Islam

The Rabat-based Islamic Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) has strongly denounced statements made by US Army General William Boykin, the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Intelligence Affairs), in an attempt to smear Islam. It also urges the states of the Moslem world to take action through diplomatic channels, in order to file protests against the US Administration for the innuendoes made against Islam by such a high-ranking official of the Pentagon.

ISESCO has been shocked by the smear campaign undertaken by Gen. Boykin against Islam as a religion. He says, "Islam is intolerant and is a pagan and profane religion."

ISESCO notes that this campaign is being waged simultaneously with similar anti-Islam campaigns by some extremist members of the US clergy, and suggests the prosecution of the US official for libel, slander and a contemptuous attitude towards Islam. The statement adds that such pronouncements stir up of Islamophobia, which is "incongruent with international law."

The ISESCO statement repeats that Islam is a religion of tolerance and co-existence, enshrines respect for the other revealed religions, and prohibits any infringement of individuals' and communities' creeds. In fact, adds the statement, Islam calls for harmony, understanding, peaceful coexistence, and dialogue among civilizations and cultures.

Note: Islam is not pagan, but it is certainly intolerant. It discriminates against other religions in countries it rules and a Moslem who changes his religion may be sentenced to death. It is also the only religion glorifying war against infidels (jihad). Nor is it an accident that there are so many Moslem terrorist movements and that the preachers of Islam are usually less tolerant than the public they preach to.

Moslems in Bonn, Germany, have taken part in a procession to protest the false accusations against the King Fahd Academy here claiming that it is teaching its Moslem students extremism. Some officials are said to be contemplating the closure of the academy, thus denying its 550 students the chance to get an education. The students' parents have held a press conference to deny these false accusations, and demanded freedom to teach their children matters related to their faith, just as the Germans are given an opportunity to run their own private schools in Islamic countries.