Putin lectures Marine Le Pen: Chauvinism Threatens Nations

Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly

Vladimir Putin delivered the annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly. The Address was traditionally delivered at the Kremlin’s St George Hall before an audience of over 1,000 people.

December 4, 2014 - 13:20 - The Kremlin, Moscow

Source: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/47173 

Transcript: 

[...] We will protect the diversity of the world. We will tell the truth to people abroad, so that everyone can see the real and not distorted and false image of Russia. We will actively promote business and humanitarian relations, as well as scientific, education and cultural relations. We will do this even if some governments attempt to create a new iron curtain around Russia.

We will never enter the path of self-isolation, xenophobia, suspicion and the search for enemies.All this is evidence of weakness, while we are strong and confident.Our goal is to have as many equal partners as possible, both in the West and in the East. We will expand our presence in those regions where integration is on the rise, where politics is not mixed with economy, and where obstacles to trade, to exchange of technology and investment and to the free movement of people are lifted.

Under no conditions will we curtail our relations with Europe or America. At the same time, we will restore and expand our traditional ties with South America. We will continue our cooperation with Africa and the Middle East.

We see how quickly Asia Pacific has been developing over the past few decades. As a Pacific power, Russia will use this huge potential comprehensively.Everyone knows the leaders and the drivers of global economic development. Many of them are our sincere friends and strategic partners.

The Eurasian Economic Union will start working in full on January 1, 2015. I’d like to remind you about its fundamental principles. The topmost principles are equality, pragmatism and mutual respect, as well as the preservation of national identity and state sovereignty of its member countries. I am confident that strong cooperation will become a powerful source of development for all of the Eurasian Economic Union members.

To conclude this part of my address, I’d like to say once again that our priorities are healthy families and a healthy nation, the traditional values which we inherited from our forefathers, combined with a focus on the future, stability as a vital condition of development and progress, respect for other nations and states, and the guaranteed security of Russia and the protection of its legitimate interests. [...]

Chechnia: Kadyrov and 10 000 soldiers pledge allegiance to Putin

Ramzan Kadyrov, Grozny, December 30th, 2014
 

Transcript of Kadyrov's words:

For many years with arms in hands, we fought against international terrorism and defeated it.  But the threat of terrorism in Russia has not yet disappeared.  I am sure that you are not indifferent to the fate of our Fatherland.  We remember the days when enemies surrounded Chechnya from all sides, but there was not a single friend who was ready to stand up for the Chechen people. This role was assumed not by a soldier, not by a politician, not by a general.  The mufti and the religious leader of Chechnya Akhmad Haji Kadyrov (the late father of Ramzan Kadyrov, murdered by Wahabis in a terrorist attack - the Saker) stood up to protect the people and the integrity of Russia.  He had no army, weapons and money, but he had the Holy Quran in his hands.  A formidable weapon for him were courage, fairness and faith in his rightness.  You could say the whole world was against Akhmad Haji.  Vladimir Putin was first who believed him, supported him and held out a hand of friendship and assistance.  It was not easy to do.  The Russian President had to prove to the politicians, the military and all the people, that only Akhmad Haji will reassemble the torn apart Chechen people, restore peace and stability and deal with international terrorism, trying to destroy the country.  In the most difficult moment, when there were no solutions to complex problems, when the question arose for our people to be or not to be, Ahmad Haji appealed to Vladimir Putin and not a single time he was refused - I saw it with my own eyes.

On May 1, 2004, speaking in front of the most famous people, Akhmad Haji said, that the time has come when each of us must make his particular choice.  Today I repeat the words of Akhmad Haji - it's time to make an informed choice.  And we say to the entire world that we are combat infantry of Vladimir Putin.  If we receive an order, we will actually prove that this is so.  For fifteen years Putin has been helping our people.  Now, you and I - and we have tens of thousands of people, specially trained - ask the national leader of Russia to consider us a special voluntary unit of the Commander in Chief, ready to defend Russia and the stability of her borders, accomplish a combat mission of any complexity.  We fully realize that our country has a regular army, air force, navy and nuclear forces. However, there are tasks that can be solved only by volunteers, and we'll solve them.

