On syariah

On syariah

In your interview with the chairman of the Mujahidin Assembly,
Irfan S. Awwas, which appeared in the Opinion page on Aug. 14,
2000, Irfan is quoted as saying, "Islam fully guarantees the
freedom of all followers of other religions to practice what they
believe in ... since secular people are always provoking us,
there is always the fear among non-Muslims that they will be
discriminated against if syariah is applied. In fact such a thing
has never happened in the history of Islam. History shows that a
Muslim majority has never oppressed non-Muslims."

Hoping that I am not provoking anyone, I would like to refute
this statement. On a Sunday morning in late September 1984 in
Khartoum, Sudan, I personally witnessed a Catholic priest dragged
out of Sunday morning Mass, tied to a post along the street and
whipped with long strands of leather which had lead balls tied
into them until he was bloody and unconscious. He was condemned
for violating syariah law by serving wine (i.e. alcohol) to his
Catholic congregation for the Sacrament of the Holy Communion.

MARSHALL LESESNE

Jakarta