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| International |
| Saudis report increase in Islamic conversions |
| 2002-06-11 |
| Saudi Arabia reports that the Kingdom's missionary activities have led to a sharp increase in Islamic conversions in the wake of the Sept. 11 Islamic suicide attacks on New York and Washington. Saudi authorities said more than 700 foreigners were converted to Islam after Sept. 11. They said the lion's share of converts came from the Philippines. Saudi Arabia and Gulf Cooperation Council regularly report figures on the conversion of expatriates to Islam. Several GCC countries, including Qatar, reported an increase in conversions since Sept. 11. Saudi Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al Sheik said 942 people from 19 countries converted to Islam in 2001, 709 of them after the Sept. 11 attacks. Officials said the Western backlash against Islam in wake of the suicide attacks increased interest in the religion. Didn't we get one of those converts last month? Yup. I think we did, though he wasn't from the post-911 batch. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #4 I'm consistently amazed at the reluctance, nay, refusal of most Muslims to become disgusted at the acts, much less the preaching. But I guess the penalties could have something to do with it... |
| Posted by: Fred 2002-06-13 19:45:23 |
| #3 Aren't any Muslims, in their hearts, getting disgusted with what the fanatics are preaching in their names? Not that many would be willing to risk the usual penalty for saying so. |
| Posted by: Tresho 2002-06-12 13:58:45 |
| #2 Saw that on the Junkyard Blog site. Startling, isn't it? |
| Posted by: Fred 2002-06-11 15:53:22 |
| #1 By the way, and speaking of whom, have you seen the speculation that he might have been in some way connected to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing? Another blog, I forget which one at the moment, posted the FBI composite sketch of "John Doe #2" which bears a most suspicious resemblance to our man, especially when you compare the pictures side-by-side. |
| Posted by: Joe 2002-06-11 15:45:58 |