December 27, 2005
More Hostage Taking, Islamofascist Rhetoric, In Iraq
An unkown group has taken at least six Sudanese embassy employees hostage. The Sudanese government, a long-time state-sponsor of terrorism itself, reports that it is in negotiations for the release of the hostages.
In related news, a leading Sunni Muslim cleric has reportedly 'condemned' the kidnappings of two Moroccan embassy workers, a driver, Abderrahim Boualam, and a diplomatic employee, Abdelkrim el-Mouhafidi, taken hostage in October. Al Qaeda had threatened to murder the hostages and had already reported that an Islamic court had issued the death sentence to them for 'apostasy'. In actuality, the 'theologian' only conditionally condemned the hostage taking. Instead of claiming that hostage taking was intrinsically wrong, he condemned al Qaeda's actions by saying that it was wrong to kidnap Muslims.
"The two Moroccan citizens have no link with the Iraqi issue. They are innocents," he underlined in a statement broadcast Monday by Arabic Channel "Al Arabiya." [italics added]Notice how the cleric gives an out to those who would kidnap anyone involved with the Iraqi government or with the Coalition forces? Presumably, those who have a link to Iraqi issues are not 'innocent'. Further, al Qaeda in Iraq had originally condemned the two Moroccans to death based on the fact that the two were found 'guilty' of breaking Islamic law's prohibition on 'apostasy'. Instead of declaring that a civilized religion would never kill adherents for 'apostasy', that freedom of conscience and religious expression were basic human rights, the 'theologian' chose instead to declare the two 'innocent'. Does this mean that if they had really been guilty of 'aspostasy' that Islamic law would have permitted al Qaeda to execute the pair?
"I ask the parties who hold the two Moroccan hostages Abdelkarim Mohafidi and Abderrahim Boualam to release them because they are mere employees and their families are living painful moments," added Koubaysi, an eminent theologist who graduated from the Egyptian university of Al Azhar.What can one say about a religion that is still debating the legitimacy of hostage-taking and murder? That can only condemn hostage-taking if conditioned on the fact that the hostages are Muslims or who have no affiliation with the West, and not based on intrinsic human dignity?He recalled that Islam “taught us mercy even to the enemy”, stressing that the two Moroccan citizens “are not enemies but belong to the Ummah (Islamic Nation), and are not responsible for what is going on in Iraq”.[italics added]
KUNA:
"The Islamic Union in Baghdad obtained information confirming that the kidnapped are safe and in good health condition," said Ibraheem He told the press that the government made extensive efforts to free the Sudanese who were kidnapped by gunmen in Baghdad last Friday."Our contacts and consultations are on with several parties to communicate with the kidnapped and release them all by the armed group in Iraq," said the Sudanese official.
He said, the Sudanese mission in Baghdad is able to carry out its duties for freeing the hostages.
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