Comments on: Abdul Rahman Is Screwed

By: Justin Gardner

Justin Gardner — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 20:56:46 +0000

No matter how devoutly religious Muslim women claim to be, trust me, no one likes to be dressed up like a garbage bag.

Ahh Jimmy. I can always count on you to break it down with complete illogic.

By: Jimmy the Dhimmi

Jimmy the Dhimmi — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 18:35:17 +0000

My hope all along was that the liberation of women in the Islamic world (through projects like Iraq & Afghanistan) would make a big difference. If each woman is given equal political power to each man in Islamic society, and civil authority must court votes to get elected and run the show, perhaps moderation will enter Islamic societies the was has in Turkey. No matter how devoutly religious Muslim women claim to be, trust me, no one likes to be dressed up like a garbage bag.

By: Justin Gardner

Justin Gardner — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:43:57 +0000

The thoughts are appreciated, but what does this mean for our chances of spreading any type of real democracy that will be sympathetic to our goals? It doesn’t seem likely right now, with top “moderate” clerics who opposed the Taliban calling for this guy’s death.

Absolutely crazy stuff here, and it’s really making me speculate that there has to be a big time reformation within Islam itself, before anything will ever truly change. And the US isn’t going to be the catalyst with war after war. That’ll just embolden people to stick to these idiotic beliefs.

By: Jimmy the Dhimmi

Jimmy the Dhimmi — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:14:16 +0000

Dave, I just thought I would “illuminate” as Justin requested. You have illustrated the real problem the West faces when dealing with the Islamic world.

even the Devil can quote Scripture to serve his purposes.

It very well might be the case that most muslims are like “devils” as you say, because they wish to interpret Islamic law the way the earliest muslims did in the 7th century. I hope not, but if that is indeed the case, then we are ALL screwed, not just this poor Abdul Rahman dude.

By: TallDave

TallDave — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 15:32:44 +0000

Jimmy,

Well, his lawyer is also quoting the Koran, and CAIR as well in his defense.

So, as we Christians say, even the Devil can quote Scripture to serve his purposes.

By: TallDave

TallDave — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 15:29:21 +0000

I doubt he’ll be executed by the state. That would look very very bad.

But really, we shouldn’t be surprised by this. Democracy is a liberalizing process, but it sure as hell doesn’t take a country from Taliban to Jeffersonian ideal in 4 years, especially not a country with a per capita GDP of $800.

Afghanistan is so poor, your average Mexican who may die trying to get to the U.S. is over ten times richer. This is not fertile soil for ideas like tolerance… but give it time.

By: Joshua

Joshua — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 15:02:22 +0000

I blogged about the Rahman case yesterday. It covers two new developments that aren’t covered in the original post.

One is that the prosecutors are questioning Mr. Rahman’s mental competence to stand trial. Methinks they may be trying to weasel their way out of this after all, without being seen to cave to international pressure.

The other is that Denmark - yes, that Denmark - has taken a much firmer stance on Mr. Rahman’s behalf than the U.S. They’re even contemplating military action (!!!) by their troops in Afghanistan to spring him from prison. Amazing.

By: Publius Rendezvous » Where Shall We Stand?

Publius Rendezvous » Where Shall We Stand? — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 14:56:35 +0000

[...] Though I appreciate the sentiments of Donklephant wherein I found this story, I do not share their perspective entirely as to what we should take from this occurrence, Listen, Afghanistan is better off without the Taliban, but if a guy can be executed for converting to another religion, then the Islamic state is broken and our strategy on spreading freedom throughout the Islamic world has a fatal flaw, does it not? [...]

By: Jimmy the Dhimmi

Jimmy the Dhimmi — Fri, 24 Mar 2006 14:00:07 +0000

Here are a few excerpts from Muslim scriptures known as Hadiths which chronicle the life of Mohammad (pbuh). The Prophet was reported to say the following:

“If someone changes his religion - strike his neck!” [Malik's Muwatta Book 36, Number 36.18.15]

“The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims.” [Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 83, Number 17]

“(He was) a Jew who embraced Islam and has now turned apostate.” Muadh said, “I will surely chop off his neck!” [Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 59, Number 632]

And from the uninterpretable, infallable, Word of God Himself (the Koran 4:89),

“They long that ye should disbelieve even as they disbelieve, that ye may be upon a level (with them). So choose not friends from them till they forsake their homes in the way of Allah; if they turn back (to enmity) then take them and kill them wherever ye find them, and choose no friend nor helper from among them”