America, Europe have declared an economic war on Russia.  They are trying to cause chaos in the country, panic, riots.  But the Russian people have united around their leader - Vladimir Putin.  The Chechen people takes one of the central places in this unity.  We have chosen the path of Akhmad Haji, he firmly stood on the way of the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu alayhi wasallam (peace be upon him).  Haji Ahmad said that he is ready to submit, if there is a person who can prove that he made even a single step that goes against the Quran or the Sunna, sallallahu alayhi wasallam (peace be upon him).  Such a person has not yet been found.  Therefore, I firmly believe that you and I are on the path of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wasallam (peace be upon him).  We will never deviate from this path.  Starting today, each of us must be ready at any moment to prove their dedication to the cause of our lives.  We will meet Russia's enemy wherever he may be, in its own lair.  We publicly declare this to the whole world, so that it is clear and understandable to everyone - Long live our great motherland Russia!  Long live our national leader of Russia Vladimir Putin! Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest)!

Hassan Nasrallah: "The main victims of the Islamic State are the Sunni Muslims" (English subtitles)

Speech by the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on the occasion of the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein – October 27, 2014

In this most important excerpt devoted to the Islamic State, Sayed Hasan Nasrallah evokes the historical and ideological roots of their (Wahhabi) doctrine. It depicts them for what they are, that is an extremist sect who is explicitly considering itself apart from 95% of Muslims, whom it deems apostates deserving death.

Translation : Jennyfor Tlaxcala

Edition : http://www.sayed7asan.blogspot.com

Full original video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKcCPd_XDOk

Transcription : 

Well, we must address this movement (the Islamic state) and this phenomenon. It is true, as is sometimes said in the world, in mosques' pulpits, – it is sometimes said as fact and truth, but it's also the case that such things are said in order to sidestep responsibilities and exaggerate the situation –, it is true that we should not content ourselves with the treatment of the consequences, but we also need to address the causes. That's the truth. And that's what I want to talk about tonight.

It is true that we must address the causes, the causes of the spread of these movements and takfiri forces in the Islamic world, and even outside of the Islamic world. What is the cause of this?

Of course, there are those who say that there are political causes: the current state of regimes and leaders, their actions, economic crises, social crises, poverty, unemployment, then Israel's domination, its occupation of occupied Palestine, its ridicule of the (Muslim) community's dignity for over 60 years, etc. Of course, all of this may count among the causes. It's possible. I do not deny that – even if, I want to say it as a quick introduction, it seems that the issue of the Israeli occupation of Palestine has nothing to do at all with this. The proof is that the members and the leaders of these takfiri movements accord not the least amount of importance to Palestine, nor to Jerusalem or to the struggle against Israel, and they have never fought the Zionist project or the Zionist enemy, not once! This shows that these movements are not a reaction to the occupation of Jews – I mean the occupation of the Zionists (forgive me this lapse) – to the occupation of Palestine by the Zionists, no!

Even the political, social, economic and financial causes can be challenged. Certainly, they have had an impact on the circumstances. If we want to be realistic, they created the circumstances, the arguments or the pretexts. But this is not the real cause. On this night devoted to (Imam) Hussein, let us proclaim the truth, even if the truth that I'm about to tell, and that others stated before me, will upset many. But today, it is essential that we call things by their name. Because in these times of The Great Upheaval, discord, and amalgam of truth with falsehood, it is everyone's responsibility to point out the error as false, and the truth as true.

The cause (of the spread of these takfiri movements) is mainly of the doctrinal, cultural, and ideological kind. That is to say, in other words – let us enter directly into the heart of the matter. (The real cause is) that for 200 years, or a little more, around 300 years to date, a new movement, a new school, a new ideological movement was founded in the Arab world. This school of thought subsequently came to power, and to the resources of a state. And for 100 years, this ideological movement has been working on its implantation, its strengthening and the dissemination of its views and ideas all around the world. In the Muslim world and in all parts of the world.

