Am I being over-sensitive, or is beheading becoming more fashionable?
And I don’t mean in Pakistan or Iraq or Somalia, I mean here in the allegedly civilized world. First there was the Chinese guy on the bus in Canada, and then there was the Chinese guy at Virginia Tech…
And now there’s a prominent moderate Muslim in upstate New York who seems to have gotten a bit upset with his estranged wife.
Given the tragic circumstances of the case, I’m certain that the primary concern of New York and federal law enforcement will be to ensure that this unfortunate incident is not exploited by right-wing extremists to fan the flames of racial hatred and Islamophobia in this country.
According to the Buffalo News:
Prominent Orchard Park man charged with beheading his wife- - - - - - - - -
Orchard Park police are investigating a particularly gruesome killing, the beheading of a woman, after her husband — an influential member of the local Muslim community — reported her death to police Thursday.
Police identified the victim as Aasiya Z. Hassan, 37. Detectives have charged her husband, Muzzammil Hassan, 44, with second-degree murder.
“He came to the police station at 6:20 p.m. [Thursday] and told us that she was dead,” Orchard Park Police Chief Andrew Benz said late this morning.
Muzzammil Hassan told police that his wife was at his business, Bridges TV, on Thorn Avenue in the village. Officers went to that location and discovered her body.
Muzzammil Hassan is the founder and chief executive officer of Bridges TV, which he launched in 2004, amid hopes that it would help portray Muslims in a more positive light.
The killing apparently occurred some time late Thursday afternoon. Detectives still are looking for the murder weapon.
“Obviously, this is the worst form of domestic violence possible,” Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III said today.
Authorities say Aasiya Hassan recently had filed for divorce from her husband.
“She had an order of protection that had him out of the home as of Friday the 6th [of February],” Benz said.
Muzzammil Hassan was arraigned before Village Justice Deborah Chimes and sent to the Erie County Holding Center.
Now, I want you to notice two things about Muzzammil Hassan:
| 1. | He wanted Muslims to be portrayed in a more positive light, and | |
| 2. | He (allegedly) beheaded his wife. |
Remember: if we decide to view Muslims more negatively because of this incident, it’s because of our Islamophobia.
Those are the rules of the game.
Hat tip: KGS.
7 comments:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inauguration_obama_text
"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
"
I followed the Canadian case as closely as I could. The repugnant part was actually the CBC lionizing a fellow passenger who made the claim that the dead man allowed himself to be decapitated so the rest of the passengers could flee safely. A disgusting and perhaps uniquely Canadian form of cowardice. To laud the people who did nothing but save themselves. There was no Islamic angle as far as I know at least there was no episode of Little Mosque on the Prairie made about it. The guy was nuts and wanted to be arrested as far as I can tell. Horrible example of Canadian culture
"and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation"
How any muslims or hindus tasted that "bitter swill" is beyond my comprehension.
It was reported in the media that the man who cut off the head of a young man on a bus in Canada was a Muslim, but it was quickly taken off the media's site as quickly as it was put on. I would imagine, heaven forbid, there would have been an outcry against Islam in Canada.
"The repugnant part was actually the CBC lionizing a fellow passenger who made the claim that the dead man allowed himself to be decapitated so the rest of the passengers could flee safely. A disgusting and perhaps uniquely Canadian form of cowardice."
I've never heard this before, and I'm not sure what you mean about a 'uniquely Canadian form of cowardice'. I do not believe anyone at the time thought that the killer was going to behead the young man as well. The fella that was sitting in front of the seat where the young man was attacked decided it was better to make sure everyone got off the bus before more people were attacked, but it was shameful that no one even tried to intervene, such as that man himself. I guess self-preservation is strong in most, but it will be a decision those people who could have done something and did not will have to live with. One can only hope that the killer will not be held in solitaire, but put with the rest of the murderers to fend for himself.
Hassan is described as a 'moderate' Muslim...
C-CS
Muzzammil Hassan is the founder and chief executive officer of Bridges TV, which he launched in 2004, amid hopes that it would help portray Muslims in a more positive light.
As with snakes and spiders, quite clearly Mr. Hassan selected the wrong public relations firm.
In view of how important it is that Western civilization gain a better awarenessof Islam, I would venture that Mr. Hassan has indeed found a way to "help portray Muslims in a more positive light".
However, in this case the illumination provided is more akin to that of Louis Brandeis' 'disinfecting sunlight'.
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No matter how many beheadings, stonings, or terrorist attacks there are, we must never fear, resist or mock the precious and ever peaceful Islam. Who are we to say that raping 9 year-olds is immoral? Who are we to say that stoning gays and rape victims to death is evil?
Who are we to say that killing hundreds of people every month in the name of Allah is the height of evil? That is just their culture and ideology and it MUST be respected. Morality is all relative, we must remember that.
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
cut off your wife's head
if she dishonors you
by asking for a divorce
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe wants
all planets Islamic
Earth is one of many
in process of conversion
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe wants
many Taliban planets
stonings and beheadings
billions served daily
.
absurd thought –
God of the Universe says
convert the infidels
or make them pay a tax
if they don’t want to die
.
USpace
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All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. Without freedom of speech there can be no real freedom.
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Philosophy of Liberty Cartoon
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Help STOP Terrorism Today!
:)
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