- 7 February 2004

Mixed Messages

                -Mary Elizabeth Hansen

     According to a recent Associated Press report, the lead sermon at last week's Hajj in Saudi Arabia, delivered by Sheik Saleh al Taleb, disappointed some of the 500,000 or so listeners. Evidently, for some pilgrims, al Taleb's message didn't spew out enough hate for their liking. It's not as if the imman didn't try. He asked God to, "..grant great victory to Muslims fighting around the world." And, he implored, "Oh God, give victory to the mujahedeen (holy warriors) everywhere." He didn't, in so many words, ask for the deaths of infidels caught in the crosshairs of advancing Muslim warriors, but those listening with one ear open should have understood the drift of his message.

    Those who have gotten the basic message from Saudi Arabia, "Islam First, Last And Always, No Matter What The Human Cost," and then acted on it, are always rewarded from the coffers of the Kingdom. The powers-that-be in Saudi Arabia are very pleased with the progression towards an Islamic state in Nigeria. Recently, the Saudi Arabian Religious and Cultural attache in Nigeria announced that the northern Nigerian state of Kebbi will be receiving a large sum of money as a reward to its steady implementation of Shari'a law in the state.

    Sheik Abdul-Aziz, the Saudi attache, noted with satisfaction all of the improvements since the arrival of Shari'a to Kebbi, including economic advances, reductions of social vices, and more noticeable compliances with the teachings of Islam. So, as a reward for rearranging Kebbi into a little Saudi Arabia, Abul-Aziz said that his government has decided to finance the employment of more Islamic teachers for state educational institutions and to fund more Islamic preachers. The non-Muslims in Kebbi must be wondering if the attache from the Kingdom is talking about the same Kebbi in which they live. Dhimmis have seen no improvements in their lives since Shari'a arrived. Their existence grows more tenuous with each passing day, as their churches are burned, their business are looted, and their children are intimidated at school in an ever escalating cycle of violence and murder by Islamic extremists.

    As Sheik Abdul-Aziz is passing out money and advice, maybe he should visit the offices of Dr. Ibraham Datti Ahmed, physician and president of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Shari'a Law. Perhaps the attache could explain to the doctor that Shai'a law, however wonderful and glorious it may be, does not cover the subject of polio vaccines. According to a Baltimore Sun article by John Murphy, Dr. Ahmed, along with like-minded imams, university professors and political leaders, have fanned the flames of deadly ignorance among their followers in northern Nigeria. Parents are being told that the polio vaccine, distributed by government agencies and organizations like Rotary International, is deliberately contaminated by Americans with an anti-fertility agent that would sterilize children receiving the vaccine or perhaps infect the children with the AIDS virus. As a result of this evil-America-is-doing-this-to-our-children propaganda by Dr. Ahmed and his friends, three northern Nigerian states cancelled immunization campaigns last year. The sad result of this decision is a steady rise in the number of polio cases in those areas.

    What Nigerians need, whatever their religion, are advanced educational opportunities, better health care, and sound economic policies that lead to an improved quality of life for themselves and their children. What Nigerians don't need are the likes of Sheik Abdul-Aziz and Dr. Ahmed, spreading their message of hatred, ignorance and fear throughout a country already facing so many challenges and problems.

©   2004 - Mary Elizabeth Hansen