OCTOBER 29 ― The recent news that Ibrahim Ali would not be held accountable under the law for his public threats and act of inciting others to burn Bibles is both shocking and unacceptable not only to those in the Christian community, but also to many Muslims such as myself.

First stated by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri during a reply in Parliament earlier this month and reaffirmed by the Attorney General’s Chambers, this development can only be interpreted as the government tolerating and condoning extremism and acts of aggression.

Where is the promise that all Malaysians can find equal protection and justice under the law? Is the tag “protecting the sanctity of Islam” now to be used to cover all manner of sins?

This act by the AGC sends two worrying and alarming messages. Firstly, that intimidation, threats and acts of aggression against others of other faiths are acceptable as long as it is in defence of Islam. Secondly, that those of other faiths cannot hope for the same succour and protection under the law as that of Islam.

There is also a worrying false premise that has been seemingly accepted by the AGC. That Islam is actually under attack in Malaysia.

It is now clear that our authorities have become convinced of the alarmist, fictitious and dangerously ignorant arguments of the insecure right-wing minority such as Isma and Perkasa who preach totalitarianism and absolutism.

They have become frightened children, jumping at shadows and the slightest noise, fearful of the bogeyman underneath the bed, while ignoring, or worse not recognising the danger of religious fascism.

To paraphrase a quote from Prof. Datuk Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin of UKM, less than 1 per cent are championing these extremist agendas in Malaysia, but 99 per cent of us are affected. Yet, we continue to lack the effort and courage to deal with the 1 per cent. This position by the AGC makes this a fact.

We cannot and must not ever justify acts of extremism and fascism in the name of Islam. Threats to desecrate and destroy the holy books and property of those of another faith should always be regarded as beyond the pale and condemned by all, including Muslims. This is not only what is expected of us as Malaysians but is also what is called upon for Muslims to do.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW in his covenant with the monks of Saint Catherine's Monastery in 628 guaranteed the following to all Christians:

“This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

· Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

· No compulsion is to be on them.

· Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

· No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.

· Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

· No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.

· The Muslims are to fight for them.

· If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

· Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).”

In this overzealousness and irrational fear, have we instead gone against the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and Islam?

How would we respond if the Quran was treated in the same way as the Christian Bible has been? Where is our compassion and mercy as called upon by the teachings of the Prophet regarding governance and administration?

Do unto others as you would have them do to you. It is only by Allah’s grace and the patience and forgiveness of the Malaysian Christian community that we have endured as much without any untoward incident beyond what we have already experienced.

Ibrahim Ali, Isma and their ilk do not speak for us. Their arrogant, bigoted, ignorant and prejudiced views of other faiths are an embarrassment to us all and yet, their views are being treated as if it is mainstream. Why are we allowing this to happen?

Where are our many muftis, ulamas and religious leaders who demand that we look to them for guidance and teachings of Islam, yet remain silence in the face of such abuse and exploitation of the teachings of the Prophet?

Why are they frothing at the mouth at an event which encourages kind treatment of dogs yet remain silent when somebody claims it is necessary to threaten harm and destruction onto others to protect Islam? Does their silence mean that they agree? How can the threat and act of destroying the holy books of another faith ever be considered a method to defend the sanctity of Islam?

Malaysia cannot brag to the rest of the world that it is a model country for moderation and progressive Islam when it violates the very guarantees and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW regarding other faiths, oppresses and punishes moderates, rewards and protects extremists and radicals.

We cannot afford to be silent. We must stand up and speak out.

- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/opinion/...h.pf7Ihzfv.dpuf

OMG INKAMBING HEAD TO THE HILLS !!!!

dunno how many articles about this issue d

sienz

How long people gonna milk this issue. Bored already. Just ignoee the katak. When ignored katak will diam

Ha ha.. TS put "See more at:" when he literary just post the entire article here.

Katak oh katak, mcm mana u mau kira ini?