More voices from in and out of Korea are joining to denounce the Taliban for abducting the 23 Korean aid volunteers and killing two of them. Up until now, the Taliban have been arguing that their ultimate goal is to establish an Islamic government in Afghanistan based on Islamic law, or Sharia. Yet the Taliban have been ignoring and violating Islamic law in the case of the Korean hostages. Some experts shared their views with the Chosun Ilbo about instances in which the Taliban has violated Islamic law.
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Iranian illuminator Fereidoon Joghan decorates an artwork using illumination (Tazhib), one of the oldest Iranian art forms, at his house in Tehran, 26 July 2007.AFP
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¡ß Islamic law bans killing
On July 31, when hostage Shim Sung-min was killed by the Taliban following the death of the Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, a purported Taliban spokesman warned that Shim's death was just the first phase in a planned killing campaign. "At any time the Taliban could kill another Korean hostage," Qari Yousuf Ahmadi said.
Prof. Yusuf Abdul Fatah of Egypt Cairo University, who is currently teaching at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in Seoul as an exchange professor, said, "In Islamic law, the killing of children, women and old people is unpardonable. Islamic scripture in the Koran and Hadith says, 'Do not kill any one whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause,' 'Take not life, which Allah hath made sacred,' and 'Do not kill women or children or noncombatants and do not kill old people.' "
Despite this, the Taliban have killed two innocent Korean aid workers and are threatening to kill more hostages.
¡ß Islam is tolerant of other faiths
The Taliban have claimed that the hostages are Christians and that missionary work for another religion is a crime against Islam. By this argument the Taliban's first victim, Rev. Bae Hyung-kyu, would be considered a heathen cleric.
However, the Koran stresses tolerance for other religions, saying, "Let there be no compulsion in religion." Prof. Lee Hee-soo with Hanyang University said, "Islam is tolerant of other religions and freedom of religion. It also includes protection policies for minor religious sects. However, the Taliban is a disgrace to Islam and an extremely distorted group, which once destroyed the Buddhist statues in the Bamiyan Valley, a cultural treasure of the world."
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Muslims worship in the Seoul Central Masjid in Hannam-dong, Seoul on July 27. The Korea Muslim Federation express their sorrow for the death of pastor Bae Hyung-kyu, who was killed by Taliban in Afghanistan, and issued the second statement asking for the safe return of Korean hostages./Yonhap
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¡ß Jihad does not mean terrorism
Experts said that the Taliban's greatest distortion is their understanding of jihad, or holy war. The Taliban argue that the abductions are part of their jihad as a way to rescue Muslim brother prisoners. Yet the original meaning of jihad is to "struggle."
Prof. Lee Won-sam with Sunmoon University said, "Jihad is found 33 times in the Koran. The meaning of jihad is the individual's struggle or efforts to do good. It does not mean to take innocent lives. When the Koran refers to warfare, it uses the word 'harb' or 'qit'."
¡ß Retaliation for an evil is an evil itself
On July 30, purported Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmadi told the AP, "Islamic law teaches an-eye-for-an-eye law of retaliation. As long as the western military detains Afghan women, the Taliban will do the same."
Many people think Islam generously condones retaliation such as the concept of "an eye for an eye" or "honor killing", the murder of a woman by her own relatives for dishonoring her family. However, Islamic law does not allow such acts. Lee Haeng-rae, imam of Seoul Central Masjid, said, "The word Islam comes from 'salaam', which means peace. Islam puts great emphasis on peace, equality and Muslim brotherhood. The Koran teaches not to revenge but to do good instead."
There is a verse in Koran that says, "The guerdon of an ill-deed is an ill the like thereof." "Honor killing is a custom confined to several regions of the Middle East such as Jordan and Yemen. It has nothing to do with Islam," said Prof. Lee Won-sam.
¡ß Even Muslims don't support Taliban
Jang Hussein is a graduate of Seoul National University and in charge of publications at Seoul Central Masjid. "The Taliban is a group that uses Islam for its own political purposes," Jang said.
Many Muslims don't consider the Taliban a legitimate Islamic group. "Many people criticize the Taliban for killing hostages, conducting terror attacks and growing crops for illegal drugs under the political excuse of forcing the withdraw of foreign troops," said Prof. Yusuf Abdul Fatah with Egypt Cairo University.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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