Naturally, schools, colleges, institutes, universities around the world were created for it. Legal, political and administrative means and facilities were provided to it everywhere in the world. Study centers were founded and conferences were held for its dissemination for 100 years all around the world. The expenses...  – rather let us leave the financial aspect for the end. Newspapers, publishing houses, magazines, media, have been founded for it, up until satellite channels and websites all around the world. For the dissemination of this ideology, tens or hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent during these 100 years, all over the world. That is where it all started. It is useless to close our eyes and say that there is such a leader here who did this, such a regime there that does that, Such a government here, such an economic situation, and God knows what else... These are just the circumstances that could have made things easier, but the source of the problem lies there.

What is this ideology based upon? It rests on takfir (apostasy charge) of all those who do not belong to it, and therefore it makes lawful the interference with the blood (life), property and honor (of women) of all those who it accused of apostasy. Such is the problem. Well... And even more, this movement has taken a takfiri path that accuses of apostasy people and for the most part Muslims for the smallest and most trivial of reasons, thus sharply opposing the usages and the unanimous consensus of Muslims throughout history.

I will give you some examples. If someone says "My Lord, I call to Thee through thy Beloved Prophet Muhammad (saas)" – and this practice of intercession is attested by the Companions (of the Prophet), by their Successors, it is attested in the history of Muslims, with Sunnis as among Shiites, because it is not a practice present only among Shiites, and young people should not be mistaken about that, no. Well, how do they (the takfiris) consider this practice? As associationism. There it is, (the one who uses it) is considered a polytheist. O my brother! By God, I testify that there is no other God than the One God, that Muhammad is his Prophet, I believe in the Qur'an, in Heaven, in Hell, the Last Judgment, the Reward and the (divine) Punishment, I believe in the Qur'an, in the prophet, the Companions, in the Prophet's Family, in all sanctities of Islam, but (the takfiri retorts): "Since you intercede by the Prophet and ask for his intercession, you are a polytheist." There it is, you are now a polytheist. Well, if someone builds on the grave of a Saint or a Prophet of God, for example, one room and a dome, then he is a polytheist. If someone visits these sanctuaries, he's a polytheist, as he is considered a worshiper (of the graves).

But whether Sunni or Shiite, when after the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca), we go to the Prophet – saas – is it to greet him, or is it to worship him? This is an extremely simple and clear question, very clear. (But) no, it is a polytheist, it is associationism (so they say). 

Well, (let us consider) elections. Today, for example, there were elections in Tunisia. Pardon, yesterday, there were elections that will last several days. According to this jurisprudential and ideological (takfiri) current, any Tunisian who participates in elections is a disbeliever. 

And you will remember, in past years, when they banned participation in Iraqi elections, they do not say it's a sin, disobedience, they say they are miscreants (it's pure and simple disbelief according to them). For anything at all, they accuse of disbelief. The elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council? Disbelief! Well, the elections? Disbelief! There were some scholars of this trend giving fatwas according to which membership of the United Nations is disbelief. Oh my brother! Say it is an act of disobedience, error, fault ... No! Disbelief!

And now, I'm going to surprise you even more – and what I will say is present in their books of jurisprudence, I invent nothing. For example, one of the great Muftis of this current (I will not give his name) states that anyone who believes that the earth revolves around the sun... Is not that what we all believe? And science affirms it is so! Is this a religious issue, a question of dogma? No! It is a scientific question. The authority here is Astronomy. Well, scientists discovered that, and it is a given today. The modern world considers it indisputable that the Earth rotates on itself and moves around the sun. "Anyone who claims that the Earth revolves around the sun is a miscreant" (according to this takfiri savant). You see ? (They accuse of disbelief) for the most trivial reasons. You tell them, "Oh my brother, go gently! By God, I believe in God, His Messenger, His Emissaries, His Books, in the Day of Judgment in Heaven, in Hell, etc., etc., etc." But no, it is to no avail to you. Because you consider that the Earth revolves around the sun. And you are therefore a miscreant. I do not know what is the level of expertise of Daesh (the Islamic State) in geography, astronomy, or God knows what. 

