Islam's history of violence

Submitted by Patrick Nicolello (United States), Aug 1, 2002 at 12:05

Mr. Pipes,

It is politically correct to say the Islam is not a religion based on violence. Please read Fregosi's "Jihad" to get a historical perspective of just how violent the religion of Islam has been.

You say that Islam is 1400 years old, but then say that the fanatics have only been around for the past 100 years. That is just plain wrong. We in the West are ignorant of history. We are ignorant of the evil that Islam did from its founding, to its apogee and through its stubborn decline until it was silenced at the end of World War I.

To compare Islam to all of the other large religions of the world is an insult to these other religions. Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism do not have the history of violence that Islam has. It is a matter of degree to say the least.

The first half of the Q'uran may sound peaceful enough, but the second half spells out the true violent goal of Islam. Spread Islam to engulf the globe. Those who do not convert are either killed or "tolerated". Islamic toleration consisted of anything from higher taxes, career retardation, sectioned off ghettoes, boy tribute to man the Janissaries, to raiding parties for women, and to outright enslavement.

When Islam was strong its neighbors rightfully fear it. From Iberia, to France, to Italy, to the Balkans, to the Greek Isles, to the Caucases, to the Indian subcontinent, to Subsaharan Africa and anywhere else Islam attacked they slaughtered, annihilated, and exterminated. It took many centuries for the "Border" countries to fight off the Islamic onslaught. But this has all been forgotten.

Today Islam is flexing its petrodollars. They are once again showing their true colors. If they cannot win at first with brute force then they will infiltrate and colonize by emigration. Beware the moderate Muslim. Are they a wolf in sheep's clothes? Will they enjoy the freedoms of progressive countries only to fall back into fundamentalist line once their new homes are dominated by Islam? Is the glass half full or half empty? The optimists in the progressive countries believe that Moslems will come and be quickly assimilated. But will they convert to Judeo-Christianity or will they grow in numbers so great that politicians will do whatever it takes to receive their votes?

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".