Aljazeera.Net - Statue fatwa riles artists: "A fatwa issued by Egypt's religious authority forbidding the display of statues has raised fears that it could be used as an excuse to destroy the country's historical heritage.
Shaikh Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt and the country's most senior Islamic jurist, issued the religious edict last week.
He ruled that the exhibition of statues in homes is prohibited and based his opinion on the hadith (the sayings of Prophet Muhammad).
Intellectuals and artists argue that the decree represents a setback for art - a mainstay of the multi-billion-dollar tourist industry - and would damage the country's fledgling sculpture industry.
Gomaa did not mention statues in museums or public places, but he condemned sculptors and their work.
Still, some fear that the edict could encourage people to attack the thousands of ancient and pharaonic statues at tourist sites across Egypt.
Gamal al-Ghitani, editor of the literary magazine Akhbar al-Adab, said: 'We don't rule out that someone will enter the Karnak temple in Luxor or any other pharaonic temple and blow it up on the basis of the fatwa.'"
Monday, April 03, 2006
Muslim fanatics bent on destroying Egypt?
It seems now that prominent purveyors of the "religion of peace" are inciting people to destroy the ancient Egyptian legacy, much as the Taliban blew up the Buddha statues in Bamiyan. That crime was bad enough, but this one would be absolutely outrageous. We could only hope that any such behavior would be the straw that breaks the camel's back and causes a massive outcry demonstrating that the world will not submit to the "religion of submission." The destruction and prohibition of art, the wanton suppression of human rights, the flagrant torment of women - is this the best ideology the human mind could come up with? Is there really a "good" God in charge of such an ideology?
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4 comments:
Hi - I've been pondering your recent posts over the past few days Acharya, formulating a comment and I think it comes down to this:
Whereas the masinations of the xian right can be likened to a dull but constant and annoying headache, Islam is more like a boil that becomes worse and worse the more you ignore it.
So what is the most effective treatment for this ailment? Recent attempts - appeasement, dialogue, threats, seem only to inflame the condition. Lancing the boil might be the only solution but it will be messy, the poison splashing out everywhere leading to more eruptions. But it may be the least of all evils.
The 'War on Terror' seems to be a 'War on Islam' in all but name and it looks to me as though Iran is next on Bush's hitlist. Will the coming (possible) confrontation go some way in helping to alleviate the condition or will it simply make things worse?
There are generations of indoctrination, downright insanity, and ignorance to expunge. Even if the treatment is successful, we are all going to be sore for a very long time.
And will believers have learned anything from this - I think not :(
But what is to be done in the here and now about the persecution of muslims who renounce islam, the subhuman treament of muslim women, the possible destruction of antiquities by muslims?
I have no idea. I am keeping myself informed and informing others. That is something...
True, Acharya, religious fanatics are bad news where ever they're found (e.g. in especially large numbers in the United States.)
But this shouldn't be used as an excuse or phony premise to wage another brutal war. The comparison is like having the flu as compared to having terminal cancer.
One's a bummer; the other'll kill you.
War opens a Pandora's Box of pain, death and suffering (of many innocents) and is nothing less than a manifestation of cosmic evil (v. "Blessed are the peacemakers.") Those who start war are truly demonic. As Noam Chomsky said: war should be a last resort and--similar to domestic violence--you better have a damned good reason to engage in it.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/ is an excellent resource for those wishing to acquaint themselves with the wonderful world of Islam. (updated daily)
(I hope Acharya will allow this link to be posted on her blog.)
There is an interesting opinion piece in The Forward today (www.forward.com), referencing a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood's young guard,Ibrahim El Houdaiby, a figure who seems to care very much about Egpyt and making it a better place. (http://www.forward.com/articles/11814/)
He also wrote a piece in the Forward at the end of September titled "The Muslim Brotherhood Will Stand Up for All Egyptians"
http://www.forward.com/article/11704/
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