Well, I myself read, still in the fatwas of this Grand (takfiri) Mufti, a question about a newspaper that reported about a woman who saw her son crushed by a car and who lives a true hell until the end of her life. It's a simple description of the situation. What is the fatwa on this? "This is manifest disbelief." It is disbelief. That is to say, the one who wrote it in the paper is a miscreant, he apostatized by these two lines of information. Why? By God, because he challenged the divine will. 

I want to read a page, or at least an extract from a book written by the grand-son of the founder of this school and this current, entitled "Letters and Fatwas", and be aware that they consider everything that was not present at the time of the Prophet (saas) to be an innovation. And he therefore considered – listen well, be surprised and be stunned, all this is present in their books, they have taught it for the past 100 years to children, they study them and even executives draw on their knowledge from these books, and that's where Daesh (the Islamic State) and their ilk were born – this book considers all of these as innovations that make lawful the infringement of the blood (the life) of Muslims. Well, see then what it is about, what are these calamitous innovations that make lawful the blood of anyone who commits them:

(1) Raising one's voice when pronouncing blessings on the Prophet (God's peace and blessings upon him and his family). [Audience pronounces blessings on the Prophet] Yes, raise your voices!

(2) The reading of the Qur'an after the call to prayer, from where the call was recited. That is to say, if the muezzin, after the call to prayer, remains in his place and begins to recite the Qur'an, it is an innovation, disbelief, authorizing an attack on his life.

(3) To pronounce blessings on the Prophet (saas) after the call to prayer. That is to say, if after the call to prayer, which ends with "There is no other God than the One God", one recites "And the blessings of God be upon our Master and Prophet Muhammad and his pure and noble family." or even "and his family and companions," or even without mentioning his Family and Companions. His problem is not with "his Family and Companions." If you invoke blessings on Muhammad after the call to prayer, it is an innovation, disbelief, that makes lawful the deprivation of Muslims lives. 

And I remember that a few years ago, here, in mosques in Beirut, there were problems inside a mosque, and people fought with sticks and knives, because the muezzin invoked God's blessings on the Prophet after the call to prayer and some people have seen this as an innovation and intolerable blasphemy.

(4) The reading of the traditions of the Prophet (saas) before the Friday sermon. If the Imam of the Friday prayer rises, and says "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate," and wants to start his speech, if you read the hadiths of the Prophet, it is an innovation.

(5) The reading of the history of the noble Prophet's birth – which is done on the occasion of his birthday, mostly with the Sunni and much more than the Shiites – this celebration of his birth, the fact that someone tells this story, how the Prophet was born, etc., etc., etc., is disbelief and innovation, which makes a blood attack lawful (even as far as ending life).

(6) The remembrance (Rosary) invocations after the Tarawih prayer. Our Sunni brothers have a recommended prayer during the month of Ramadan, The Tarawih prayer which they pray in the evening. If one of them does remembrance invocations after this prayer, it is an innovation and disbelief.

(7) The use of rosaries. These beads are an innovation and disbelief.

(8) The reading of the Surah al-Fatiha (The Opening) after the end of the prayer. Innovation and disbelief. What still remains?

(9) Pouring water on the graves [to clean tombstones, grow flowers ...]. 

Shall I continue?

(10) The reading of the Surah al-Fatiha (The Opening) on the dead. All Muslims do it. 

Now I do not know if the rest of the scholars of this movement and this school agree with the grand-son of the founder of the school or not. 

And it is also said that one of the great scholars of this current has killed a blind man who was a pious muezzin with a beautiful voice, and to whom he had forbidden to pronounce blessings on the Prophet (saas) from the top of the minaret after the call to prayer, and as he did not stop, he gave the order to kill him and he was killed. Then he said: "The rabâb (stringed musical instrument) in the house of an adulteress is less serious a sin than the blessings on the Prophet (saas) recited on the pulpits – (sorry) on the minarets – because the harm caused by the rabâb affects only he who plays, while the blessing on the Prophet is an innovation whose evil touches whoever follows its example."

