Arjay,

when will hindu moderates speak out about the sacred genocide that took place in Gujrat in 2002? when will moderate hindus speak out about the continuing genocide in kashmir? or the ongoing murders of australian citizens whose crime is to spread the gospel in india?

when will moderate catholics speak out against the murder of street children in sao paolo and rio in the world's largest catholic country?

when will moderate jewish people come out and criticise the crims of the israeli government and its defense forces?

if it is the case, Arjay, that you cannot hear moderate muslim voices, perhaps it might help if you were to take your head out of the sand.

regards

Arjay,

Adding to Irfan's comments, I thought you know little about Islam and muslims but as I found out, you know little about history as well.

1. If you chose to focus on few radicals and use them to velify the majority of muslims that is your choice. Don't hold me accountable for your ignorance.

In 1996, 8000 muslim women and chidren were killed in Bosnia by those who claimed to be christians. Brutally mutilating there bodies by cutting 2 fingers of every hand leaving only three fingers.

Muslims did not go around velifying christians. Neither were apologies/demonstrations 'denouncing' nor did muslims expect any.

My point is clear: Please think. Its your choice to velify us.

2. Most muslims countries I visited (or lived in) have religious freedom and most are preferred job destination for Australians (Turkey, emirates, Qatar, Egypt). In fact some muslims countries have more women in the parliement (ie 11.5% females in Tunisian parliement) than most European countries. Even Iraq's previous
prime minister was a christian man.

Dictators in the region are part of a politcial play after the collapse of British and French empires in the region.

You either know very little about Muslim countries or you are
reading the Taliban user manual on how to rule Afganistan or Afganistan..

Salam and have a great day,

Ashraf

To all who read this.Notice how they are using the words "to vilify". In Victoria they have passed special anti-vilification religious legislation supposedly to enhance social harmony.A christian minister has been charged for merely quoting from the Koran and is facing a $200,000.oo fine and possible goal.

If these laws are implemented in NSW,I too or Online Opinion can be gaoled or fined for speaking the truth.

This is the first step in the surrender of our freedoms.Wake up Australia!!

Arjay,

The incident in Melbourne last year was in my view an obvious vilification. Known fact that muslims believe in Jesus and the virgin Mary but have different beliefs on Jesus divinity and the Trinity.

If it is a so called 'an honest attempt' to study and compare I would have expected it to be around the theological logic of Islam, comparing the Koran 's story of Jesus versus the biblical story, comparing Virgin Mary story in The koran (which is a full chapter) to very little mentioned in the bible, etc..

The relevant priest had a choice of initiating a smart theological discussion but chose intentionally to bypass the Koran totally and pick up a 6th source hadith for an ill intention.
Unfortunately some priests sees Islam as a 'competitor' to christianity.
There is a lot of good common values and beliefs between the two faiths if those in charge chose to discuss them..

Muslims in mosques study good Koranic value and don't talk about what is in the bible though most know what the christian beliefs are about.

Hope the blinkers drop,

Ash

in relation to the 'catch the fires ministry' case, it is interesting to note that senior clerics from at least 2 christian denominations gave evidence in support of the application made by the islamic council of victoria. these denominations combined make up over 70% of australia's christian communities.

further, i can report that on budget night this year, i had a chance to meet the new senator-elect for the 'Family First' party. he is from victoria, and his number 2 was the rev danny nallaiah from catch the first ministries.

mr fielding advised me that his party distanced itself and rejected and condemned the comments made about islam by rev nallaiah.

the biggest enemy of prejudice is knowledge. this is because prejudice is an advanced (in some cases chronic) form of ignorance.

Hi Ash,
interesting to find you here debating on Islam and islamic views. I remember having same type of arguments with you many, many years ago.

"if all the sheikhs of Al Azhar and this one "atheist" were closed to a building together to debate their opinions, I fear all the sheikhs would walk out as atheists" by late A. el A.K

regards "atheist"