[Reader-list] India on a list of countries which have failed to protect its religious minorities adequately

[Kshmendra Kaul]

Dear Shuddha
 
1. "Allah" and/or variants of root of the word (as name for GOD)  do belong to Semitic traditions of the Jews  and you pointed out to some Christian sects also.
 
I am not aware if the phrase "Allah u Akbar" (on the OIC flag) also belongs to similar traditions and is in use amongst any other that Muslims. 
 
Even if it were to be used in some pocket, I do not think that the Christians and the Jews in general identify with that phrase or would see it as being anything other than a  Islamic declaration.
 
Educative as your comment is, it is not pertinent to recognising the character of the OIC or of the inscription "Allah u Akbar" on it's flag.
 
Obviously Israel or Christian or Christian majority countries also see it differently (not only because of the OIC flag but also it's Charter and other characteristics) and are not a part of the OIC.
 
It is likely that one day/night there will be two moons in the sky when another planet spirals out of it's orbit. That is a doomsday scenario (in astrophysics).
 
 
2. NAM was a grouping meant to be outside alignment with the Power Blocs of the Cold War.
 
Your point is valid that (howsoever loose or firm the alignment may be) countries like India and Egypt continuing to be a part of NAM is a contradiction.
 
That exactly was my point. This that such countries who may not be declaredly Islamic or may not have Islam as State Religion or have Islam incorporated in their Laws, but are a part of the OIC are presenting a contradiction.
 
Such countries, are (internationally) declaring themselves Islamic by the very fact of being a part of the OIC. That is how they need to be recognised Internationally. I do not think that I need to give details on the Islamic character of the OIC. Anyone can see for themselves at http://www.oic-oci.org/home.asp
 
Shockingly, the OIC has a permanent representation in the United Nations, which is (at the very least) an informal recognition of the World divided along religious lines.
 
Kshmendra
 
 
 
Shuddhabrata Sengupta shuddha at sarai.net 
Sat Aug 15 19:41:12 IST 2009 
 
On the other, other, hand,

Just as the members of the non aligned movement, such as Egypt and  
India, while locking themselves into military alliances with  
superpowers, are so, so, so, non-aligned ?

And by the way, ask any arab christian what they call god, and the  
answer is likely to be Allah. At least that was what i heard in a  
syrian orthodox liturgy in a damascus church. So are we going to call  
arab christians, muslims now?

best

Shuddha

 

From: Kshmendra Kaul <kshmendra2005 at yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Reader-list] India on a list of countries which have failed to protect its religious minorities adequately
To: "sarai list" <reader-list at sarai.net>
Date: Saturday, August 15, 2009, 7:30 PM

Dear Shuddha
 
On the other hand ....
 
Countries that are members of the OIC could be seen as having declared themselves as "Islamic" even if there is no other such declaration in their 'official name' or 'laws'.
 
That would include all the countries you have mentioned with 2 exceptions..  Kosovo is not a member and Bosnia Herzegovina has Observer Status.
 
Any ambiguities in the recognition that I have proposed will be largely dealt with by studying the various aspects of the OIC http://www.oic-oci.org/home.asp
 
The Flag of OIC incidentally is said to declare "Allah u Akbar". Not much ambiguity in that. 
http://flagspot.net/flags/int-oic.html#desc
 
Kshmendra

 
Shuddhabrata Sengupta shuddha at sarai.net 
Sat Aug 15 17:49:34 IST 2009 
 
Murali,

Jeebesh is right, except that Indonesia is the worlds largest (by  
population) Muslim countriy. Not the second largest. And here is a  
list of 19 other Muslim majority countries that are not Islamic  
states, or do not have Islam listed as state religion.

Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Chad, Djibouti,  
Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan,  
Uzbekistan, Albania,  Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo,  
Palestinian Authority and Turkey.

There are several other countries, which recognize Islam as a state  
religion, such as Egypt but are still not 'Islamic States', that is,  
they are not governed by Islamic law

Only a third category of states, which includes, Iran, Saudi Arabia,  
Pakistan, Afghanistan etc, can be strictly called Islamic States, in  
that they are partially or wholly governed by Islamic law and  
recognize the Sharia as a source of law and jurisprudence.

Please take the trouble to make credible and factual statements as  
far as possible when you seek to impose your opinions on this list.

Shuddha