We have published numerous articles by a number of authors on the foundational nature of Jihad in Islam. The claim that violent war on unbelievers, as currently waged by al Qaeda and other Islamofascists, is somehow aberrent is not justified by a reading of the last 1400 years of history. Support for this point of view now comes from the novel defense of Muslim terrorists in an Istanbul court. Their lawyer argues their religion made them do it, that the obligation to murder non—Muslims in no different than the obligation to fast and pray.  If so, presumably, the murderers are innocent of a crime,  but are only being good Muslims, and are adhering to the tenets of the religion of peace.  This makes us nervous. Perhaps interfaith meetings led by Rabbis Yoffie and Saperstein might not prove effective, after all.(Read Full Post)