Chaplain’s E-mail Sparks Controversy

More news stories on Islam in America

Melody Y. Hu, Harvard Crimson, April 14, 2009

Harvard Islamic chaplain Taha Abdul-Basser ‘96 has recently come under fire for controversial statements in which he allegedly endorsed death as a punishment for Islamic apostates.

In a private e-mail to a student last week, Abdul-Basser wrote that there was “great wisdom (hikma) associated with the established and preserved position (capital punishment [for apostates]) and so, even if it makes some uncomfortable in the face of the hegemonic modern human rights discourse, one should not dismiss it out of hand.”

The e-mail was forwarded over Muslim student e-mail lists and later picked up by the blogosphere, sparking debate and, in many cases, criticism of Abdul-Basser from those who have interpreted his statement as supporting the execution of those who leave the Islamic religion.

{snip}

Abdul-Basser wrote in a later e-mailed statement that he “never expressed the position that individuals who leave Islam or convert from Islam to another religion must be killed. I do not hold this opinion personally.” He explained that he was not advocating for the positions mentioned in his e-mail, but rather “addressing them in the context of the evolution of an Islamic legal doctrine.”

“[Abdul-Basser] was speaking as a chaplain to a student in a private e-mail exchange. One of these e-mails was misinterpreted, misconstrued, and posted on the blogosphere,” said Harvard Islamic Society spokesperson Nafees A. Syed ‘10, who praised Abdul-Basser for promoting diversity within HIS and the campus at large.

“His immeasurable contributions should not be overlooked in this matter,” she said.

Original article

(Posted on April 16, 2009)

---

Comments

1 — Whiteplight wrote at 7:30 PM on April 16:

I have to wonder what he proposes to do with infidels would will not convert?

2 — likes_tea_parties wrote at 7:58 PM on April 16:

Every so often we get an accidental glimpse into the future that is in the works for the U.S. Thank goodness “they” occasionally slip up.

3 — SKIP wrote at 10:28 PM on April 16:

I went and looked him up, he is in fact a fist waving, beanie wearing American black! No real surprise.

4 — Betty Zane wrote at 12:30 AM on April 17:

Hopefully this means that the muzzies will be beheading the already disarmed leftists first. As for the rest of us, if we let the libs take our guns then we deserve to perish.

5 — Alienated-American wrote at 2:28 AM on April 17:

The key fact is that Harvard has the need for an Islamic chaplain. Harvard was the first college founded in what was to become the U.S. It has degenerated into one more center for promoting Liberalism, Diversity, and the NWO.

6 — SKIP wrote at 5:32 PM on April 17:

“never expressed the position that individuals who leave Islam or convert from Islam to another religion must be killed. I do not hold this opinion personally.”

He doesn’t have to, the Qu’ran says it plainly for him which means, as I have said, blacks in America, are muslims of convenience.

7 — Johnny English wrote at 8:46 PM on April 17:

Whatever they say, Muslims can NEVER be trusted, because of Taqiyyah (if you don’t know what it is, look it up).

8 — SKIP wrote at 4:24 PM on April 18:

Whatever they say, Muslims can NEVER be trusted, because of Taqiyyah (if you don’t know what it is, look it up).

Muslims can’t be trusted BECAUSE they are muslims. I say, and caught a lot of flak over saying, muslims should not be allowed in the U.S. military. All muslims aren’t terrorists it is said but it only takes 1 or 19 to do some terrible damage, so don’t trust ANY of them.

9 — SKIP wrote at 4:29 PM on April 20:

Just to keep up with the various U.S. based muslim groups, please look at www.jihadwatch.com. Some really insightful things there about the muslims.

The contents of this website are copyright © 1990-2009 New Century Foundation. All Rights Reserved.