highthief

This really gets me. I'm against the Iraq war, but every time a Western soldier so much as looks at a mosque, we get screams of protest from the Muslim community. As noted, when shit happened in India, thousands died in riots.

Why isn't the Muslim community knocking the Saudis down? This writer is very brave, IMO.

Originally printed in the Toronto Star:

Saudi royals destroying home of Muhammad


TAREK FATAH

Something is rotten in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. But let me come back to that later.

In December 1992 a mob of 150,000 Hindu nationalists attacked a 15th-century mosque in the Indian city of Ayodhya. Within hours, the mosque was reduced to rubble and in the weeks to follow, thousands of Indians died in Hindu-Muslim riots.

The Muslim world reacted in outrage. Among the countries that expressed anger at the destruction of the centuries-old Indian mosque by Hindu extremists was Saudi Arabia. Here in Canada, imams gave fiery sermons and urged congregations to protest.

Although more than a dozen years have passed since the destruction of the mosque, there is still bitterness in the air. Muslims worldwide feel a sense of betrayal and impotence at not being able to control their own destiny and protect their historical religious sites.

However, a Muslim site far more significant than the Babri mosque is facing destruction, but there is barely a murmur in protest. The site is none other than the home of Prophet Muhammad in the city of Mecca.

The demolition of Muhammad's 1,400-year-old home is not going to take place at the hands of non-Muslims or some occupying western army, but by the very people who have taken the title as protectors of Islam's two holiest mosques in Medina and Mecca: the Saudi royal family.

What makes this demolition worse is the fact that the home of the Prophet is to make way for a parking lot, two 50-storey hotel towers and seven 35-storey apartment blocks; a project known as the Jabal Omar Scheme, all within a stone's throw of the Grand Mosque.

Yet despite this outrage, not a single Muslim country, no ayatollah, no mufti, no king, not even a Muslim Canadian imam has dared utter a word in protest.

Such is the power of Saudi influence on the Muslim narrative.

The question is this: Why is it that when the Babri mosque was demolished, hundreds of thousands of Muslims worldwide took to the streets to protest, but when Saudi authorities plan to demolish the home of our beloved Prophet, not a whisper is heard?

Is it because Muslims have become so overwhelmed by the power of the Saudi riyal currency that we have lost all courage and self-respect? Or is it because we feel a need to cover up Muslim-on-Muslim violence; Muslim-on-Muslim terror; Muslim-on-Muslim oppression?

However, in this climate conducive to cowardice, there still are a few giants that stand tall. Dr. Sami Angawi is one of them.

An eminent Saudi architect, he is a brave man in a country where courage is scarce. Today, he leads a one-man campaign to save the home of Muhammad.

He told the London newspaper, The Independent, "The house where the Prophet received the word of God is gone and nobody cares ... this is the end of history in Mecca and Medina and the end of their future."

The cultural massacre of Islamic heritage sites is not a new phenomenon. It is said that in the last two decades, 95 per cent of Mecca's 1,000-year-old buildings have been demolished. In the early 1920s, the Saudis bulldozed and levelled a graveyard in Medina that housed the graves of the family and companions of Muhammad.

Today, the religious zealots in Saudi Arabia are not alone. Commercial developers have joined hands with them and are making hundreds of millions in profits as they build ugly, but lucrative highrises that are shadowing the Grand Mosque know as the Kaaba.

The Muslim Canadian Congress has strongly condemned this outrage and called it a cultural massacre of Muslim heritage for the sake of profit. In a letter to the Saudi ambassador in Ottawa, Niaz Salimi, president of the MCC, has demanded an immediate stop to these demolitions and the placing of a moratorium on all future destruction of Muslim heritage sites.

She writes, "The sacred places of Islam, regardless of where they are located, belong to the Muslim community worldwide. The countries where they are located are simply trustees and have no right to destroy them."

Today Saudi petrodollars have the ability to silence even its most vocal critics, but when all is said and done, history will render a harsh judgment on those who try to wipe out its footprints and steal the heritage of all humanity.

In the words of Lady Macbeth,

Here's the smell of blood still:

All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.

Oh! oh! oh!

Tarek Fatah is a founding member of the Muslim Canadian Congress and host of the weekly TV show, The Muslim Chronicle.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

pan6467

Very interesting. It just goes to show that the people in power only use religion for their own self gains and purposes but when it comes down to it...... money and power are all they care about.

Whether it is the Saudi royals, Falwell, Roberstson, our great "Christian" president, the Isreali government, the Iranian Ayatollah, the Pope.... whomever.... it is sad they use what is sacred to their people to push their own agendas.

If not for those in power perhaps ALL RELIGIONS would actually get along and respect each other.

However, which ever God or higher power truly exists.... I am sure these people get punished....... Karma's a fucking bitch when people abuse what power they have been given in life.

