So Maybe It Can Mean "Peace"


Certain people did go out of their way to protect and shelter Tutsis fleeing from genocidal attacks. In disgraceful contrast, human rights groups have documented several instances of Christian clerics allowing Tutsis sanctuary in churches, only to surrender them to Hutu death squads.

In something of a follow-up on the previous piece, it appears that certain people did go out of their way to protect and shelter Tutsis fleeing from genocidal attacks. These saviors were members of Rwanda's muslim population. In disgraceful contrast, human rights groups have documented several instances of Christian clerics allowing Tutsis sanctuary in churches, only to surrender them to Hutu death squads, as well as cases where Hutu congregants were exhorted from the pulpit to kill Tutsis. Not suprisingly, huge numbers of Rwandans have since converted to Islam.

When these converts talk about "jihad," it's in a completely different spirit than the Islamic fundamentalists who endorse terrorism against the West. For them, jihad is not the struggle of Muslims to defeat the infidels, but the struggle to heal, or the struggle for Hutu and Tutsi to live together in peace, or the struggle to raise their children well.

After Sept. 11, 2001, imams around the country held meetings to clarify what it means to be a Muslim.

"I told everyone, 'Islam means peace,' " said Imiyimana, recalling that the mosque was packed that day. "Considering our track record, it wasn't hard to convince them."

Posted: Sun - April 20, 2003 at 01:29 PM      

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