If I wanted to go on (multiplying the examples), it would not end anytime soon.

[The audience pronounces blessings on the Prophet]

There is therefore a current that appeared and launched accusations of disbelief and apostasy against others, and they recognize it themselves in their writings, as stated one of their great muftis, to whom it was objected: "But my master, you have apostatized Muslims, those you mention represent 95% of Muslims!" and he replied, "So what? (The true) Muslims are the remaining 5%."

The status of Shiite (for takfiris) is known [apostates]. Well, what about the Sunnis? The Sufis are disbelievers (according to the takfiris). The Mu'tazilites are disbelievers. The 'Acharis, who constitute the majority of the Sunnis in the world today – Are considered as 'Acharis the followers of the school of Abu al-Hasan al-Ash'ari, and they are called 'Acharis – well yes, they are unbelievers, and they are not part of the people of the Sunnah and the consensus (Sunni). 

The people of the Sunnah and the consensus (Sunni) are only these takfirist or those who follow this school and this current. And they do not accept that you say about the other Sunni Muslims that they are part of the people of the Sunnah and consensus, no, they are 'Acharis, they are not part of the people of the Sunnah and consensus.

Well, they accuse Muslims of disbelief for the most trivial reasons, the vast majority of Muslims, and for what reasons? I have not been able to mention all of them since yesterday, but maybe one day someone will do, and will draw up a long list to let people know (what these takfiri profess). 

Why do they accuse people of disbelief? Why do they accuse of disbelief the Muslims of all (other) currents and all (other) schools? Are there really reasons that justify the charge of associationism and disbelief against Muslims? 

More dangerous than that, as we have pointed out on more than one occasion, when they determined that such people are associationists, that is to say that all these Muslims [95%] are polytheists, what is the consequence (for them)? It is that we must kill them.

For them, nothing else matters, oh my brothers. Neither the occupation of Palestine by the Zionists, because this ideology is older than the Zionist occupation of Palestine. This story has already been held in Najd (Saudi Arabia, where Wahhabism was born in the 18th century) in the Hijaz, Iraq, the Arabian Peninsula, where Muslims were killed, their throats slit, their wives were taken captive, their property looted, the majority of the victims being Sunnis, before the coming (of Zionists), even before the birth of [Theodore] Herzl (the founder of Zionism), and before the Zionist project was implanted in the region. This has nothing to do with it. (The takfiri terrorism) has nothing to do with (Zionism). An ideological trend appeared and said: "All these people (Muslims) are associationists, and your duty is to fight these polytheists. Kill them wherever you find them, wherever you meet them." They justify their actions by quoting the Qur'an in the false and unjust way (we talked about). And therefore, they perpetrate their atrocities, which they consider their religious and legal duty. They feel that it is their responsibility. They think they thus become closer to God. And that's why no one should underestimate the problem.

Excuse me, but I want to describe things in a concrete and realistic way. We know what a martyrdom operation is (suicide attack, kamikaze) [the Hezbollah targets only the military]. We know what a suicide operation implies. And it is not easy to find volunteers to perform a suicide operation. Nobody should underestimate the situation and say that those who fight with Daesh (the Islamic State) or Al Qaeda in more than one Arab and Muslim country, (it is not fair to say that) it is only a question of money (mercenaries). No, it is not a question of money. Why cloud the issue? It's not about money. Many of them are fighting (sincerely), to the point of no longer wanting anything from the debris of this ephemeral lowly world. It is true that there are those who run after money, power, possessions and enjoyment, and that's another question, but there are some who do not want any of that. And the proof is that they are capable of launching 10, 20, 30, 40 suicide bombers, perhaps on one front or a single operation. Hundreds of suicide bombers in a few months. No, we well understand (the severity of) this issue.

These people believe that this is a path that leads to God the Exalted, the Most High. They truly believe they are going to Heaven. They really believe they will dine with the Prophet – may God's blessings be upon him and his family. They really believe it. For whoever is not convinced will not act thusly and perform these suicide operations. That is why we must not underestimate the issue, as some are trying to do in the world today, no! The authentic approach to this dangerous phenomenon that exists today in our Arab and Muslim countries is an approach that is cultural, intellectual and doctrinal. These people really believe in what they do. 

