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| Europe |
| French preacher slams Europes Islamic groups |
| 2010-08-19 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] Muslim French preacher Dominique Pinot lashed out at Islamic organizations in Europe and at Europeans who monopolize the interpretation of Islam under the pretext of defending its teachings in the West. Dominique Abdullah Pinot, as he calls himself since his conversion to Islam in the 1970s, likened Islamic organizations in Europe to "stores" that operate for the profit of their owners. "They just aim at serving the personal interests of their members," he told Al Arabiya's Wuguh Islameya (Islamic faces), to be aired Wednesday at 5:30 pm KSA. Pinot argued that several Muslim associations act as if they monopolize Islam and are the only ones who can boost its image in the West. "Members of these associations would go to Muslim countries and present them with projects that allegedly promote a peaceful image of Islam in Europe." These projects, he argued, are usually illusory ones whose aim is not to defend Islam in the West, but rather to collect as much money as possible from Arab and Muslim countries. "Islam does not need to be defended. It is a religion that spread all over the world because of the way Muslims have been known for their tolerance and patience over the centuries." The problem with European societies, he added, is that they do not differentiate between Islam as a religion and a civilization that have always been respected by the West on one hand and the behavior of individuals who do not represent the teachings of this religion on the other hand. Muslims in France When asked about Muslims in France, Pinot said that although they make up a considerable portion of the French population, they are still not integrated into the French society. "They do not fully understand the French society and France is not religiously tolerant." As for the controversy around the face veil, Pinot pointed out that this is not an issue than concerns all Muslims since very few Muslim women in France, not more than dozens, wear the face veil. "The problem of niqab acquired political dimensions because of the reactions of Muslims towards it." Pinot was born in 1954 in Avignon in the south of France and spent his childhood in the U.S. and the U.K. In the 1970s, he travelled to Syria where he met several Muslim scholars and converted to Islam. It took Pinot more than three decades to translate the Quran into French. He also translated several books on Islamic jurisprudence from Arabic. His books are widely-read amongst French speaking Muslims in different parts of the world. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 "Islam does not need to be defended. It is a religion that spread all over the world because of the way Muslims have been known for their tolerance and patience over the centuries." Excuse me, the dude that says this, needs a shrink. |
| Posted by: Dave UK 2010-08-19 18:36 |
| #2 "Islam does not need to be defended. It is a religion that spread all over the world because of the way Muslims have been known for their tolerance and patience over the centuries." Its a 2 hour TGV train ride to Tours, jacka$$. Tell it to the Franks buried there. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2010-08-19 15:22 |
| #1 "Islam does not need to be defended. It is a religion that spread all over the world because of the way Muslims have been known for their tolerance and patience over the centuries." Its a 2 hour TGV train ride to Tours, jacka$$. Tell it to the Franks buried there. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2010-08-19 15:22 |