Cahaya’s Rants

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) — The Islamic Missionary Foundation (Yadim) has called on the media to be more active in correcting the perception of Islam among non-Muslims.

Its head Datuk Mohd Nakhaie Ahmad said the lack of articles on Islam in most newspapers had resulted in the manipulation of information on Islam and Muslims by certain quarters.

“When the reports are not clear or inaccurate, various issues would emerge such as Muslims being labelled as terrorists, giving the feeling that the negative image created by these irresponsible quarters was to cover up their own injustice or cruelty,” he told reporters in conjunction with the pre-launching of a tabloid, “The Criteria”, which is in English, here today.

It is jointly published by Yadim and Saba Islamic Media Sdn Bhd.

The tabloid aims to educate Muslims and non-Muslims on Islam, to help preserve understanding and harmony among the people

Source: Bernama

Datuk Mohd Nakhaie is most certainly right. And wrong. Right about the negative image non-Muslims have of Islam. And wrong that the negative image is created by “irresponsible quarters was to cover up their own injustice or cruelty”.

Who would not have a negative image of Islam when you hear reports such as the following?

BAGHDAD (AP) - An Assyrian Orthodox priest was killed in a drive-by shooting Saturday in Baghdad, police and an assistant said, the latest attack against Iraq’s Christian minority.

The priest, Youssef Adel, was shot by gunmen who drove up in a car and opened fire as he was opening the gate of his house near the St. Peter and Paul church where he presided, an assistant said.

Christians have frequently been caught up in the violence or been targeted in this predominantly Muslim country.

The body of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, one of Iraq’s most senior Chaldean Catholic clerics, was found on March 13, about two weeks after he was seized by gunmen in the volatile northwestern city of Mosul. (re AP news)

When even Islamic clerics indulge in paranoia and racism?

TEHRAN (AFP) — Israel and unidentified “oppressive powers” are behind the production of an anti-Islamic film by right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders, a prominent conservative Iranian cleric claimed on Friday.

“Behind these satanic acts can be found the oppressive powers and the Zionist regime,” Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami said during a Friday prayer sermon in the capital broadcast by state radio.

“This poor Dutch deputy has made 40 trips to Israel over the past 25 years,” Khatami said. “He has himself said he is close to (Israeli President) Shimon Peres and (Prime Minister) Ehud Olmert.

“We see the hand of the Zionist regime behind these satanic acts and we cry ‘death to Israel,’” he added. (re AFP)

Are the discrimination and violence against churches by Muslims in Indonesia also caused by “irresponsible quarters”?

JAKARTA, April 2 (Compass Direct News) – Islamic extremist groups and local governments in Indonesia closed 110 churches from 2004 to 2007, according to religious and human rights organizations.

The Wahid Institute, a moderate Muslim non-governmental organization, along with the Communion of Churches of Indonesia (Persekutuan Gereja-Gereja di Indonesia), the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia (Konferensi Waligereja Indonesia) and the Indonesian Human Rights Commission reported that discrimination and violence against churches was most common in the provinces of West Java, Banten, Central Java, South Sulawesi and Bengkulu.

Radical Muslim groups attacking churches included the Islamic Defender Front (Front Pembela Islam, or FPI), the Indonesian Mujahidin Council, Hizbullah Front, Muslim Clergy Members Forum (Forum Ulama Umat Islam) and the Muslim Safety Forum (Dewan Keamanan Masjid). (re Compass Direct)

How can non-Muslims not have a negative image on Islam when there is, among other things, visceral hatred for the Jews?

SANAA, April 6 (Reuters) - Yemen’s Shi’ite rebels destroyed the vacant house of the mainly Muslim Arab state’s top rabbi, a security official said on Sunday.

Residents said the assailants from a group opposed to the U.S.-allied government destroyed the house of Yehia Youssuf in Saada, a northern province. The security official said it was not immediately known what weapons were used in the attack.

“They turned to the houses of other Jews after,” one resident said.

About 200 Yemeni Jews who lived in Saada, including Youssef, have been living in the capital Sanaa due to sporadic fighting between government forces and the rebel group, known as the Houthis. (re Reuters)

When non-Muslims are daily faced with these kinds of news and images of paranoia, discrimination and violence perpetrated by Muslims in the name of their religion, is it any wonder that the non-Muslims associate terrorism and violence with Islam?

Good luck trying to rehabilitate the image of Islam as a religion of peace.