Iran Bemoans ‘Desecration of Islamic Sanctities’ Over Temple Mount and Charlie Hebdo ‘Insults’
Iran Bemoans ‘Desecration of Islamic Sanctities’ Over Temple Mount and Charlie Hebdo ‘Insults’
When perpetrators play victim.
By Christine Williams
Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is garnering support at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for its stand against the “desecration of Islamic sanctities” that Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir allegedly committed with his visit to the Temple Mount. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently stated: “A visit by a minister from Israel’s government to a site inside Israel is not a change in any status quo arrangement, and it should not be controversial for a Jew to visit the holiest site in Judaism.” But according to Iran, the move was “a violation of international law and an affront to the values and sanctities of the world Muslims,” and other members of the OIC agree. It is manifestly true that the visit was an “affront to Muslims,” but Ben-Gvir did not violate international law. Many Islamic leaders routinely spout propaganda, while their supporters take what they say at face value.
Thousands of Jews visit the site annually. The “status quo” agreement was concluded after the Six-Day War in June 1967 in order to appease Muslims after Israel reconquered the Old City of Jerusalem. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan formulated it. Under its terms, “the Muslim Waqf, a Jordanian religious trust, would retain control of the Temple Mount. Jews would be allowed to visit the site without restrictions, though they would not be allowed to pray there. Israel would also take responsibility for security, though its forces would stay off the mount.”
According the Mehr News Agency, Itamar Ben Gvir “stormed Al-Aqsa mosque.” But Ben-Gvir did not even enter the mosque. He made a short visit to the Temple Mount compound “during the time Jews are allowed to enter the site.”
Iran has also taken France’s Charlie Hebdo to task for publishing caricatures of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In Islamic law, any insult to Muhammad or to what is regarded as holy in Islam can bring death to the offender (Abu Dawud Book 38 no 4348). Khamenei is a marja, the highest authority in Twelver Shi’ite Islam. In this case, complaints have now gone to the United Nations, which organized a Security Council “emergency” assembly Thursday, and now Iran is pleading its case to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). According to Iran, the OIC’s Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha, agreed about “the defiling of al-Aqsa Mosque by the Zionists,” while Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al Sabah “welcomed Iran’s proposal and initiative that the OIC take action in concert to stop the sacrilegious acts of the Israeli regime that disrupt regional peace and stability.” Pakistan “also voiced concern over the continuation of the Zionist regime’s aggressive policies and condemned its moves to desecrate al-Aqsa Mosque. He added that the silence of world countries toward injustice in Palestine must end.” Yet Pakistan has defined itself by its cruel blasphemy laws which target Christians.
The OIC has no power over any free sovereign country, except what is freely given to it by the leaders of the free countries that choose to appease the organization. The weakest elements of the West have increasingly chosen dhimmitude and subservience to Islamic bullies. The cornerstone of any free society is freedom of expression, which includes the freedom to insult any dogma, religion or religious figure. The freedom of religion also characterizes free societies, but both of these critical values are antithetical to normative Islam, and the exercise of both rights have at times led some Muslims to violence.
So far, despite condemnations of Ben-Gvir, no Western leader has stated that Jews have no right to visit the Temple Mount. They know that Jews have every right to do so, but by accusing Ben-Gvir of being “extreme,” they are unwittingly assuming the role of dhimmis and abetting the complete stripping of the right of Jews to visit the Temple Mount.
With regard to Charlie Hebdo, anyone living in a free society has every right to criticize and insult Islam. But Islam demands submission from the kaffir. Appeasement emboldens Islamic supremacists as they advance their goal of the conquest of every free society. No matter how much Israel appeased these elements in past, jihad attacks never ceased, but only escalated.
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