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| International |
| Islamoclerics: God sez to vote for the guy with the turban |
| 2002-04-27 |
| Islamic clerics on Friday ordered Mali's Muslim majority to elect the presidential candidate of a surging new Islamic movement - shocking many in a moderate nation that has become the West's favored West African democracy. The clerics asked voters to choose former Prime Minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in Sunday's first-round elections, despite his reputation for high-living, after he agreed to a list of the imams' demands. "Do you agree with God? Do you agree with the clerics?" imam Bandiougou demanded as Islamic Friday prayers brought campaigning to a standstill. "God is Great!" worshipers outside the overflowing central mosque answered, slamming fists into the air. "Then you have to do as the clerics say!" Bandiougou cried. "I may be a crook, but I'm a Muslim." Tell me, do we as a people really care if they chop each other's heads off and stone their women? Why? I'm reaching the point where I'm not sure I do... Or maybe I do, but none of the reasons I can think of for caring makes any sense. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |