© the eyeranian

Let's Trade A Few Slaves!

Iranian revolution, the following catastrophe of hostage-taking, the Iran-Iraq war, the battle between various factions of Iranian government and finally what was going on in Lebanon and elsewhere familiarized the outside world with a new word and a new perceived sets of beliefs: Shi'a Islam. Suddenly people wanted to know who Shiites were and what they wanted. What portion of Muslims are Shiite in face of a Sunni majority, and more. In the midst of all these scrutiny, one point seemed clear to most; Shiites looked to be more radical and strict. Those who knew better, tried in every way possible to amend that perception, much of it with great failure.

September 11th suddenly introduced a new set of parameters into this predicament. The world was introduced to some extremist Sunni Muslims, led by the most extreme of extremes; the Wahabbi sect. Wahabbism, the religion of Saudi royal court, the Taliban and Usama Bin Laden with its literal interpretation of the Koran seemed far less flexible in its approach and outlook than even the most radical adaptation of Shi'a beliefs. Wahabbis strongly believe the world is divided in two camps: Salafis [Wahabbis] as God's people, and everyone else, including Christians, Jews, Shiites and others are infidels and heathens who deserve nothing less than God's revenge and a harsh death.

Saudi government was so scared of these facts being exposed, they hired public relation firms and experts trying to hide the reality. What they could not hide though was tons of actual documents, tapes and books detailing the teachings of prominent Wahabbis, including its 18th century founder Muhammad ibn Abd al - Wahhab. They also couldn't silence their own people who continued to offer a glimpse into this shadowy world of blind belief and extreme faith, that has been largely unknown to most outsiders.

As the latest example, here's the most recent gem from the current leading Wahabbi cleric Sheikh Saleh Al-Fawzan; His holiness has "expressed his unequivocal support for the legalization of slavery". You read right. Sheikh is captured on tape lecturing about how “Slavery is a part of Islam... Slavery is part of jihad, and jihad will remain as long there is Islam.”

I'm sure Sheikh would point out to verses in Koran that refers to slavery to advocate the divine nature of owning other human beings and he will soon also point to other verses to promote torture, oppression of women and having sex with a child under 10 years old. Oh wait a minute, he already has done that and the country built upon those teachings holds one of the most severe records of violating every basic principal of human rights known to mankind.

Suddenly, even those Shi'a extremists don't look that bad!

Posted by Pedram at December 4, 2003 10:45 PM