An Australian Islam? First Stirrings?

Note: This article is good news for Australian muslims. There is no 'ducking and weaving', just a straight forward denunciation of the primitivism of Afghan Muslims. Good work. Now build on it.


Prosecution of convert 'un-Islamic'
By Frank Walker
March 26, 2006


AUSTRALIAN Muslim leaders yesterday condemned moves in Afghanistan to execute a man who converted to Christianity.

The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils said the prosecution of Abdul Rahman in Afghanistan was "barbaric" and "un-Islamic".

Spokesman Haset Sali called on the Australian Government to see if the Afghan prosecutors could be charged with crimes against humanity unless the religious charges against Mr Rahman were dismissed.

"Such barbaric action by anyone seeking to quote Islam as supporting their criminal action needs to be dealt with as a crime against humanity," Mr Sali said.

He said the Koran stated there must be "no compulsion in religion".

"The prosecution of Mr Rahman, seeking the death penalty against him for converting to Christianity is reminiscent of the fascist era that caused the Second World War and the pointless death of 55 million people."

Mr Sali said Afghans should respect the sanctity of life.


Comment: These remarks are most welcome.

Of course, Mr. Sali is factually wrong, in Islamic Law. While it is true that the Koran does not mandate the death penalty for apostasy and the abandonment of Islam, Sharia Law does. All four Sunni Muslim codes of Sharia Law and the Shi'ite code of Sharia Law are unanimous in agreeing that death is mandatory for a muslim who leaves Islam. This reading has stood for 1400 years.It is Sharia Law which governs the life of the muslims on a day to day basis, not the Koran. Islam is not really a 'religion of peace'.

Mr. Sali is confusing Sharia Law with life in Australia.

He is correct in calling the proceedings in Afghanistan 'barbaric',but is wrong in calling these proceedings 'un-Islamic'. These proceedings are perfectly Islamic.

Australian muslim leaders appear to be aware that the classical Islam in which they were raised is unsuitable for Australian conditions. They should take this opportunity to start the development of a particular Australian Islam.

This Islam will have to cancel the traditional violence that underpins all Islamic relations, private and public; it will have to incorporate the standard Australian notions of equality, between men and women and between muslim and non muslim; it will have to cancel all the affectations of 'stand out' clothing (dropping the pretense that 'Allah makes me do it');above all, an Australian Islam will have to commit to Australia, not the Muslim Ummah.

I wish the muslim leaders good luck as they set out to develop an Australian Islam. Unless they are successful in this endeavour, muslims will never be really accepted in the Australian community; which, in fact, is the very difficult position in which they find themselves in 2006.