Islam can’t change from within – is it time for a new crusade?
Re: “After 1,400 years of intolerance, Islam needs to change”, Have Your Say, February 26.
“The influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world.” (Winston Churchill) “As long as a copy of this accursed book survives there can be no justice in the world.” (William Gladstone)
These references to Islam and the Koran were made by two British prime ministers more than a century ago. Were they to repeat them today, they would suffer the same fate as Netherlands politician Geert Wilders – excoriated for hate speech, hunted by extremists, and reliant on police protection 24/7. The words of the Koran remain unchanged, and yet we are encouraged by some politicians to believe that it is a “religion of peace”, notably by contemporary British prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May. Is their study of history so woefully lacking?
On Monday, I listed the estimated body counts of a selection of mass murderers. They are small beer when compared to the death toll from Islam. The Muslim butchery in India referred to by Martyred Mango killed 80-100 million Hindus, the death toll in Africa is estimated at 120-200 million, and let us reflect that in the 7th century, North Africa was almost entirely Christian. The book “Tears of Jihad” (2008) estimates the global death toll at 270 million.
Can Islam change? The Pakistani Christian girl, Asia Bibi, who was incarcerated for 10 years for drinking water out of the wrong (Muslim) cup and is now being hunted by assassins, would probably say no. The friendly Glasgow shopkeeper, Asad Shah, unfortunately can’t say anything – he was murdered for wishing his customers Happy Easter. Islam cannot change from within – Koranic penalties for apostasy see to that. Time for a new crusade, perhaps?
Nigel Pike
Phang Nga
