South Asia News
Pakistani president says extremism a threat to society
Apr 1, 2007, 14:43 GMT
Islamabad - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Sunday said that misinterpretation of Islam by a few retrogressive people was leading society towards a decline and promoting extremism in the country.
'If we want to take Pakistan and its future generations forward then this is not the way. This is the path to downfall,' Musharraf said while addressing a conference held in Islamabad to mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed.
Stressing an open-minded and progressive approach, he observed that it was time to leave behind obstinate views and follow the principle of coexistence.
Musharraf said Islam was a religion of peace but was not being practiced by Moslems in its true terms.
Expressing concern over rising incidents of bombings and suicide attacks in Pakistan, he called for preventing the teaching of intolerance, be it in homes, mosques or madrassa religious schools.
He asked the audience, which included religious scholars, to help control extremist tendencies in society and particularly mentioned this week's standoff between the authorities and girl students of a madrassa in Islamabad.
The students seized three women after accusing them of operating a brothel. They were released Thursday after the alleged manager repented publicly.
However, the woman later said it was a forced confession and that the students beat her during her two-day detention at the madrassa.
The girl students have also occupied a public library near their religious school in protest against the demolition of illegal mosques in the Pakistani capital and have threatening to wage jihad, or holy war, if such action is taken by the local administration in future.
Musharraf said these were people who wanted to forcefully impose their views on the entire society. He emphasized the need for promoting tolerance, brotherhood and a sense of responsibility in order to bring prosperity to the country.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
page: 1
Last night???
Islamic politicians run to the extreme when their power base is threatened. it is only natural to just go ahead and make a power base out of these folks. Musharref's comments are interesting, in that he did not play to these people.
We do the same in the west, with gay marriage and abortion, or just about any other morals issue. Liberals, like Gore, are doing this with the environment, and abortion too.
Politicians are the same, all over the world.
Extremism is a threat to humanity, be it crusader's extremism or their agent's in the name Islam [Of course it is crusader's taught crooked Islam]
I have yet to meet an honest politician. Beleive it or not, no politician has ever done right by their people when it comes to social goods. It is easy to blame Islam or Muslim, because Islam is a way of life of us, it is with us in every aspect of our lives. But it is harder to blame people, Muslims have emotiions and feelings just like the rest of the world, may be people will understand that when a video of a poor palestinians house is shown in the media, while the family is sleeping and a Israeli bulldozer comes and demolishes the house. Maybe people will understand the emotions of a person who is sees his entire family killed at a checkpoint. I have seen this. I care because I am Muslim and because I an a human, this is wrong no matter who it is done to Muslim, Jewish or Atheist etc. Before spewing more hatred towards your fellow man think of your our governments and leaders as well, o you know that United States has NOT ratified the universeral decralation or human right....RIGHT
Obedience of Lord The God Almighty and taking care of His CRATIONS. {Not just Muslims nor just human beings etc., it encompases every creation of God Almighty}
Nice idea, dont seem to be happening however.
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ED ANOMIEApr 1st, 2007 - 17:03:41
I have yet to meet an honest Muslim. Especially when they say they seek peace. When you hear that you better get a gun! Do you know why they don't eat PIGS? Because that would be canniblism. SO instead they just blow up innocent people and blame thier bankrupt religion, politics and society on others that do not share these failings. It is certainly a way to divert the population from their real problems of their religious leaders robbing them blind. What a Pathetic People! YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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