__________________
I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

ObieX

Heh.. this sounds like the type of thing that ends in the replacement of royalty. Do muslims just not know that this is happening? or do they truly not care? I can't believe they're afraid cuz they sure don't look very scared killing Americans every day over there.. and the Saudis don't have anywhere near the firepower.

__________________
We Must Dissent.

pan6467

Ah, but from the time they (the average Saudi) are born, I have heard, the muslim priests and Saudi royalty instill fear in the masses.

The US and Isreal have instilled fear maybe but in a far different way and thus it is ok to rebel, hate and kill us...... in their minds.

It's all about control of your people and how you can blame outer entities for your problems..... it is far easier for the Saudi royals, the Ayatollah, Kim (in N. Korea), Khaddaffi, Hussein, etc. to blame the US and teach their citizens to hate us than it is for the citizens to realize the truth and rebel against those that are the true problem.

__________________
I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

stevo

But don't you know, this whole thing is the West's and US's fault. Its our fault for propping up the un-islamic saudi regime. Its our fault for backing a corrupt government so we can have such cheap fuel. Haven't you seen the gas prices, they're so much cheaper here as compared to europe, and that has nothing to do with taxes, it has to do with the US propping up un-holy dictators so we get discounts on oil. That is why the saudi royal family gets a pass on this, because its not their fault, its the US's fault for supporting them.

__________________
"If I am such a genius why am I drunk, lost in the desert, with a bullet in my ass?" -Otto Mannkusser

politicophile

This almost makes it seem like Muslim extremists aren't actually concerned with the tenets of their faith....

Seriously, any Muslim worth his salt should be furious at this encroachment on the kaaba. This is a threat to one of the five pillars and should be taken very seriously. Instead, we see general apathy. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that something is rotten in the core of the Islamic faith. But I think we already knew that.

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The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

highthief

Well, I'm not sure something is "rotten at the core" of the faith - Islam is divided into several main sects and a bunch of smaller ones beside. It would be like saying there is something rotten at the core of Christianity because Jerry Falwell and his followers are a bunch of nutjobs.

But the lack of outrage does concern me. The lack of intensive media coverage by the Arab media is remarkable. I don't subscribe to Al-Jazeera or anything, but you'd think we'd here more about this than an editorial on page B3 of the Toronto Star.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

Lwang9276

dang this was a good read, does make you think about stuff, like do the muslims even care or do they blame us for everything?

politicophile

The apathy of the Muslim community at large is what I was refering to when I said that "Islam is rotten at the core". And while there are many sects of Islam, Al-Qaeda are members of the Sunni branch, which also happens, by far, to be the largest branch. If mainstream (non-homicidal/suicidal) Sunnis really were repulsed by what Osama and Company have done in the name of their faith, I really think there would have been a lot more public outcry. I find the lack of such outcry to be repulsive in the extreme.

__________________
The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

maximusveritas

Here is another article that might help clear up some of the confusion you guys have:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/050708/137/5z9hq.html

By the way, this specific incident was extensively reported by the media, including Al Jazeera, about a month ago.

highthief

I put Jabal Omar into the Google News search engine and got 3 hits back.

Meanwhile I put Babri (the Indian situation which admittedly resulted in many deaths) in and got back 318 hits.

It does not appear there has been that much coverage of this.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

Seaver

I was wondering how long it'd take till someone spews the "it's America's fault!" crap.

Look at the history of what went on. The Saud's were one of the leading families in the rebellion against the Turks during WWI. They were repaid for their vast support with a kingdom which was formed (gasp) by England and France. I dont know how you say it's Americas fault.

Oh wait, it's because we support them now. Because they are against terror and have aided us greatly since 9/11.

pan6467

I think.... just possibly Stevo was being sarcastic when he said what he said, I maybe wrong, in which case I will be surprised.

The Saudi family is supporting us for 2 reasons, protection of their power and greed. But they have also allowed the anti US/ Isreal hatred to grow and blossom and did nothing for many, many, many years to prevent groups like Al Quida from growing. In fact I would argue they probably aided and fueled hatred against us to keep their people from seeing the truth of how the family has raped their economy and kept them in the dark ages.

The Saudis are not our allies and to believe they are not in it for their own self preservation and would turn on us in a heartbeat if they started to lose control of their peoples, is blind and dangerous and I hope our military intelligences are smarter than that.

In regards to the destruction of the holy areas...... I have a feeling if the people rebelled the Sauds would immediately blame us and Isreal for their greed and say we were behind the destruction/constructions.

__________________
I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

stevo

That's not too far-fetched.

__________________
"If I am such a genius why am I drunk, lost in the desert, with a bullet in my ass?" -Otto Mannkusser

zen_tom

Now hold on a minute, I've read some reports that suggest that the <i>reason</i> these things are being pulled down is to avoid idolatry. The Taliban blew up the Afghan Buddhas for the same reason.

