Subject: (Intel) (Pakistan) 'Truth about Muhammad' banned
'Truth about Muhammad' banned JihadWatch chief's work on Islam founder under government order Posted: January 9, 2007 WorldNetDaily.com http://www.worldnet <http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53677> daily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=53677 "The Truth about Muhammad," a popular book found in WND's online store, has been banned by the government of Pakistan, according to its author. Robert Spencer, author of several books and director of Jihad Watch organization, said in a column on Human Events the Kuwait News Agency and others had explained the reason was because of the "objectional material" it contains about Muhammad. "The book is very, very damaging - let me tell you," a report quoted Said Shahid Ahmed, counselor of community affairs at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington. Spencer agreed, and provided a sampling of what Islamists probably could find offensive: * The book details the choice Muhammad ordered his followers to offer non-Muslims: convert, being subjugated or war. * The book quotes Muhammad's earlier biographer, Ibn Ishaq, explaining the Quranic verses that teach the three stages of war: intolerance, defensive warfare, and then offensive warfare "in order to convert the unbelievers to Islam or make them pay." * The book also discusses the marriage of Muhammad to Aisha, who according to writings was six years old when Muhammad married her. * It also profiles the problem that many of those imitating Muhammad take very seriously and act upon requirements from the Quran. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reports that over half the girls in many Muslim nations are married by the time they are 18. "Since I based my book entirely on Islamic sources, the objection that Pakistani authorities have to it cannot reasonably be based on what I report about Muhammad, but only on the fact that I hold him to a moral standard different from those he delineated for himself," Spencer said. "After all, the reform of Islam that is so needed today - in order to mitigate the elements of it that are giving rise to violence and extremism - cannot possibly be made without acknowledgment of the fact that there are aspects of Islam that need reform," Spencer wrote. "But the banning of "The Truth About Muhammad" in Pakistan is another indication that such reform, despite the hopes placed upon it by so many in the West, is not on the horizon," he said. Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has maintained an attitude of helpfulness toward the West in the war on terror. He has long denied charges that his country is providing sanctuary for the Taliban and al-Qaida, charging that Osama bin Laden and other terrorists wanted by the U.S. are hiding in neighboring Afghanistan. But he became outraged last February when Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, presented him with a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of Taliban leaders, including Mullah Omar, the head of the movement, living in Quetta, a city of over a half million near the Afghanistan border. He's also stated that Pakistan would never allow U.S.-led coalition forces into tribal areas on the Pakistan side. He also cut a controversial peace deal with Pashtun militants in his country's northern tribal belt who are protecting Taliban and al-Qaida. U.S. officials fear the truce will give the terrorists free reign to plan attacks. Spencer also as written "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (and the Crusades)," which like "The Truth About Muhammad" is published by Regnery and available at WNDBookservice.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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