Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:22 PM BST
LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - Archbishop Desmond Tutu called on the media on Wednesday to be more careful in their choice of words when reporting on religious conflict.
Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, said that broad understanding of trouble spots was often complicated by the language used to describe the activities of people or religions involved in them.
He was speaking at a Reuters Newsmaker event in London to mark the launch of the Tutu Foundation UK, an organisation intended to bring the experience of truth and reconciliation in South Africa to inner city communities in Britain.
Addressing journalists in the audience, Tutu called for tolerance and understanding of religions.
"I would hope that you in the media would be passionate about letting people judge for themselves, that you would be careful about some of the language that you do actually use," he said.
"'Muslim terrorism' - have you ever read anywhere 'Christian terrorism'? - as if Islam propagates violence, but you have never spoken about what happened in Northern Ireland as Christian terrorism," he said.
"Fundamentally there is no faith that I know that propagates violence, that says it's a good thing to oppress anybody."
Tutu said he recognised the media could be a force for good but that it had responsibilities.
"You have a very powerful media. I know because you helped us very much in our struggle to tell our story. You did it for us and we benefited enormously."
Tutu added, however, that understanding different religions required peoples of all faiths to understand different perspectives.
"We Christians ought to get off our high horse and learn to be a great deal more humble, when you look at our history, the bloody things that we did in the name of religion," he said.
Tutu, 75, is the former Anglican archbishop of Cape Town and won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work against apartheid.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
<snip>
"'Muslim terrorism' - have you ever read anywhere 'Christian terrorism'? - as if Islam propagates violence, but you have never spoken about what happened in Northern Ireland as Christian terrorism," he said.
<snip>
"We Christians ought to get off our high horse and learn to be a great deal more humble, when you look at our history, the bloody things that we did in the name of religion," he said.
<snip>
Exactly! "The bloody things we did in the name of religion". Thats the whole point, the IRA never committed these acts in the name of religion, they were a secular organization. They didn't do it for their religion, they did it out of nationalism.
Has anyone ever heard the Kurdish terrorism being referred to as 'Islamic terrorism'? No. Because they didn't do it in name of Islam. Similarly, the terrorist acts by the PLO were never characterized as Islamic terrorism. Read the Declaration of War by Bin Laden and tell me with a straight face that it is not based on Islam.
Denying that much of the terrorism committed by Muslims today is rooted in an interpretation of Islam is the same as denying the Crusades were really based on Christianity. The best you can do is claim it is not the 'real' or 'true' interpretation of Islam/Christianity.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
It was never a religious war to begin with, Bin-Laden initially wanted the Americans off the holy-land and how is that any different from nationalism??
Media has one-rule for muslims and another for rest of the world.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
format_quote Originally Posted by nocturne
It was never a religious war to begin with, Bin-Laden initially wanted the Americans off the holy-land and how is that any different from nationalism??
So what country is Bin Laden fighting for? For Saudi Arabia? Or is he fighting for the Ummah? Islam, with its concept of the Ummah, is nationalistic, so that might cause that confusion.
He is a self-professed fighter for Islam. That is enough for me to consider his struggle 'Islamic'. Just like the Crusaders were self-professed fighters of Christianity to liberate the holy-land from Muslims.
So if you disagree that his struggle is 'Islamic', how would you typify Bin Laden's struggle to liberate the holy land and expel the Zionist-American crusaders? Here is a link to his DoW fatwa: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/terroris...atwa_1996.html
Media has one-rule for muslims and another for rest of the world.
Again, then why didn't 'the media' refer to the PLO and PKK as 'Islamic'?
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
So let me get this straight KAding, if Islaam doesn't permit the killing of children, innocents, non combatants etc. within the context of war - then if someone does so in the name of Islaam, it's an Islamic act of terrorism? Even if Islaam calls against it?
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -
So let me get this straight KAding, if Islaam doesn't permit the killing of children, innocents, non combatants etc. within the context of war - then if someone does so in the name of Islaam, it's an Islamic act of terrorism? Even if Islaam calls against it?
Thats a matter of interpretation. Obviously there are enough Muslims who disagree with you and think some terrorist actions are allowed in conflicts like these. Who am I to say who follows the right interpretation. In all honesty I wouldn't know what else to call it if the perpetrators themselves claim they are doing it in name of Islam. If Christian extremists would be committing similar actions in name of Christianity I would call it Christian terrorism.
Again, how else would we need to name it? Maybe 'Islamic extremist terrorism' or something, I would agree with that. But we can't act as if Islam has nothing to do with it, it has for the perpetrators.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
Okay, so let's see what the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
[In the Context of War:]
“Do not kill any old person, any child, or any woman.” [Abu Dawud]
“Do not kill the monks in monasteries,” or “Do not kill the people who are sitting in places of worship.” [Musnad Ahmad]
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Go in Allah's name, trusting in Allah, and adhering to the religion of Allah's Apostle. Do not kill a decrepit old man, or a young infant, or a child, or a woman; do not be dishonest about booty, but collect your spoils, do right and act well, for Allah loves those who do well. (Sunan Abu Dawud , Book 14, Number 2608)
It is narrated by Ibn 'Umar that a woman was found killed in one of these battles; so the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) forbade the killing of women and children. [Sahih Muslim, Book 019, Number 4320]
In the final testament of God, in the Qur'an, God/Allaah the Most Merciful says:
Whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind...
