Throwing a Fitna?

John Hinderaker

Speaking truth to Power Line

(Image from Power Line)

I've got a sore throat and stuffy head this morning, so I'm taking it easy today with the blogging and leaving you all with a puzzle to solve concerning reactions to the film Fitna, a conundrum that John Hinderaker has articulated in response to the news that "LiveLeak, which apparently was the main source of the film online, has taken it down in response to threats of violence":

So, let's see: Fitna says that a propensity to violence is inherent in Islam, a deeply controversial proposition. The film can't be shown anywhere because people are afraid of . . . something. So instead, the film is posted online, where millions of people view it. But after 24 hours or so, the film is taken down because threats of violence are made by . . . someone. I dunno, it's really puzzling. The one thing that everyone agrees on is that it's ridiculous to think that Muslims can be violent. So the headchopping threats must be coming from . . . someone else.

You'll find Hinderaker's remark at Power Line, and something about the man himself here. Other than this, I know nothing about him or about Power Line.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a respected Islamic scholar who has studied at Cairo's Al Azhar University, has a popular al Jazeera program called "Shariah and Life," and has co-founded the website IslamOnline," has an answer to Hinderaker's puzzled query:

Sheikh Qaradawi, the president of the International Union for Muslim Scholars, regretted that many Muslims project a distorted image of their religion though their wrong understand[ing] of the Qur'an.

"We ask them to better understand the Islam's message of peace, mercy and human brotherhood," he added.

Qaradawi's own understanding of that message allows him to justify suicide bombings in Israel.

Anyway, back tomorrow...