Well, what is the problem? It is that they are convinced (of their way), and the problem is not only in the accusation of disbelief. Because if it's just a matter of accusing people of being a "dirty infidel," if you believe that (doing nothing), as you like, (it doesn't hurt anyone). Or if they accuse of being a "dirty polytheist", it has no impact. But the problem is that they do not stick to the charge. The charge of disbelief and polytheism leads according to them to obligations, and necessitates measures, a program of actions... up until fighting, massacre, slaughter, destruction, looting, capture of women, an attempts on honor and modesty, and all that we see today, and in the name of Islam. Well, this is the true description of the situation.

[To be continued]

Vladimir Putin: ‘Russian Bear will not submit to US warmongers’ (2)

News conference of Vladimir Putin - December 18, 2014, Moscow

The President’s news conference was broadcast live by Channel One, Rossiya-1 and Rossiya-24 TV channels, and by the Radio Rossii, Mayak and Vesti FM radio stations. 1259 Russian and foreign journalists have been accredited to cover the news conference.

Source: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/47250

Transcript:

[...] Anton Vernitsky, Channel One Russia: Mr President, are the current economic developments the price we have to pay for Crimea? Maybe the time has come to acknowledge it?

Vladimir Putin: No. This is not the price we have to pay for Crimea… This is actually the price we have to pay for our natural aspiration to preserve ourselves as a nation, as a civilisation, as a state. And here is why.

As I’ve already mentioned when answering a question from your NTV colleague, and as I’ve said during my Address to the Federal Assembly, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia opened itself to our partners. What did we see? A direct and fully-fledges support of terrorism in North Caucasus. They directly supported terrorism, you understand? Is that what partners usually do? I won’t go into details on that, but this is an established fact. And everyone knows it.

On any issue, no matter what we do, we always run into challenges, objections and opposition. Let me remind you about the preparations for the 2014 Olympics, our inspiration and enthusiasm to organise a festive event not only for Russian sports fans, but for sports fans all over the world. However, and this is an evident truth, unprecedented and clearly orchestrated attempts were made to discredit our efforts to organise and host the Olympics. This is an undeniable fact! Who needs to do so and for what reason? And so on and so forth.

You know, at the Valdai [International Discussion] Club I gave an example of our most recognisable symbol. It is a bear protecting his taiga. You see, if we continue the analogy, sometimes I think that maybe it would be best if our bear just sat still. Maybe he should stop chasing pigs and boars around the taiga but start picking berries and eating honey. Maybe then he will be left alone. But no, he won’t be! Because someone will always try to chain him up. As soon as he’s chained they will tear out his teeth and claws. In this analogy, I am referring to the power of nuclear deterrence. As soon as – God forbid – it happens and they no longer need the bear, the taiga will be taken over.

We have heard it even from high-level officials that it is unfair that the whole of Siberia with its immense resources belongs to Russia in its entirety. Why exactly is it unfair? So it is fair to snatch Texas from Mexico but it is unfair that we are working on our own land – no, we have to share.

And then, when all the teeth and claws are torn out, the bear will be of no use at all. Perhaps they’ll stuff it and that’s all.

So, it is not about Crimea but about us protecting our independence, our sovereignty and our right to exist. That is what we should all realise.

If we believe that one of the current problems – including in the economy as a result of the sanctions – is crucial… And it is so because out of all the problems the sanctions take up about 25 to 30 percent. But we must decide whether we want to keep going and fight, change our economy – for the better, by the way, because we can use the current situation to our own advantage – and be more independent, go through all this or we want our skin to hang on the wall. This is the choice we need to make and it has nothing to do with Crimea at all. [...]

Hassan Nasrallah: The Islamic State is the biggest distortion of Islam in History (English Sub.)

Speech by the Secretary General of Hezbollah, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on the occasion of the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein – October 27, 2014

In this excerpt, Sayed Hassan Nasrallah denounces the atrocities of the Islamic State as a gross distortion of the principles of Islam, and as a danger to Islam and Muslims themselves because of the image that they convey.

