Christians and Jews should be invited in by Muslims
Regional, Editorial, 3/27/2006

Algeria's parliament had just passed a law that bans many religious activities such as the promotion of non-Muslim religions, such as Christianity.

While the Algerian parliament can think of itself as possibly trying to help Islam, it is not clear how preventing Muslims from getting educated is something positive.

While one may disagree, or even strongly disagree about the correctness of a particular religion of another person, there should be no fear about learning what that religion is if one has such confidence in his own religion.

Certainly, Muslims are equally intelligent and should have equal ability to argue their ideas, and as such, they should not fear merely hearing someone speak, that this would lead them into a wrong a choice. If Muslims are confident of their religion, then they should not fear, and rather welcome, hearing and debating others, about different religions.

This comes at a time, today, when the issue of some Jews, once again, are trying to force their way to pray in al-Aqsa Mosque. Clearly, many of the occupied Palestinians have come to hate everything that is associated with Israel and its ruthless cruelty. Among the things that are associated with Israel, is Judaism. That Israel is brutal occupier of the worst kind, is not the subject of this editorial. But Judaism may have little to do with the behavior of the Israelis who use Judaism for their barbarism, as Christians abused Christianity in their crusader wars, to now condemn so-called "extremist Muslims" as less than worthy of respect for their strong devotions and interpretations of their beliefs.

Those well-educated in West, and consider themselves moderates and enlightened, have labeled an entire population as "extremist Muslims" and condemned them as worthy of ill treatment and lack of respect. And in the process, have turned Islam into a dirty word, with many that can be said to have political motives for this.

Muslims do no better than these people by not hearing the views of others about their religion, and Muslims do themselves harm by not giving the opportunity to others to learn about Islam as well. Clearly, it is extremely poor manners of these Israeli Jews to try to force their way into a religious site being used by Muslims. That is not how one demonstrates the so-called lofty ideals of religion, by such manners, I would guess.

And as for those Muslims who strongly object to Jews getting into al-Aqsa, they should look at this as a very positive opportunity to use in order to share with these Jews what Islam is. You may get some converts.

But then again, one gets the impression that there are few who are really interested in what the other is saying, and that can be understandable sometimes, especially when someone has his foot pressed on your neck while you are on the floor, and telling you "let us have a civil conversation".

By,
Jamil Talaat Kazoun

Previous Stories:
  Israeli occupation causes Palestinian children suffocation, uproot olive trees   (3/25/2006)
  Algeria bans Muslims from learning about Christianity   (3/21/2006)
  How low in its immorality can Israel go; never be surprised   (5/28/2005)

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