We’re going to be joined for the whole programme by Walid Shoebat – who describes himself as a former terrorist. He says, “Islam has one goal and it is to overthrow all western cultures”……”Islam sees Sharia law as the only acceptable law”.
Once a member of the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organisation) he also admits to participating in acts of terror. But he’s changed his views – radically. Now he defends the state of Israel and has turned his back on Islam completely.
He’s published several books, most of them have caused enormous controversy, not least his book, “Why we want to kill you”. He argues that Islam as a faith is incompatible with western values…..do you agree with him?
He’s here to answer any questions you want to put him, whether it’s about the terrorism he was involved in or what motivated him to change his views on terrorism.
Post your questions to him below…
RSS feed
BBC World Have Your Say 
Several questions here:
1) If Islam as a faith is incompatible with western values then why is it that the majority of Muslims appear to simply want to pursue their lives while they let others pursue their own. I am referring to the “Silent Majority”…not only those Muslims living in western nations, but also the millions sprinkled in every corner of the world.
2) As a person who has lived both sides of this coin, how would you propose one bests go about diffusing animosity, misunderstanding and violence between Muslim extremists and other Muslims as well as non-Muslims?
3) Islam is one of the Great Religions not only because it has so many adherents but also because its people have given so much to the world. It is impossible for me to believe that a culture such as this would prefer destruction to constructive problem-solving in the face of value differences vis-a-vis itself and others. Your comments, please.
Two questions to choose from:
1. What danger does the growing Muslim immigrant population in Europe pose to traditional European culture and values ? Are they there to assimilate, or to colonize?
2. Are Muslim extremists such as Hamas actively using their own civilian population as human sacrifices in the media war against Israel?
Before this becomes all about Shoebat’s questionable resume, I encourage listeners to examine that which he says that you may verify with independent study. I agree in most parts with what he does say, -in apparent compassion with muslims- without wholly believing his creditials.
To Mr. Shoebat:
Has a Fatwa been issued against you? Do you fear for your life? It is curious how 2 billion people could hold such hatred and not yet have acted upon it in a more unified way. How do you explain this reluctance for unified action? Thank you very much for speaking to us about these important topics.
g
In “The End of Faith,” which is a treatise against all organized religion, the philosopher Sam Harris says: “ The world, from the point of view of Islam, is divided into the “House of Islam” and the “House of War,” and this latter designation should indicate how many Muslims believe their differences with those who do not share their faith will be ultimately resolved.”
In other words, Islam is not at war with the West; it is at war will all people everywhere who are not Muslim.
As a non-theist (life is short, I’ll find out soon enough) I am appalled at the arrogance of people who would murder others for not sharing a belief system that has nothing whatever to do with those peoples’ historical, cultural, religious (or non-religious) traditions.
1) If your elected official told you to report to war but your spiritual leader said the war was wrong, would you go? Likewise, if your spiritual leaders said you must pick up arms and fight, but your governmental leaders demanded that you not fight, who would you listen to?
2) How was this plan for world domination laid out? It takes more then desires to “overthrow” the most economically and militarily superior culture on Earth. How did they plan to do it, and how is it going so far?
It seems to me that this man is an extreemest either way. Both stands he has made thus far have been rather radical in nature.
Asiya fro Mozambique
What’s going on?
I find Walid Shoebat difficult to believe
I lived and worked alongside Arabs for many years, sure they ar e very serious about their faith but virually all I knew were happy to be with others
The nut cases became credible when the Zionists moved into Palestine, with the blessing of the US and Russia who were pleased to see them leave,
Have u ever met Osama B Laden? Is hefor real.
Why is Islam any more dangerous than Christianity or any other philosophy when combined with fierce ambition and a collective fever?
Do you think Israel is less to blame than others in the area for the market in fear?
Once a generation is addicted to mutually inflicted fear, how do you stop it?
Did the US really blow it by smashing the more secular liberation movements?
I have three major questrions for Mr. Shoebat and I want him to realy answer them to clear my doubt.
1. If you say that Islam as a faith which is directly from the Almighty God is in compatible with Western values, then who created the entire Universe including the Western? Are we not all under the values?
2. What was your religion when you were a Terrorist? Or did you just shield with the Islam religion to accomplish your aim so that the blame can go to the religion?
3. Don’t you think you can be charged with World Crime and sent to the ICC in The Haege for the Terroristic activities you carried out against humanity in the past?
Mohammed Kondawa, Monrovia – Liberia
After you’ve caused the death of innocent bystanders, and heard of their loved ones’ anguish, how do you sleep at night?
