Archive for February 4th, 2008
Two things happened
(The attack in Dimona, Israel was the first since January 2007, al-Jazeera.)
I tried to write a simple entry on two news events, but because of loaded terminology, I found it difficult.
1) An Israeli airstrike killed one Palestinian and injured three others in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza.
2) A Palestinian detonated a bomb in Dimona, Israel, killing himself and one Israeli. The other Palestinian involved in the operation was shot four times in the head by an Israeli police officer.
Al-Jazeera calls what is typically labeled a “suicide attack” in the Western press, an “amiliyya feda’iyya” or Palestinian resistance operation. The feda’yeen are Palestinian resistance fighters and this term is used only in the context of a Palestinian attack on Israel. The Palestinian attacker is called a “shaheed” or martyr. The Israelis are “maqtal” or killed. In contrast, al-Jazeera uses the term “amiliyya intihariyya” or, suicide operation, in describing suicide attacks in Iraq.
Al-Quds al-Arabi uses the same terminology as al-Jazeera. The Lebanese daily al-Nahar and al-Sharq al-Awsat both use the term “suicide operation.” Hezbullah-run al-Manar uses the term “martyrdom operation.”
Sunni-Shi’a Conference in Baghdad Calls for End to Violence
Al-Hayat reports on a gathering of Shi’i and Sunni religious figures in Baghdad organized by the Union of Muslim ‘Ulama. A wide range of representatives came, including Sadrists. Those who attended stressed the unity of Iraq and called for an end to the violence between religious sects. Several ‘ulama who were interviewed said that they wished to end terrorism and stop all takfiri fatwas, meaning fatwas that label another sect a “kafir” or infidel.
Shaykh Samada’i said, “Today, there is no difference between Omar or Ali or between this sect or that sect…”
Shaykh Mahmoud al-Aysaawi, Imam at the Abd al-Qadir mosque, said that he held, “American forces and regional countries responsible for the sectarian strife (fitna) that Iraq has witnessed.” Many echoed similar sentiments.
(Image from the Baghdad Conference of Shi’is and Sunnis praying side by side, from al-Jazeera)
The conference resulted in more than 13 orders (tawsiyya), including:
- Islam is a religion of life, and its roots and principles are one between the Sunni and Shi’i schools of thought.
- Freedom and justice are the primary rights of all peoples.