[Qur'an 5: 32]
Now, if i am quoting direct evidences from Allaah and His Messenger, that then means this is a part of Islaam. And anything which contradicts that is against it's teachings.
Therefore, from there - do you think Islaam justifies terrorism? The harming of innocents etc? Do you think that those who oppose Islamic teachings are following Islaam, or rather - contradicting it's teachings? Therefore doing something unIslamic?
If they're doing something unIslamic, then should that really be titled 'Islamic terrorism' ?
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -
Therefore, from there - do you think Islaam justifies terrorism? The harming of innocents etc? Do you think that those who oppose Islamic teachings are following Islaam, or rather - contradicting it's teachings? Therefore doing something unIslamic?
If they're doing something unIslamic, then should that really be titled 'Islamic terrorism' ?
Qatada as far as i know in Quaran we can find verses which tell to fight with those who opress and occupy muslims. So i think that for some extremists and radicals all europeans are enemies because european countries have troops in Iraq and Afhganistan, so i guess that for extremists it is not against Quaran to attack europeans. You know well that scriptures can be read in many ways, if someones looks for peace and tolerance in scriptures he will find it. If Al Zawahiri looks for calling to Jihad against America and Europe, he will find some verses too.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
format_quote Originally Posted by Aaron85
Qatada as far as i know in Quaran we can find verses which tell to fight with those who opress and occupy muslims. So i think that for some extremists and radicals all europeans are enemies because european countries have troops in Iraq and Afhganistan, so i guess that for extremists it is not against Quaran to attack europeans. You know well that scriptures can be read in many ways, if someones looks for peace and tolerance in scriptures he will find it. If Al Zawahiri looks for calling to Jihad against America and Europe, he will find some verses too.
Yeah, that's true. And you're right, that can be said about any scripture.
But what i'm asking KAding is whether what they doing is something called 'Islamic terrorism' - even if them acts go against Islamic teachings. If they go against Islamic teachings, then i'm sure they can't be classed as something Islamic, can they? Therefore it can't be classed or titled as Islamic terrorism, rather it should be called something else.
What should it be called? I don't know. But for it to be labelled something Islamic even though it isn't - then they don't have a right to label it Islamic anyway. If a muslim man gives in charity - he isn't an Islamist, rather he's only an asian or arab according to the media, but when someone goes against Islamic teachings - then it's related to Islaam for some biased reason.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
I understand your point Qatada. But i dont have enough knowledge about islamic theology to debate about this.
Its is just hard subject and i am not specialist in muslim scriptures. But i can understand your anger about this.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
format_quote Originally Posted by Aaron85
I understand your point Qatada. But i dont have enough knowledge about islamic theology to debate about this.
Its is just hard subject and i am not specialist in muslim scriptures. But i can understand your anger about this.
Thankyou, and if you have any doubts about Islaam allowing the killing of innocents and the weak, or your confused about some verses which you may have read misinterpretations to - then i'll link you in advance;
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -
Thankyou, and if you have any doubts about Islaam allowing the killing of innocents and the weak, or your confused about some verses which you may have read misinterpretations to - then i'll link you in advance;
Dziękuję (it means "thank you" in polish language ). In free time i will check this out.
You must know that for me as a christian it is not necessery to prove that islam is violent or something. Just like i dont need to prove that Judaism or buddhism or hinduism is vioelent. I leave this for those who have too much free time . Faith cant be evil, only the followers sux sometimes
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
BTW i am a sinner ( who isn't ?) , so who am i to criticize or bash someone's else religion.
Who is without a sin, let him throw a first stone. Yeah. This is good quot.
This country is dying because of a lack of men, not a lack of programs.
Re: Tutu calls for better media reporting of religion
format_quote Originally Posted by - Qatada -
Okay, so let's see what the Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
[In the Context of War:]
“Do not kill any old person, any child, or any woman.” [Abu Dawud]
“Do not kill the monks in monasteries,” or “Do not kill the people who are sitting in places of worship.” [Musnad Ahmad]
Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Go in Allah's name, trusting in Allah, and adhering to the religion of Allah's Apostle. Do not kill a decrepit old man, or a young infant, or a child, or a woman; do not be dishonest about booty, but collect your spoils, do right and act well, for Allah loves those who do well. (Sunan Abu Dawud , Book 14, Number 2608)
It is narrated by Ibn 'Umar that a woman was found killed in one of these battles; so the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) forbade the killing of women and children. [Sahih Muslim, Book 019, Number 4320]
In the final testament of God, in the Qur'an, God/Allaah the Most Merciful says:
Whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind...
[Qur'an 5: 32]
Now, if i am quoting direct evidences from Allaah and His Messenger, that then means this is a part of Islaam. And anything which contradicts that is against it's teachings.
Therefore, from there - do you think Islaam justifies terrorism? The harming of innocents etc? Do you think that those who oppose Islamic teachings are following Islaam, or rather - contradicting it's teachings? Therefore doing something unIslamic?
If they're doing something unIslamic, then should that really be titled 'Islamic terrorism' ?
That's why those suicide bombers are UNISLAMIC.....
What can they get by killing people in the markets, schools, airports and even mosques.
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