Outrageous…

In late January 2008, 30 prominent Islamic scholars and principals of madrassas in Pakistan issued a joint statement, published in Pakistan’s newspapers, discussing the state of affairs in the country and suggesting ways to deal with it. The signatories, who belonged to different schools of Islamic thought and who control a vast network of madrassas, affirmed: “We do not belong to any political group; neither do we have any political agenda.” Read the whole statement from Memri.

“Most of our [previous] governments have been under the influence of the United States… But the way our government sacrificed itself on the altar of American interests after September 11, 2001, and ruthlessly murdered our national interests by bringing an American-interest war into our country, is an example on its own.

“Our forces were used in military operations against our fellow citizens. Cowardice was shown vis-à-vis the United States and India…”

“On the other hand, efforts were launched with full preparedness to take the nation [Pakistan] on an irreligious path in the name of ‘moderation’ and ‘progressive thinking.’ Changes were made in the curricula of the educational system, to make them look good to ‘others/foreigners’ instead of… [making them appropriate for] our national interests. Completely unjustified amendments were made in hudood law [regarding women,] in the name of women’s rights - [amendments] which were not only unrelated to women’s rights but also included further injustices against them.

God forbid laws are passed that give Women more rights…

“And the government, instead of resolving these problems, remained busy with promoting dancing, the Basant [kite festival], [and women's participation in] marathons….”

The statement goes on to the typical Islamic argument suicide bombings with a lengthy 5 paragraph response on suicide bombings with the typical Islamic argument that “to stop suicide bombings we must “understand” why they do it”

I can sum up the question of whether suicide bombings are wrong with one word…YES. I don’t need to dilute the topic with the logic of “why” it’s happening. I don’t care why it’s happening. There is no justification what-so-ever.

When you have 30 prominent Islamic scholars issuing a statement saying the Taliban are not terrorists, suicide bombings are justified given the circumstance and saying that US-influenced Pakistani policy of “irreligious moderation and progressiveness” has led Pakistan into turmoil, it makes you wonder what would happen if these radical Islamists were put in charge of a nuclear arsenal.

1. “We [should] admit with open heart that the American strategy we have adopted blindly in the name of the ‘War on Terror’ has failed completely. This strategy has given us nothing, but has snatched much from us; it is the fundamental reason for our internal conflicts, and because of it, it appears that our dearest nation itself is at stake….”

2. “The military operations in the Northern and Tribal Areas [should] be stopped forthwith, and an effort must be made to understand the causes of the insurgency there. Talks should be held with the leaders of those areas with open heart, and importance should be given to their just demands, which they deserve.”

3. “Realize this reality: The Taliban are not in fact terrorists, and neither do all of them have extremist sentiments. There are among them elements with whom talks can reasonably be held.”