Munira Syeda of CAIR Anaheim wrote in a letter to the Daily Bulletin:
Religious freedom key to peaceful world
I am responding to the article on "Germans protest over Cruise's Scientology," July 2.
In a world where religion so frequently makes news headlines, it is important to remember that democratic nations have an obligation to let all people practice their religions without any intimidation, harassment or discrimination. Freedom to practice one's faith and respect for religious freedom are key to ensuring a more peaceful and tolerant world.
MUNIRA SYEDA, Council on American-Islamic Relations, Southern California Anaheim
Here is what I sent to the paper:
Munira Syeda makes three serious misrepresentations in this brief note.First, it is not "religion" frequently in the news, it is one religion in particular -- Islam -- making headlines with its "divinely"-inspired carnage around the globe.Second, it is not the responsibility of any nation to allow itself to be overcome by any totalitarian ideology bent on its destruction.Third, she asks for freedom to practice religion in peace, but would not show that tolerance to others, for her religion Islam requires:"...fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them . . . " (Qur’an 9:5)."Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war . . . When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action . . . Invite them to (accept) Islam . . . If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya . . . If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them . . . " (Muslim Book 019, Number 4294)."Fight those who believe not in Allah . . . nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Qur'an 9:29)."Allah's Apostle said: 'I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle . . . '" (Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2, Number 24).It is shameful enough that you do not expose the traditional, historical, and scriptural foundations of Islamic terror against non-Muslims, but to provide a propagandist for an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorism case (CAIR) the legitimacy of space on your site is absolutely and suicidally irresponsible.