| |
|
|
In Response To Bashir Goth's Blatant Attack On Islamists Mohamed F. Yabarag London, UK Feb. 7, 2005 It has now become a habit for Bashir Goth of Awdalnews.com to lash out at Islam and what he constantly calls “Islamists” from the comfort of Abu Dhabi, his residence for the past 20 years. In his latest unjustified outburst and attack on Islamists in an article titled “it is time to rescue Islam from Taliban courts in Mogadhisu” published in his website, Mr Goth has, once again, shown how hypocrite and ill-informed he is about the events taking place in Somalia. This is the man who for umpteenth times tried to discredit and defame Islamists and other groups without giving the slightest thought of what his actions and innuendo may bring about to these groups. Nobody is condoning the desecration of the World War Two Italian graves in Mogadishu by some sections of the community, but to point the finger of blame entirely at Islamists is unprofessional for someone who boasts to be a professional journalist, especially when the people concerned have more than once reiterated that they had nothing to do with this evil act. By the way there are more significant and burning issues in Somalia/Somaliland than the vandalised graves in Mogadishu. The whole country (southern Somalia) lies in ruins and without a functioning government for the last fourteen years. He should have done a thorough investigation as to who is the real culprit of this unfortunate episode. Instead, he jumped, as always, to the conclusion that the Islamic courts in Mogadishu are to blame. It is a case of “Wixii xunba Xaawaa leh”, which roughly translates “Hawa (Somali female name) is to blame for everything”. What he did not realise is the fact that the Islamic courts of Magadishu, despite their obvious shortcomings, have done a superb job in securing peace and stability in the area they control. It is a known fact that without their rule, no matter how harsh their rule may look from the outset, large parts of Mogadishu would have been no-go areas and many innocent lives would have been unnecessarily lost. The Islamic courts in Mogadishu are not substitutes for a government and its institutions, but they are the only alternatives for these areas in the prevailing circumstances. Given the power vacuum in Mogadishu, Islamic courts are necessity. It is common knowledge these days that Islam is under constant attack from different fronts and it is also no secret that the enemy of Islam, under all guises and forms, is looking for the slightest excuses to invade yet more Islamic countries, including Somalia. Iran, another Islamic country, is on America's sights for yet another possible invasion simply because they are about to build a nuclear power station, which can only be possessed by certain privileged countries. Syria could be the next target after Iran. It is a domino effect. Mr Goth and his like-minded, who have almost become the mouthpiece of Islam bashers and the enemy within, would simply need to ask themselves this question: why Islamic countries are labelled terrorists, undemocratic and evil doers by the West when we know there are many countries in the world who can fit this description. Democracy is one thing. Western way of lifestyle is another and it is not synonymous with the former. Nobody is denying that most Muslim countries are corrupt and lack accountability and transparency, but so are many non-Islamic countries and they are not facing the wrath of the West. Our governments must and should change for the benefit and betterment of their people, but that change should come within and not be imposed upon by foreigners. Buoyant and boosted by their victory in the American election, the neo-conservatives in Washington and their Jewish extremist friends are out there to put another Muslim country under the sphere of their influence and yet we have people like Bashir Goth making things easy for them by lashing out at his already suffering people. The war torn people of Somalia, who are struggling to find their feet firmly on the ground, don't want to be lectured by some armchair political commentators on how to go about their daily lives. They have enough problems in their sleeves. As for Mr Goth, who is a son of a venerable Sheikh, the late Sheikh Omar Goth, it is time he comes to his senses and stops his inflammatory articles against Islam and what he terms Islamists in particular. Mohamed F Yabarag
|
