Muslim leaders urge Western governments to condemn acts that insult Islam

The Associated Press ,  Kuala Lumpur   |  Mon, 06/09/2008 3:28 PM  |  World

A Muslim political leader urged Western governments Monday to hit out more strongly against acts that are offensive to Islam.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference, warned there seemed to be a growing "campaign of hate and discrimination" against Muslims by a small number of individuals and organizations.

In a speech to a conference in Kuala Lumpur on improving ties between Muslims and the West, Ihsanoglu praised Western nations for criticizing acts such as the recent release of an anti-Quran film by a Dutch lawmaker, but said more should have been done.

"Mere condemnation or distancing from the acts of the perpetrators of Islamophobia will not resolve the issue, as long as they remain free to carry on with their campaign of incitement and provocation on the plea of freedom of expression," Ihsanoglu said.

Earlier this year, the release of the film "Fitna" by Dutch politician Geert Wilders sparked protests by Muslims for showing images of terror attacks interspersed with text from the Quran.

Ihsanoglu also urged the media to reject "proponents of hatred and intolerance totally," citing other incidents such as the republishing in Denmark of cartoons considered an insult to the Prophet Muhammad.

"It requires a strong and determined collective political will to address the challenge," Ihsanoglu said. "It is now high time for concrete actions to stem the rot before it aggravates (the situation) any further."

Ihsanoglu did not suggest what action should be taken.

At the conference, Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appealed to world leaders to work together to nurture "common grounds in the interest of ou common agenda of peace."

"This biased view (of Islam) in the West persists, and, I must admit, it is not helped by the misguided actions of a discredited few from the Muslim side," Abdullah said. (*)

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Eddy Rahmat (not verified) — Thu, 07/31/2008 - 10:00am

I think many people see what we mean with critics to Islam in the wrong way.

Islam also opens its door to critics from outsiders. So long as the critics do not interfere with the beliefs of Islam itself, they can be useful to all parties.

The problem is, those critics addressed to the Moslem's world are offensive to some basics of Moslem's foundation. The prophet's caricature is something that Moslem can not tolerate. Or the humiliation to the holly Qoran is another thing that is impossible for Moslem to acknowledge.

Relating to the abuse of Islam by some people who represent themselves as the agents of Moslem warriors is another thing. In fact, many Moslems, in many Moslem-majority countries, do not share the same views with them. In many cases, often those countries become the victims and scapegoats of those misled actions performed by people who acknowledge themselves as Moslems.

What I want to say is that, please be matured and educated in judging Islam. No religions are tolerant to crimes and abuses. As well as Islam. We are not helping in creating a better and harmonious world to live in by trying to find black spots in others.

Peace to you all!

Ketti (not verified) — Thu, 07/03/2008 - 3:14pm

The different perceptions on the meaning of freedom to express between Islamic leaders and west governments will lead to the conflict among society and even followers of both religions, Islam and Christian. As long as misperception still happened between the two parties, the issues that offensive Islam will not fade away.

Sam (not verified) — Wed, 06/11/2008 - 2:28pm

How about we have western governments condemn those acts when all Muslim countries renounce terrorists tactics, allow more freedom in their countries, and stop calling for the death of Israel. The Islamic Conference is quick to protect its interests and image abroad but is very slow to critique its own problems at home. It is nearly the most hypocritical organization.

Tommykey (not verified) — Tue, 06/10/2008 - 8:05am

I already do condemn bigotry against Islam when I come across it.

But the funny thing is that in the West Muslims have greater freedom to practice their religion than non-Muslims do in Muslim majority countries. Why is that?

Muslims find things like the Danish Mohammed cartoons offensive. Want to know what I find offensive? I find it offensive when a 17 year old girl like Rand Abdel-Qader is murdered by her father and two brothers simply for talking in public to a British soldier in Basra, Iraq and they are not punished for it.

I find it offensive when countries like Malaysia make it impossible for someone raised as a Muslim to change their religious identity to another religion.

I find it offensive when a Muslim woman is raped that Muslim society blames her when it is 100% the fault of the rapist.

I could go on and on, but I think you all get the point.

Lars Andersen (not verified) — Tue, 06/10/2008 - 2:42am

Criticizing religion is a freedom in at least many countries in the west which people are not going to give up. It is wrong though to give the understanding that Islam is being criticized more than other religions which is definitely not the case as many people seem to be a bid afraid of touching the subject, Islam. I support as well that critique should be fair and not crossing the line which I definitely do not think the film or the cartoons have, compared to what critique there have been against Christianity in the west. Why is it you only focus on who the west criticizes Islam, is that not because that is all you hear and focus on in the media here in South-east Asia. You need to put the critique into the right perspective.

Robin Eldridge (not verified) — Mon, 06/09/2008 - 10:33pm

Of course if the Western governments were to ban items that reflect poorly on Islam, then I'm sure the Muslim leaders of RI and other Islamic countries would protest, and if possible ban, the clerics and leaders throughout the Islamic world that call for the death and destruction of Western, democratic countries. Yes?

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