Islam Highjacked!
Reader comment on item: Where's the Muslim Debate?

Submitted by John W. McGinley (United States), May 25, 2003 at 09:45

Mr. Haqqani's voice is most welcome. Unfortunately, in Muslim circles, a very rare one. Islam has been highjacked -- kidnapped -- by a faction within it which does not represent Islam. This faction claims spiritual and religious motivation, but in fact is simply a gathering of the nihilistically disaffected. They are, in the final analysis, driven by fear but mask what they cannot admit to themselves through virulent hatred which keeps their fear masked even from themselves.

The silence of the Islam majority about what is happening to its own great religion is deafening. It seems to be a massive case of the "Stockholm Syndrome" wherein the the hostages become sympathetic with their hostage takers. Truly a sad and humiliating outcome. The onus in all of this is on courageous and persevering Muslims who are determined to liberate Islam from its internal kidnappers. There should be by now thousands of voices such as Mr. Haqqani's. But they are not heard as of yet.

Perhaps Mr. Haqqani's voice will awaken true Muslims to the need for an all out "jihad" -- a struggle -- against those who have kidnapped Islam from within. The stakes are high. Nothing less than the continued existence of Islam as a great religion.

John W. McGinley

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