Translation : Jennyfor Tlaxcala

Edition : http://www.sayed7asan.blogspot.com

Full original video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKcCPd_XDOk

Retranscription :

[...]

What we are currently experiencing in the Islamic world, and in our region in particular, in the light of the developments that have occurred in recent years, and the rise, expansion and takeover by the movement that we designate as "takfiri", of extensive territories in some Arab and Islamic countries, as well as these appalling, barbaric and outrageous practices that we see and hear of day and night, all this requires us to take a courageous stand, and also to clearly define the nature of the dangers represented by the takeover by the takfiri movement of this or that Arab or Muslim country, or even several countries.

O my brothers and sisters! With all honesty – and my words will be simple and clear, as the evidence will be – and as is my habit, I will refrain from any use of a scholarly or complex terminology.

Frankly, yes, we can say today that these threats which menace Islam are comparable to those in the year 60-61 of Hijra [martyrdom of Imam Hussein at the time Islam was under threat of extinction].

First, of the threat this current poses to Islam – as a religion, Message, values, principles. How is this so? Let me present the proof that there is a real danger.

First, in the discourse of this current, they claim to be representing Islam, they claim to be representing the Qur'an, and as predicted by some prophecies about our time, these individuals know the Qur'an by heart. They learn the Qu'ran and cite it as proof, they recite its verses in their public discourse. And even in battle, when they invade, slaughter, kill, or perform any one of their atrocities, which they convey by television or the Internet, they invoke God in their statements, "God Almighty said, etc."

Of course they have miscomprehended the Qur'anic verses, and base themselves on false pretences. They make serious errors in understanding the Qur'an and in its interpretation – but that's a separate exegetical study that has no place in such a speech.

But what we must remember is that for each of their actions, they invoke the authority of the Qur'anic verses, or of hadiths which are forged and falsely attributed to the Prophet – God's peace and blessings upon him and his family. They say: "The Prophet – God's peace and blessings upon him and his family – said such and such a thing." That is to say, they do not justify their crimes by assigning them to the thinker, the scholar, or the Sheikh, to the Professor or movement of which they are followers, the path they follow through their actions. But they seek to attribute these crimes directly to the Book of Allah Almighty and His Prophet – peace and blessings upon him and his family.

Of course, this is a very dangerous thing. What do they want to achieve with this?

It is a case of rooting in people's minds, incident after incident, day after day, year after year, that this is what Islam is. They want to spread the idea) that this is Islam, not that it would be a deviant or misplaced sect, that has nothing to do with Islam, No! And that is why we are beginning to hear in some areas of the West, and even in our region, people who claim that this is not due to the fact that there are different schools of Islam, diversity, differing interpretations, various schools of thought, no, they claim that this is Islam, and that's it! "This is your religion, this is your Qur'an, this is your Prophet!" And of course, this is something dangerous, very dangerous indeed.

Well, with time, this will root in minds, this infamous and false understanding of Islam, the Book of Islam, the Qur'an, and the Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings be upon him and his family.

I can state with certainty that what is taking place today is the greatest distortion of Islam in History. In all honesty, I declare this.

First, because the nature of the events taking place today has few examples in history, provided it has a precedent – and we can actually find examples here and there. And especially for this second reason, which is that we are now at a time where there are communications, media that transmit video, images, sounds, commentary, in each house, in every ear over the entire world.

In the past, hundreds of years ago, atrocities have been perpetrated, but they have not been made public with images and sound, with precision and detail. They weren't revealed until much later after the act. 

But today, everything happens online, live on air. Today, throats are slit live on air. Mass massacres are committed, online. And the various crimes are available in image and sound, and you know that this is much more prominent in the minds, hearts and feelings, far more than oral or written diffusion.

This is why what is happening today is the greatest threat that Islam has had to face regarding the denigration of its values, its teachings, its thought and reputation.

