http://www.jihadwatch.org/2007/04/afghans-beheading-is-un-islamic.htmlAfghans: Beheading is un-Islamic
It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that no one quoted in this Reuters story explains why beheading is un-Islamic, or tells us how he would respond to a Muslim who justified beheading on the basis of Qur'an 47:4: "Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks..." There is no hint of how these anti-beheading Muslims might respond to someone who invoked Muhammad's example, as well as that of numerous Muslim warriors throughout history, to justify beheading.
And that is always the problem. Peaceful Muslims flatly assert that this or that heinous practice -- a practice that other Muslims are justifying in the name of Islam and by means of Islamic texts -- is un-Islamic. Then, if someone like me dares to point out that a flat assertion is hardly likely to convince the jihadists that what they're doing is in fact un-Islamic, the cries of "bigotry" and "Islamophobia" fly thick and fast. I should be "supporting the moderates," you see, instead of "undercutting" them.
But the problem still remains: we're just supposed to take their word for it that these things are un-Islamic, but the mujahedin don't seem disposed to do so.
"Afghans enraged over Taliban video," from Reuters, with thanks to all who sent this in:
SPIN BOLDAK, Afghanistan — A Taliban video of a 12-year-old boy beheading a man accused of spying has angered many Afghans, drawing condemnation from tribal and religious leaders.
"It's very wrong for the Taliban to use a small boy to behead a man," religious teacher Mullah Attullah told Reuters on Thursday. "I appeal to the Taliban to please stop this because non-Muslims will think Islam is a cruel and terrorist religion.
"The Taliban do not follow the laws of Islam."
The video released this week shows the boy in a camouflage jacket and a white headband using a knife to behead a blindfolded man accused of being a spy for foreign forces as men cry "Allahu Akbar! (God is Great)."
The Taliban frequently behead suspected spies and often release video footage of the act.
A tribal leader in the south, the Taliban's heartland, said the beheading was un-Islamic.
"The Taliban are doing very bad things and it is against Islam to behead a man by a very young boy," Haji Saeed Jan told Reuters.
"Islam does not allow anyone to behead any man. The Taliban show the wrong image of Islam to the world. We condemn this."