BURNING THE QURAN - A Position Statement

I would love to ignore that hateful ignoramus the "Reverend" Terry Jones of Gainesville, FL, USA, but I need to issue a statement because to say nothing might be construed as either support or indifference to this. I do not know what Terry Jones may or may not do.  I do know that what he proposes to do is wrong, wrong, WRONG!!  As a Sikh, I respect all religions and am bound to treat others' holy books as do their adherents.  I treat the Holy Bible, the Holy Quran and all other sacred scriptures as sacred scriptures with respect and love.  I may not - I do not - follow their teachings, but I do accept that they are inspired writings, revered by their followers and worthy of respect.

It has been pointed out to me that part of the reason for Sikhi coming into existence was the persecution of the religious groups of India, primarily the Hindus, by the Muslims.  Excuuuuuuse me!  The persecutors, sure enough, were Muslims, but not the only Muslims.  The Mughal rulers were a small group of tyrants and, it must not be forgotten that those who hunted down and killed Sikhs for a bounty were almost entirely Hindus.  It seemas forgotten that Guru Nanak Dev Ji's dear friend and traveling companion was a Muslim, the cornerstone of Harmandir Sahib Ji was laid by a Muslim, and we mustn't forget Sheik Fareed and Bhagat Kabir whose writings are included in Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaj, our eternal Guru were Muslims.

I remember seeing birs of Guru ji burnt in the Sikh Genocide of Delhi, 1984.  These pictures are very painful to look at.  Here, see what I mean.

 I cannot wish this on anyone.  Let all Sikhs everywhere condemn this idiot's plan to burn the Holy Quran.  Whether or not this happens, the very idea is so repulsive that it must be vociferously condemned.

Iran Woman Stoning Case Invites International Outcry

By MALILA Harris

IRAN NEWS - Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, the Iranian woman whose death sentence by stoning shook the international world and incited global outcry against the horrible executions.

It is reported that in the recent times only Iran executed this harrowing punishment, and not in any Islamic country where Islamic sharia law is practiced. The press reports say at least five people were executed by stoning in recent years allegedly for adultery and fornication.

"It's actually not very widely used across the Middle East and Islamic world... even in Iran," said Malcolm Smart of Amnesty International.

The right activists blamed that stoning mostly singles out women. They call it an abhorrent punishment and against the law of humanity.

The 43-year-old Sakineh Mohammadi-Ashtiani, who was a mother of two, found guilty by the Islamic court for extra martial sex. However, the case is still under review though the sentence has already put a fear quotient in the family.

Her son, Sajjad feared that she might be executed after the end of Ramadan.

Under the international pressure and outcry within home, the government is delaying the execution. However, two radical islamic rebellions - The Taliban in Afghanistan and the Shebab in Somalia are smoothly implementing the terrible punishment.

The extrajudicial "honour Killing" stoning is not only prevalent in Muslims but continues among non-Muslims in conservative societies such as Pakistan, Iraq and India.

In Iraq a minorty Kurdish Yazidi 17-year-old girl was stoned to death because she eloped with her Sunni Muslim boyfriend.

In India last May, an eloped Hindu couples from different castes were captured by relatives of woman's family and eventually stoned to death.

In traditional Islamic law stoning explicitly embedded as a legal punishment, implementing on crimes adultery or sexual misconduct. According to an Islamic website, in the teachings of Mohammed it is mentioned that the prophet himself stoned the married adulterer and adulteress to death. According to them, this is enough evidence to make the punishment proven and authentic, and certainly not debatable.
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India's Own Conservative Incest Story
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