VOICE OF THE CAPE RADIO
TEXT OF SPECIAL REPORT, BREAKFAST SHOW, NEWS - 5/2/99
EXTREMISM, defined by fanatical religious opinion and behaviour, is not only a burning issue here in the western Cape …Shafiq Morton reports on some interesting developments in the USA…..
A major row has erupted in the United States Muslim community over recent statements made by Shaikh Hishaam Kabbani, the Chairman of the Islamic Supreme Council of America. The statements were made by Shaikh Kabbani in Washington at the State Department during an open forum on Islamic extremism.
In his wide-ranging address, Shaikh Kabbani said extremism in religion was defined by its beliefs being selectively used to define intolerance and to disturb the peace. Islamic extremism worked the same way, taking only ideas that suited it. Shaikh Kabbani said that anybody who dared disagree with the extremists immediately became their enemy.
He said extremist ideas had been spread to 80% of the American Muslim community, but that certainly not everybody agreed with it. In general, American Muslims were peace-loving, tolerant citizens.
He then focused on the global threat of extremism, and alleged that the Saudi exile Usama bin Laden was trying to form a coalition of radical movements. Shaikh Kabbani told the audience that bin Laden had bought more than 20 nuclear warheads from Mafia sources in the ex-Soviet Union for 20 million dollars and two tons of opium.
He alleged former Soviet scientists had been hired to develop atomic warheads that could be carried in suitcases and that Bin Laden had trained 5,000 suicide bombers in Afghanistan. This was a danger for all humanity.
Shaikh Kabbani also focused on media revelations that a group of women in Europe wore hijab in the day, but prostituted themselves at night to get information from government officials for their masters.
Shaikh Kabbani said that Islamic extremism had its roots in Najd in Saudi Arabia in the 17th and 18th centuries. This was when desert tribesman had supported the ideology of the so-called reformist scholar, Muhammad ibn Abd-ul Wah-hab. This movement had preached that Islam had to be reformed with the sword.
Shaikh Kabbani told the audience that extremism was a big danger and could only be comprehended if the west understood Islam better and built bridges with moderate Muslims and traditional Islam. He said America was only hearing the voice of extremist Muslims, and not authentic Islam.
Shortly after his address, Shaikh Kabbani was condemned in an "open" statement by seven organisations, including the Council on American Relations (CAIR) and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).
In their attack on Shaikh Kabbani, in which he was called "Mr" Kabbani, the organisations said he had put all American Muslims under suspicion by giving the impression that the whole community was "extremist."
A former presidential aide - a revert to Islam - responded that a common tactic in the Washington political jungle was to reverse the meaning of a person's statements, and to attack the person for what they wanted him to say in order to destroy him.
He said the fact that good and sincere Muslims could resort to such tactics in the case of Shaikh Hishaam Kabbani, was only conceivable if they felt their existence was threatened by his statements.
This is Shafiq Morton for Voice of the Cape…..
