U.C. Irvine Shahada/Hamas FUD

I only caught the end of it on TV (transcripts should be out in the next few days), but Bill O'Reilly apparently called for a Jihad against U.C. Irvine. What did the University do to incur O'Reilly's wrath? Nothing at all.

Several graduating Muslim students wore sashes with the words La Ilaha Illallah, Muhammadun Rasul Allah: "There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is the messenger of Allah" This prayer is the Shahada, which is like the Muslim version of the Lord's Prayer or the Sh'ma. A few underinformed Jewish groups misinterpreted that as "Shahid" and paniced, and the panic spread. In O'Reilly's words, the sashes are "apparently signifying their support for the terrorist group Hamas and for suicide bombers in general". Part of many reports is a further misconception that green is the colour of Hamas, when it is the colour of Islam. Just see the Libyan flag. Muslim Wakeup has an article that makes sense of the whole situation.

Irvine's apparent wrongdoing was in refusing to ban the sashes without knowing what they said before remembering that the law says they'd have to allow it even if the students were wearing swastikas (not a stable link). Think long and hard about those who so quickly call for censorship. Many independent (bloggers, etc) reports echo this alert from Stand With Us, a pro-Israel group, which calls for condemnation rather than censorship. Also suckered in by the whole deal were Frontpage Magazine (twice!), World Net Daily, the Irvine Review, and the American Jewish Congress (which has a disreputable history). Googling around, I found a blogger who issued a correction, so I'll link to them for props, and Juan Cole has words on the matter. In an ironic twist, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (which has been accused of being a front for Hamas) has issued a complaint against the Jewish groups for creating an atmosphere that endangers the lives of Muslim students.

Posted by Warrior Tang at June 21, 2004 07:25 PM