Murder in the Name of Allah — Page 115
Islamic Terrorism. A neutral observer will agree that this growing militant tendency is creating disorder among the Muslims themselves and that it is reponsible for generating extreme hatred in the hearts of adherents of one sect against the adherents of another. . As far as the non-Muslim powers are concerned, they can feel completely safe and should rest assured that there is no danger whatsoever to them from the so-called militant tendencies of the Muslim world. To demonstrate this, one has only to consider the relationship of Saudi Arabia with the West, particularly the USA. It is inconceivable that Saudi Arabia or countries under her influence could even dream of raising the sword against the USA or her allies. The Saudi regime is 100 per cent dependent for survival on the USA. Almost the entire wealth of the ruling family is deposited with American and. Western banks. On top of this, the dependence upon the West for internal and external security is so obvious that it need not be dwelt upon here. These two factors alone guarantee that neither Saudi. Arabia nor any Muslim country under her influence can ever pose a threat to the non-Muslim West. Moreover, the very fact that none of the Muslim states is today self-reliant in its production of war materials, and has to depend either upon the West or East for all of its defensive or offensive requirements, provides more than enough of a guarantee for the safe and peaceful conduct of their relations with non-Muslim powers. The same principle is applicable to countries like Libya and Syria, which enjoy more cordial relationships with. Eastern powers than with Western ones. . No one who has even a remote understanding of modern warfare can imagine a real threat from so-called 'Islamic' militancy. Of course, there is danger in these growing tendencies and one is bound to be perturbed by them. The danger from 'Islamic' militancy is a threat to the world of. Islam itself; it is an inward-looking threat which is destroying the peace of Muslims everywhere. All the intolerance, narrow-mindedness and bigotry which we observe in the Muslim world today is playing havoc with the peace of the Muslim world. Alas!. I am conscious of the fact that, strictly speaking, the word 'terrorism' applies to acts of terror, attempts to cause bomb explosions, and so on. . But I do not believe that this is the only type of terrorism the world is suffering from. I believe that whenever repressive measures are taken by governments against their own countrymen to still the voice of 115