Syria's Mufti: Islam commands us to protect Judaism

[Hatalles]

Source: Haaretz

Syria's foremost Muslim leader declared on Tuesday that Islam commands its followers to protect Judaism, according to Army Radio.

"If the Prophet Mohammed had asked me to deem Christians or Jews heretics, I would have deemed Mohammed himself a heretic," Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, the Mufti of Syria, was quoted as telling a delegation of American academics visiting Damascus.

Hassoun, the leader of Syria's majority Sunni Muslim community, also told the delegates that Islam was a religion of peace, adding: "If Mohammed had commanded us to kill people, I would have told him he was not a prophet."

Read more: http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1143660.html

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. Now how'd THIS story slip past the guards?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Hope?

Do we dare?

[rpannier]

3. That's what happens when you have a secular government nt

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. BINFUCKINGO. It used to be the same case in Iraq under Saddam. Now... not so much.

"Evil" Libya is like that too, from what I read. "Non-evil" Egypt too.

[proteus_lives]

19. Boy, I wish we had Saddam back too.

He was such a keen guy.

:eyes:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

21. I didn't deny all the bad things he did. Am I wrong in post #18? -nt

[SteelPenguin]

23. You're absolutely not wrong

As someone who has half his family come from Iraq, still has family there, and had to evacuate out other family after the war started, you're spot on.

You're not saying "Gee I wish we could have Saddam back, he was such a swell guy.". However, back then even though it was more of a secular fascist state. People didn't wear head scarves, and the call to prayer was something people barely noticed.

My mother one time was having tea in Baghdad (during the mid to late 80's) with some of my family in a restaurant, and she heard the call to prayer. A couple people pulled over to the side of the road to pray but for the most part the city didn't stop it's hustle and bustle and people in the restaurant didn't even flinch.

It's a very different place now regarding religion.

[The Stranger]

4. Now where's that certain little someone I see so often posting?

You know who I'm talking about. YOU know.

[fascisthunter]

5. Very Cool.... (nt)

[demigoddess]

6. if only pat robertson would say the same about Islam.

But then Pat is too stupid to get the picture.

[leftynyc]

17. There are plenty of Christian ministers

who say that - who think Robertson is a moron. Assholes all over the place when it comes to religion. Let's see how long this man continues to breath.

[sakabatou]

7. Now this is a large flip.

Hopefully, rabbis in Israel will say the same thing with mutual protection.

[cbgb2112]

8. Our press will call him the crazy n/t

[8 track mind]

9. Wow. That guy has balls. n/t

[dhpgetsit]

10. To Muslims, Jews and Christians are "People of the Book".

People of the Book are like cousins who worship the same God but are not aware of the prophet Mohammed.

[harun]

15. +1

[madrchsod]

11. that is a very brave man.....

[David__77]

12. If it weren't for the secular Baath Party of Syria, he'd have no influence.

The Syrian Baathists and their communist and socialist allies in the ruling party front are the only thing holding back a terrible wave of fundamentalist reaction in that country. The Mufti is a "collaborator" of the ruling authorities, and that is a good thing.

[rayofreason]

20. Remember Hama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hama_massacre

Talk about being stuck between Iraq and a hard place. There is a huge amount of bad karma stored up on all sides in Syria. One day it will cut loose.

[Behind the Aegis]

13. A positive development, especially from Syria.

There may be hope for a settlement between Israel and Syria yet.

[420inTN]

14. He just signed his own death warrant.

But I appreciate the sentiment. Best of luck to him.

[VermeerLives]

25. You're probably right

There is not much room for dissent, let alone a statement like this, in Islam.

[robcon]

16. THAT's not a very popular position.

I'd increase his security.

[Freddie Stubbs]

22. Hope he already bought a life insurance policy

[Douglas Carpenter]

24. kick

[LeftishBrit]

26. Good for him!