An Inconvenient Truth
One of the best things about the end of the Obama presidency is that we no longer have to listen to Obama’s favorite phrase “Nothing to do with Islam”. Obama would INVARIABLY utter this mantra after EACH and EVERY Islamist terror attack, no matter how bloody or depraved. With his forced retirement there were a blessed couple of months without such spurious and ill informed proclamations. Unfortunately, it now appears that other western leaders, either out of ignorance or intimidation, are prepared to “chip in” with similar sentiments, thereby filling Obama’s vacuum.
The latest western leader to parrot a pacific view of Islam (despite massive evidence to the contrary) would appear to be Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May. Ms. May said, in interviews yesterday, that “Islamist terrorism is a ‘perversion’ of a great faith.” Unfortunately, there are many learned, devout and credentialed Islamic scholars and leaders who would take grave exception to this assessment.
Individuals espousing violent jihad are often portrayed as ignorant or insane. The frightening truth, however, is that many proponents of violent jihad are neither. Their side of the story is gravely underreported in western press. They deserve a closer look.
We can begin with Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman. Sheik Rahman is now deceased (via natural causes, while in US custody). He was, however, a PhD. in Islamic Jurisprudence from the University of Cairo, the seat of Islamic learning for over a millenium. His area of expertise was Sharia, Islam’s legal code and societal framework. He was an internationally renowned scholar. He also conceived and masterminded the first World Trade Tower attack, a bombing on February 26, 1993, in which he killed 6 people but attempted the murder of another 5,000.
Next, consider Mullah Omar. Mullah Omar is now deceased from heart failure. He was educated at the Jamia Uloom-ul-Islamia, Karachi Pakistan’s leading seminary for orthodox Muslims. He formed the Taliban, harbored Osama Bin Laden as a “guest” and refused to surrender him to America after Bin Laden’s murder of 3,000 Americans in the 911 attacks.
Next, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Mr. Baghdadi is a PhD. in Islamic Studies from the University of Baghdad. He is also the founder of ISIS and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths including decapitations, crucifixions, mass graves and the like. Although injured, he is believed to be still at large.
Next, Anwar al-Awlaki. He is now deceased (courtesy of an American drone strike) but had been President of the Muslim Student’s Association at Georgetown University (in Washington, DC) while studying for his Doctorate. He went on to become an al-Qaeda leader responsible for countless terror attacks and deaths.
Next, Grand Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini (Grand Ayatollah is the Islamic equivalent to a Cardinal) died (of natural causes) in 1989. He was a learned Islamic scholar and the author of more than 40 books. He was the supreme leader of Iran. He executed, by some estimates, 30,000 dissidents in Iran, and fashioned his country into the world’s preeminent state sponsor of terrorism.
Next, Abdullah Azzam. Mr. Azzam was assinated in 1989. He held a PhD. in Islamic Jurisprudence from Al Azhar University. Also he was a founder of Maktab al Kidamat (MAK), later known as al-Qaeda. He is considered the father of GLOBAL jihad. We are all familiar with the murder and mayhem that ensued.
Although, it is possible to identify many more individuals of higher learning with distinguished credentials who advocate violent jihad, the above list amply makes the point. I should also mention that the reader can confirm for his/her self that MANY sane, devout and learned Imams espouse violence by simply going to some of their sermons that can be viewed on YouTube. One YouTube link that I just tested is:
It starts with a brief interview with a jihadi “soldier”, but soon goes on to sermons from Islamic clergy. It is VERY revealing.
I think it should be abundantly clear from all of this, that advocates of violent jihad while zealous, are not always ignorant or insane, but can be pious and learned followers of the Islamic faith. Although it is true that many Muslims do not and would not engage in violence of any sort, the nostrum that violent jihad has “nothing to do with Islam” is simply false. The sooner this is recognized, the sooner western civilization will be able to face reality. We will, inevitably, have to confront this very, very “inconvenient truth”.