The consequence of all this is, first, that non-Muslims drift away from Islam Today, in many countries of the world, there are people who do not follow any religion, and whether due to a lack of thought, of dogma, of spirituality, of spirits, etc., they learn about Islam and become converted.

There are idol worshippers in the world. There are various principles and dogmas. Many of them accept Islam and are friendly toward it everywhere. What is happening now? They propose a template, that they want to pass for Islam, and more, they want to pass it for the true Islam, the authentic Islam – because they place great emphasis on this terminology, "authentic", "true", "right", etc. 

And of course, anyone who sees these crimes says "So this is Islam? I do not want to hear about it." He will not even be willing to discuss it, to approach it, to do research, to ask questions. 

The second consequence is that all this distances non-Muslims from Muslims. For all this presents Muslims as a group of barbarians, criminals thirsty for blood, who can coexist with absolutely no one. And of course, this exposes Muslims as communities, groups and peoples all around the world, to the dangers of isolation, animosity and hostility.

The third consequence, which is also very dangerous, is that all this distances Muslims themselves from Islam. 

There are many Muslims who know but little about Islam.

And when all media are telling them "This is what Islam is, here are the sheikhs of the Islam, the scholars of Islam, the jihadists of Islam, the throat-slitters of Islam", many of these Muslims will say : "Enough. We have nothing to do with this religion, nothing to do with Islam."

And that is why today we are seeing the beginnings of – I do not want to amplify this reality, but in more than one Arab country, up to the interior of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, in other places, there are the beginnings of atheism, we begin to talk about a wave of atheism.

Why [should we care about this]? Because things will come to the questioning of the Qur'an, the prophecy of Muhammad – peace and blessings be upon him and his family –, [people will come to wonder] whether he is a Prophet of God or not, until finally questioning God and even His existence.

As goes the popular phrase, "They turn Muslims into disbelievers", this it is. There are the beginnings in many places.

I am not talking about a major movement or phenomenon, but as a precaution, because there are data that suggest that, as a precaution, I say that there are here the beginnings, dangerous beginnings.

It reaches even the fervent believers rooted in Islam. There comes a time when, because of this emphasis, for months and years, for example: (terrorists) bomb? (They do this shouting) "Allahu Akbar!" They slaughter? (They do this shouting) "Allahu Akbar!"[God is the greatest] Whatever the act they commit, (they cry) "Allahu Akbar!"

And so, it comes to a time when on hearing "Allahu Akbar!" people will wonder "What's the matter? A murder? A slaughter? Some kind of disaster among the peoples of the Arab and Muslim countries?"

Up until the denigration of all Islamic thought, morals, culture, symbols and Islamic traditions. The hijab (Islamic headscarf) and abaya (Islamic dress) become a shocking display, etc. The beard becomes a shocking display. The term "jihad" becomes an infamous term. The term "martyr" becomes an infamous term. Is not there a danger to Islam? What is Islam? It is these concepts, these teachings, these values, these customs, these traditions.

That's the first point, regarding the threat to Islam.

When it comes to the threat against the general structure of the (Islamic) Nation, because in fact, they now threaten the entire structure of our Community:they tear the Community apart, they divide it, they make lawful the plunder of its blood, its property, its honour, its shrines, its mosques, its churches, which are another part of the Community, every historical relic, all that has to do with history, all the tombs, etc., all this has no place [nor respect].

The general scene they present is a scene of destruction, bloody fighting. 

Consider all of the region: throughout the region, we see only bloody conflicts here, there, over there, etc. 

But why? How did we get there?

At the point where people can no longer talk to each other, have dialogue, nor find a political solution, nor even find any way to get along. What is the cause of this?

Of course, there are various reasons, but one of the main causes is the establishment, in our region, of forces and movements who are not willing to dialogue or debate, who believe they have the absolute truth, and who consider anyone who is different from them in this negative, radical, uncompromising and hateful way, that I will come to discuss.

That's how it is. Well, if we come, after this first part – let me conclude this first part by saying: yes, what is happening now in our region and the world is a threat to Islam as a religion, and a threat to the Community and the Islamic societies as entities.

[To be continued…]