Personally, I think that kind of wanton destruction of human culture and history is inexcusable - but for those who believe, it would be a valid reason for their actions. (It may not be the <i>actual</i> reason for their actions, they may well be doing it for the money, but it is still a valid reason)

highthief

Yet the same people get up in arms if something related to Islam gets damaged (inadvertently) by the US or Brits, or, even worse, by the Israelis or the Hindus in India.

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

zen_tom

Yes, but my point is that they will accept destruction in <i>the name of</i> Islam, but get upset by destruction that is not in the name of Islam.

That's just being nationalistic.

zen_tom

It's also important not to make the mistake that the article writer made - by comparing the hostile destruction of a Mosque in a predominantly Hindu area, and the planned demolition of a historic site.

In the former, there was sectarian violence meted out by a Hindu majority on a Muslim minority, with the Mosque being the focus. Of course there was a public outcry. It would be similar to an enclave of Americans being attacked and their buildings torn down by an angry mob of non-Americans.

In the second example, a historical (not a religious or social centre) building is planned for demolition, on the grounds that it is impious to develop an over importance to things that are not directly religious (Mecca, the Koran etc) Yes it's extreme, yes it's dogmatic, yes it's religion at its worst extremes of silliness. But it's not rotten, or immoral or wrong.

Christians believe we should not worship craven images, or things that are not God, the people pulling down these buildings believe that people may become too attached to them, or relics from them, and that it is better to save people from the potential idolatry that these buildings allow for.

You don't have to agree with it - but it's certainly not the example of double standards that the writer of the article would like to point out,.

highthief

You think if the ancient home of Mohammed was in Isreal being paved over for a parking lot we wouldn't have fatwahs, jihads and everything else being declared against the corporate developers?

__________________
Si vis pacem parabellum.

zen_tom

It would depend on whether it was being demolished by Infidels, or Muslims. Saudi Arabia is a Muslim country, almost 100% of the population are Muslim, and the people pulling down these buildings are Muslims, and they state that they are doing it for Muslim reasons.

So, yes, if the Israelis, or the Americans bulldozed the ancient home of Mohammed, of course there would be an uproar, quite understandably. But we are talking about Muslims pulling down his their own buildings, in their own country, seemingly at the command of their own religious leaders.

ObieX

I find it hard to believe that they're doing it to avoid idolatry. Many many many many many mosques are decorated with gold and beautiful marble and all that kinda stuff.. how come they don't get the same kind of treatment? Its the same thing, yet it seems to be overlooked. Christianity has the same rules concerning idols and statues and such but i still see statues of saints and churches and tools of worship covered in or completely made of gold.

I figure if they're gonna do it to something like the house of the main prophet they follow the teachings of they would do a clean sweep and just dump all of that kind of thing in one swoop.

I know if they tried this on the house of Jesus (not that thereis one) it wouldn't go over so well. But i guess im trying to compair red apples to green apples.

__________________
We Must Dissent.

zen_tom

I think the apples are still apples, some have just been left in the sun too long.

This directly from the link maximusveritas posted:
Strictly speaking, the Christian church, from the outside can look rather polytheistic, and idolatrous. Take the Trinity for a start, then think about Mary and the apostles, all the Saints, Angels and Demons that exist in the history and folk-lore. Think about the statues of Mary, or St. Paul that people kneel in front of and pray to. Think about the fact that a <i>Grilled Cheese Sandwich</i> sold on eBay for over $25,000 because it appeared to have an image of Mary on the front. To an outsider, all this idolatry, and prayer, and vested significance in a host of different Gods, Icons, Saints and Anti-Saints might appear highly contradictory for a religion that professes to be monotheistic.

But we accept all of those things, as crazy as they might appear to outsiders, because it's a part of our culture.

I think it's reasonable to assume that other religions might see things differently to ourselves - especially when you consider how strange our customs must seem when seen from the outside.

Seaver

Thats the Catholic church (I'm catholic, I know). However if you look at where those came from... many came from polytheistic cultured converted, many came from Islam.

The good/bad angel on your shoulder? Islamic. Many of the specific angels we now accept, rooted in Islam. They were brought over during the Crusades. So your point is mute considering "our" culture is a hybrid of everyone's elses. This isnt a custum, it's a planned destruction of a declared holy site for a freaking parking lot.

zen_tom

I didn't say it made any sense, just that within the cultural logic of Islam, it might. People may well be taking advantage of people's beliefs, and making money in the process. I don't know, but my answer to those who are asking, "Why don't the Muslims declare fatwah on the Saudis?" - is that the Saudis are playing this idolatry card. If the property developer, who makes millions out of the deal, is sactioned by a holy man, how can you argue with the will of god?

Secondly, if the motives behind these destructions really are financial, why haven't they figured out the benefits of building hotels around these holy sites that people might want to flock to? Surely it would be more profitable than flattening them and turning them into a parking garage.