Fears of an Islamic takeover
I was pleased to read the letter of Mrs Aftab Akhtar (Star letters, August 22) because at least we know that some Muslims are peaceful - no matter what the Koran says. But according to the Oxford Dictionary, Islam comes from the word aslama - to submit - and Muslim is an active participle of the same word so it means "submit" also. No mention of peace according to the OED.
I also take issue with her claim that Islam itself is intrinsically peaceful.
It says in the Koran, Sura 9.5: "When the sacred months are over slay the idolators (i.e. the non-followers of Islam) wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them and lie in ambush everywhere for them."
It goes on to say that they need not be killed if they repent, take to prayer and pay an alms levy. The last part is surely religious extortion.
To be fair, other parts of the Koran forbid violence but where instructions clash with each other people will follow whichever they want.
I do believe that Islam is incompatible with both Christianity and the Western way of life. Islam is all-embracing and is more than just a religion. It is a legal system, a social system, an education system and even an eating system.
It does not take to living side-by-side with other systems and religions and when Muslims become more than very few in number they begin to flex their muscles for a takeover.
This is what is happening in Darfur, northern Nigeria, Indonesia and other places where Islam meets other cultures and religions, and is beginning to happen here.
Richard Camp, Telford
