Recently, a Bishop from Oxford, England spoke in support of a proposal of the Muslim community in an area of the town to call the adhaan over a loudspeaker. Bishop John Pritchard finds himself in the situation where his life has now been threatened – not by Muslims who are often perceived and portrayed as intolerant, fundamentalist and extremist. Those that have threatened his life are from his very own community – Christians, and the type of threats that have made include threats of beheading.
The process of proposing the adhaan to be called over the loudspeaker, at relatively low volume in an area where over 7000 Muslims reside, was not made arbitrarily. The Muslims have made a suggestion or proposal which is being followed up by an extensive process of public consultation, where the community at large will be asked for their view via a questionnaire to be circulated to every home. Muslim leaders of the area point out that an application has not even been submitted as yet, since the procedure to obtain feedback from the community is still in process.
The threats on the life of the bishop is being made by Christians whereas the bishop has not even made derogatory remarks about Christianity or the Prophet Isa (Jesus) ‘alayhis salam, nor has he come close to engaging in anything close to blasphemy or a sacrilegious act.
One wonders where the screaming headlines that accompanied the response of the Muslim community to the cartoon issue or the blasphemy of Salman Rushdie was.
Only Muslims can be intolerant and fundamentalist, isn’t it?
Taken from http://www.jamiat.co.za/newsletter/online_newsletter_0310.htm
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