Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Chechen academic and specialist in Sufism slams Muhammad cartoons

"Chechen academic slams Muhammad cartoons" 04 February 2006, published by Interfax (Moscow, Russia)

Grozny, February 4, Interfax - The publication in the Western press of cartoons depicting Muslim prophet Muhammad are an insult not only to Muslims but to the entire civilized world, a Chechen academic argued.

"I don't know a single instance of a disrespectful statement by a Muslim publication about Moses or Jesus Christ. In my view, no civilized person will ever go as far as that," Vakhit Akayev, head of the philosophy department of the Chechen State University, told Interfax.

"When they are citing freedom of speech and press in the West to justify the insult to the religious feelings of hundreds of millions of people, it is an extremely serious delusion. I can never believe that an individual journalist may take such a step at his discretion," Akayev said.

He argued that the cartoons threatened global stability and might have unpredictable consequences.

Akayev is a specialist in Sufism and is the author of works translated into many languages and published in foreign countries. He has also written works on the consequences of religious extremism.

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Wednesday, February 15, 2006

Chechen academic and specialist in Sufism slams Muhammad cartoons
"Chechen academic slams Muhammad cartoons" 04 February 2006, published by Interfax (Moscow, Russia)

Grozny, February 4, Interfax - The publication in the Western press of cartoons depicting Muslim prophet Muhammad are an insult not only to Muslims but to the entire civilized world, a Chechen academic argued.

"I don't know a single instance of a disrespectful statement by a Muslim publication about Moses or Jesus Christ. In my view, no civilized person will ever go as far as that," Vakhit Akayev, head of the philosophy department of the Chechen State University, told Interfax.

"When they are citing freedom of speech and press in the West to justify the insult to the religious feelings of hundreds of millions of people, it is an extremely serious delusion. I can never believe that an individual journalist may take such a step at his discretion," Akayev said.

He argued that the cartoons threatened global stability and might have unpredictable consequences.

Akayev is a specialist in Sufism and is the author of works translated into many languages and published in foreign countries. He has also written works on the consequences of religious extremism.

No comments: