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Muslim voices

Peter van Dyk | 18:01 UK time, Friday, 11 August 2006

Today we heard Muslims discussing whether Islam is inherrently violent and if western foreign policy is to blame for the radicalisation of Muslims around the world. Do they feel their community is under attack, and if so do they feel it is justified?

You can listen again until Friday August 18 via the link on the main page, or post your comment anytime.

You can read emails and text messages here, and of course post your own comments as well.

Cosie
I have been listening on the Internet to "world have your say". I found it very disturbing. I wish I knew the answers to how to reduce religious division. I do feel that all Americans are taking the hit on the attack on terrorism just as Muslims feel they are taking the rap for 911 and the current air threat. By whom do they think they are being attacked? Less than 50% of Americans voted for Bush and we don't agree with his policies. Just as most Muslims don't follow the route of attacking non-Muslims, most Americans don't believe in attacking Muslims.
I am not blaming the media, but the silent majority often remains too silent. I was very glad to hear some of the participants on your program who took a very moderate and reasonable approach to the problem. No religion has not been guilty of extremism and ultra-right positions. Israel would not be having the problems it is having if it had not been for the extreme Zionists. The same applies to Christians in many historical circumstances and Muslims, as well, historically speaking. It is still going on in India and in many places in Africa.
It seems to be an integral part of the human condition to have a certain percentage of people who cause all kinds of trouble for others, either through "religious" zeal, or, as is often the case, greed.
I wish I knew the answer to teaching all humans that killing others is not the ideal way of living. Has there been any time in history when this has not been true?
My contribution is not really a helpful addition to your discussion because I do not know how we can turn this situation around.


Michael, Kampala, Uganda
Democracy is doing what the west wants you to whether good or bad.

Mutai Joseph, Kenya
Muslims are not doing enough to stop extremism in the Arab World. Instead they acusing the Western world.

Telli, Sierra Leone
A single rotten fish in a bowl full of fish doesn't mean all are rotten. Pointing fingers right now is needless.

Emo, Nigeria
Terrorism hides under Islam. Terrorists are very intolerant.

Kerry, Atlanta, GA
In today's debate someone brought up the fact that Muslims living in the west feel that they have to compromise their values in order to integrate and that they don't want to do this. I don't think that anyone should have to compromise their values, regardless of race, religion or culture. If Muslims in the west feel that strongly about it, they should not live in the west. Don't take advantage of the prosperity of the west and condemn it at the same time. It's outrageously hypocritical to do so.
I would never expect to move to another part of the world and live the same lifestyle as I do in the US. I also wouldn't condemn the culture in a place where I chose to live.

Nonso in Nigeria
It is sickening 2 hear Muslims talk about the reasons 4 evil acts. Any wonder why Islam is viewed so darkly all around the world?

Chudi, Nigeria
Those who deny that violence is not part of Islam are hypocrites. What reward does the Koran promise those who kill Allah's enemies?

Shawa, Lusaka
The moslems are being forced admit freedom mixed with evil and immorality by westerners.

Khaled, Kuwait
Islam has been attacked since its birth. Nevertheless, it continues to blossom everyday and century. So please skeptics, go ahead and have your say. Islam is and will sustain and prevail.

Stefan
I have just heard about tolerance and understanding being a part of Islamic belief. I also hear about demonstrating and peaceful means of showing dissent. What do your speakers hear of the holocaust deniers starting with that great leader of Iran President Ahmidinejad and the fanatical hatred shown in the recent event of the cartoons in western newspapers?

Andrew, California
The problem is one of assimilation. As long as Muslims purposely try to make themselves separate and stay away from their fellow citizens, the more their fellow citizens will not be willing to accept them.

David, Czech Republic
Your discussion is ignoring the leading role of lying ruling elites for whom the major concern is oil, money and power, not terrorism, religion security, and who have no respect for international law.

Nurain
Wrong notions/perceptions of a MUSLIMS in totalty by the others preclude any good act(s) by the MUSLIMS throughout in whole World. It is better to change.

Ayodi in Kenya
Every body is under attack the problem is who is attacking who and why?

Paul, Minneapolis, USA
How much of the division in Islam focuses on the definition of the lesser Jihad? It seems some definite it as promoting tolerance and others define it as promoting intolerance.

TW
While there are some huge inconsistencies with US policy there are MANY non-Muslims in the US who recognize this and want to work to correct it.
However, there is a major difference. Extremists TARGET the innocent and there is no question that the US, Britain and others exercise EXTREME control when it comes to the killing of innocent people. In my opinion, blowing up 10 jetliners filled with women and children is comparable only to the US or Britain dropping a nuclear bomb in any number of countries in the Middle East.

Kedrick, from Forestville, Maryland
Sadly to say, we will never find a resolution to the problems, because everyone is finger pointing. Change will not come until we all learn to respect the differences in all of us.

Rick, Detroit
Today's show was a fiasco.
If everyone thinks they are the ONLY right way, you will never resolve any problem. What we need to do is promote tolerance and acceptance of diversity. Bully's use force to get their way not reason. Why do we allow bullies to run this planet?

Ben
There has been much commentary from the Muslim community about how westerners do not understand Islam. They claim that ignorance of the text is a source of problems. But it is clear that Islamist terrorists invoke their religion as an impetus for their attacks. What more do we need to know?

George in Greece
Why is Islamic defensive reaction labeled as extremism while US and Israeli offensive action is democratic and legitimate.

Anonymous from Sri Lanka
This war is not against Islam but terrorism. If islam is terrorising then they are terrorists

Mike, London
What a bore Muslims are always going on about injustice! Who killed 600 Muslims in 9/11? What about bombs in Morocco, Sharm el Sheik, Saudi Arabia etc. most of the people dying in Iraq are Muslims being killed by other Muslims. most Muslim factions/branches hate each intensely so it's hypocracy to always go on about injustice.

Ali
Let's stop saying western countries, should be saying christian countris against Islam.

Larry, Ukraine
Blaming all Muslims for what some Muslims do is like blaming all Americans for what some Americans do. It's wrong and not helpful. We need to ask why this happens and spend less time posturing and pointing fingers.

Paul
Muslims are asking for the respect of the rest of the world. But what have they done to earn respect?

Erik, USA
One of the questions I have for the muslims on the show is what will it take to mobilize muslims against the violence within their community. All the time Westernized muslims talk of a religion of peace while at the same time taking no steps to root out the violent in their midst. For evil to wiin all that it needs is the silence of the good. Where are the muslim vioces against muslim violence? Where are the muslim actions against muslim violence?

Mel
I am a white registered Mental Health Nurse I am a follower of Gandhi and I am an active anti-capitalist campaigner. I believe Muslims Christians, Hindus Jews etc need to recognise that any killing of others in the name of God does not win wars. The injustices against muslims as the people of the Middle East and many of Africa Asia and South America needs a war but one of peace and radical civil disobedience. It is only this one that will allow the true society we all wish for to exist. Let us all stand together in solidarity and empathy for poverty eradication and environmental sustainability [true World security] through satyagraha [ non violent direct action and community].

Steve, USA
Where is the muslim outrage at the acts of the extremists? I have heard of no outrage from the thrwarted attacks, nor from the multiple killings in iraq every day, but then I hear outrage at cartoons of mohammaed or from Bush saying the word "Islamofacism". This selective outrage makes me think hard.

Anonymous text from Hungary
The Arabs have to fight within for moderation; becouse every time the good deeds undermined by radical-elements.Your enemy is 'WITHIN'-the finger which point you to the wrong direction!!! You need The MAN with intellectual integrety, 'like' KING of JORDAN!!!

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