going in. I am pretty sure in a few weeks the truth will rear its ugly head, and your unit will be disbanded. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-05-29 4:20:44 AM |
| #2 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted] |
| Posted by: Dog Bites Trolls TROLL 2004-05-29 3:54:20 AM |
| #1 I've always known that Koreans really hate the US, but this is the first I've heard of them converting to Islam, just so they can have an excuse to hate Uncle Sam. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2004-05-29 3:00:09 AM |