Muslim leader calls for vigilance against fanatics

[JI7]

<One of Canada's leading Imams has said Muslims must be wary of Islamic fundamentalism, and fight radicalism in mosques head on.

Imam Syed Soharwardy, president of the Islamic Supreme Council of Canada and the founder of Muslims Against Terrorism, told CTV News that fanatics are a danger to everyone.

In a press conference in Calgary on Friday, Soharwardy warned Canadian Muslims to be vigilant against fanatical Imams.

"We are not doing enough to counter this terrorism within our community, to counter extremism, to counter fanaticism," he said.

Sohardy added that terrorism goes against the teachings of Islam, and Muslims should report anyone who acts suspicious.

"Based on their Islamic requirements, if they see a person who may be thinking or who may have extreme thinking about the West or Canada, then they must report this to law enforcement agencies," said Soharwardy.

"It is their obligation, otherwise they will not be practising Islam because Islam says you must be faithful to the country where you live."

But he stressed that terrorists, such as those responsible for 9/11, should not be called Muslim terrorists, nor should they be defined by their religion.

He singled out U.S. President George Bush's recent comment that America "is at war with Islamic Facists."

"The approach toward countering terrorism is absolutely producing more terrorists," said Soharwardy.

"It is helping people to become fanatics, it is helping people to take an extreme path. It's not working and that has to change." >

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060811/fanaticism_reaction_060811/20060811?hub=Canada

[ck4829]

1. The 'liberal' media will be all over this

:sarcasm:

[magellan]

2. I applaud Imam Soharwardy

This bears repeating!

But he stressed that terrorists, such as those responsible for 9/11, should not be called Muslim terrorists, nor should they be defined by their religion.

He singled out U.S. President George Bush's recent comment that America "is at war with Islamic Facists."

"The approach toward countering terrorism is absolutely producing more terrorists," said Soharwardy.

BushCo has espoused the politics of division and extremism all along, which can only mean that more terrorists is exactly what they want. And not surprisingly, it's working.

[toopers]

3. I disagree . . .

Call them what they are terrorists acting in the name of Islam.

[patdem]

5. What you say is no more genuine than to say Eric Rudolph was

a terrorist acting in the name of Christianity...or Tim McVeigh...same old same old. It is a DISTORTED VEIW

[patdem]

4. It will NOT be reported on..and everyone will cry...where are all the

Muslim Clerics ... need I say more? rinse and repeat