Headline News 05/03/2016

Headlines:

• Stop Taking the Koran Literally to Defeat ISIS' EU thinkers in Call for European Islam
• Bangladesh Considering Abandoning Islam as its Official Religion Following Wake of Extremist Attacks
• Saudi Prince: Muslim Nations Must Lead in Counterterrorism

Details:

Stop Taking the Koran Literally to Defeat ISIS' EU thinkers in Call for European Islam

Europe’s top thinkers have today called on worshippers to stop taking the Koran literally and embrace a modern “European Islam” in a bid to defeat the poisonous ideology of Islamic State (ISIS). Two of the continent’s personalities have urged European Muslims to abandon cultural practices from the Middle East and promote an updated version of their religion to prevent Islamophobia and extremism. Their rallying call comes amid heightening religious tension across Europe sparked by the ongoing migrant crisis, which has seen millions of predominantly Muslim migrants and refugees descend on the continent. In an opinion piece published this week former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema and Swiss Muslim philosopher and scholar Tariq Ramadan said refugees must learn to accept European values. In the article, published on the Euractiv website, they wrote: “We must all fight this political, cultural and social battle together. Paradoxically, Muslim extremists and European Islamophobes share the same idea that Islam equals violence. “This perception is not only false, but also dangerous. To escape from this unfounded ideology, we need a European Islam, an Islam of European citizens and not an Islam composed of communities influenced by their countries of origin. “We need an Islam inspired by minds that are open to change and the challenges of the modern era, rejecting a literal reading of the Qur’an and in tune with the new historical context. “That kind of Islam would make an important contribution to European culture in the 21st century and beyond.” They added: “It would also be a powerful antidote to the religious fanaticism that exists in all religions and, at the same time, constitute a response to the rigid, ultra-conservative Islam, occasionally proclaimed by some terrorist groups. “If Muslims share responsibility for the emergence of this European Islam, the EU Member States and their institutions will have to recognise that Islam is a European religion and that its contribution is necessary and important.” The pair penned the piece to address possible European responses to attempts by ISIS jihadis to radicalise European youngsters. Up to 6,000 Europeans have gone to Syria over the last couple of years, whilst the threat of homegrown terrorism inspired by the group has risen. Mr D’Alema and Mr Tariq Ramadan both argue that Islam can no longer ignore the rise of ISIS or deny that it is a problem specifically linked to their religion. [Source: Express UK]

The enemies of Islam have made the reformation of Islam a top priority over the centuries. The current efforts are not new but serve to highlight the desperate measures instigated by Europe to control their Muslim populations. Rather than address the failures of liberal secular democracy, the West continues to press Muslims to change their interpretations of Islam to fit in with Western culture and civilization.

Bangladesh Considering Abandoning Islam as its Official Religion Following Wake of Extremist Attacks

Bangladesh could drop Islam as the country's official religion following a string of extremist attacks against people of other faiths. The Supreme Court in the South Asia nation has began to hear arguments which challenge Islam's status as the official state religion. It comes after a spate of attacks against people of other religions such as Hindus, Christians, and minorities Shi'ites, which have been blamed on Islamic extremists. When Bangladesh was formed in 1971 after the nation split from Pakistan, it was declared a secular state. However, in 1988 the country's constitution was amended with Islam declared as the state religion. But this is now being disputed as illegal in the latest court battle and is being supported by religious minority leaders. Meanwhile the US has also warned that ISIS is stepping up recruitment in Bangladesh, even though the government says the extremist problems are home grown. In a written testimony to the U.S. Senate James Clapper noted the claims of responsibility from ISIS for 11 high profile attacks on foreigners and religious minorities, and claims from the Ansarullah Bangla Team and al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent for killing at least 11 progressive writers and bloggers in Bangladesh since 2013. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has been in political ferment since the run-up to January 2014 elections. They were boycotted by opposition parties, and over war crimes prosecutions brought against Jamaat-e-Islami leaders over alleged involvement in atrocities during Bangladesh's 1971 War of Independence. Muslims make up some 90 percent of Bangladesh’s population, while Hindus account for 8 percent and other religions - including Buddhism and Christianity - make up the rest. [Source: Daily Mail]

Bangladesh abandoned Islam on the day it was created by Western powers to divide and rule Muslims of the sub-continent. Instead of wasting time and effort to prevent Hasina’s government from abolishing Islam as the country’s religion, Muslims of Bangladesh must seize this opportunity to press for the re-establishment of Khilafah "Caliphate" Rashidah, which will permanently end the mockery of Islam made by secular fundamentalists.

Saudi Prince: Muslim Nations Must Lead in Counterterrorism

A prominent Saudi prince said Sunday that Muslim countries need to take the lead in fighting terrorism and that a recently announced Islamic counterterrorism alliance of 34 nations should have been created sooner. Prince Turki al-Faisal's comments come as the kingdom hosts an 18-day military exercise with 20 members of the new alliance, which includes Pakistan, Sudan, Jordan and neighboring Gulf States. Defense Ministers from the coalition of Muslim-majority countries are scheduled to hold their first meeting in Saudi Arabia sometime in March. "I consider this a leading and commendable step that should have happened sooner and thank God it has taken place," he told reporters in Abu Dhabi. "It's no secret, unfortunately, that in our world today the majority of terrorism-related acts, its victims are Muslim," he said. "Therefore, it is our responsibility as Muslim countries to play the primary role in fighting this disease that has impacted us all." Notably absent from the coalition is the kingdom's regional rival Iran, as well as Syria and Iraq, which are battling to win back swaths of territory controlled by the Islamic State group. Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia and Shiite-majority Iran are fiercely divided on a host of issues and support opposite sides of the wars in Yemen and Syria. Relations worsened after the execution of a popular Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia last month, which triggered protests in Iran and the ransacking of the Saudi Embassy and another diplomatic mission there. The two countries then severed diplomatic and trade ties. Prince Turki said "the ball is in the Iranian court" when it comes to any hope of improving ties. "The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has expressed publicly that Iran's interference in the affairs of Arab states is a situation that is unacceptable," he said. [Source: China Post]

What the Turki fails to explain is that the violence across the Muslim world is due to the decades-old repression perpetrated by the leaders of the Islamic world against their populations to please their Western masters. The Islamic countries should only come together to expel Western powers from the Muslim world, and not to further suppress Islamic activism under the pretext of fighting terror.