Eileen in Virginia
Is it really a plan to overthrow the Western cultures. As there are major conflicts between Shia and Sunni, the problem seems to be, “My way is the only way.” Are there more casualties in the fight between sects or between the Muslim terrorists and Western culture. How does the fighting between the different sects effect the over all ambition to spread a particular religion?
I Have “Prothet Of Doom” By Craig Winn, and for the last 3 years been absorbed in the bloggs reporting on the world Jihad,
I get so frustrated at people like George Galloway and others who take the simple tack of disbelief and revert to “your an Islamophobe” and its all our fault thought train, i have termed the phrase “dormant dhimmis”
What is the best way to convay to a dormant dhimmi the dangers of fundamental Islam and isnt islam itself a danger due to its the grass inwhich theses serpants slither ?
My question to your guest, the ‘former terrorist”
Is: Why do you believe that Islam…Wants the overthrow of governments and the installing of Islam into the government acts…
~Dennis Junior~
Hello Mr. Shoebat,
It is generally known that unfortunately quite a number of Palestinians are only interested in the payment they receive to serve their masters and for that money are ready to sell thei folk to their enemies and oppressors . Are you sure you aren’t one
0f these money minded traitors? Are you sure those books you are supposed to have published are really you own work or rather a work only bearing your name?
I have many questions, too many to occupy all of your time today. First of all I’d like to say thank you for giving us all the opportunity to speak with you today. Here are my most basic questions: How can Islamic extremists hate me? We have never met, I work, I have a family, I have pets, I have hobbies, I have dreams and ambitions of my own, I am a spiritual person, I would never hurt you. How are terrorists trained to hate me with such a passion? I participate in my government both locally and nationally, I disagree with my National Administration, or at least have for the last 8 years, I am excited about that changing soon, however, I admit fully that American policies can reek havoc on this planet, but I have the ability to vote and effect the changes I want to see without ever having to take the life of someone I disagree with. “We must become the change we want to see,” those words were spoken by Mahatma Gandhi – what were you told that trumped this thought? How does hatred and murder fundamentally take the place of peace and good will?
1) How do you stop present terrorists
2) Why do they want me, an average 28 year old from Los Angeles who doesn’t hate and wants us all to get along, dead?
-Anthony, LA, CA
Public and Private Space
So can you no longer have private conversations at work? In reality, it seems that you can no longer have a private chat on the job, since people will take out of context if they don’t like the comments.
How safe is it to tell a joke? It is very unsafe to tell a joke….
Are there degrees of offense?Yes….
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guantanamo Terror
Is this the first real test of the so called special relationship between US and Britain? Yes….
Do you feel it is in the public interest for torture evidence to be revealed? Yes, since…it will tell what the government did to those suspects….
Should security come before openess? Openess, first then security comes in Second……
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Women Drinking in India
Do you think this is true in your community and should this still be the case? Women are adults and they should make their own decision regarding their own conduct….
Do women still need “protecting”? in some situations….
~Dennis Junior~
For Walid Shoebat,
What is it that makes Western liberals accept the terror of radical Islam but eschew Israel defending itself? How do we wake the world up?
Salaam guys,
I am a young Baghdadi woman who proudly practice Islam… I can tell with complete confidence that I, all of my family members and close relatives, all of my good friends, my colleagues and professors at college, all of us just want to live in peace and harmony with the world around us… My best girlfriend at college is a devout Christian and she and I are just like sisters… I am not gonna defend my faith here in the face of your guest, but I’m just gonna say that just b/c he got it wrong at some point during his life, that doesn’t mean that ALL of us have got it wrong like he did… I mean I am a proud practicing Muslim, and both my friend and colleague Ahmed and his mom Dr Mohassin were murdered by American security guards, and yet I didn’t become a terrorist who wants so much to murder innocent civilians, instead I am gonna be a doctor who’s gonna honour human life… With my love… Yours forever, Lubna in Baghdad…
why Walid who killed as a former terrorist not arrested for crime against humanity.
There is a local saying in Liberia that ” One apple spoil the entire tree” I think this is affecting Muslim. Since few of their brothers are killing in the name of Allah, one will definitely conclude that it is their believe. But one thing i know is that Suicide bombing in the name of Allah doesn’t apply to the hierarchy as witnessed with Saddam.
RE: Dan who states that Western liberals accept Islamic acts of terror and eschew Israel defending itself and wants to know how to wake the world up.
This ‘Western Liberal’ is not anyone I have come across; it seems a straw man or a projection to battle for the sake of keeping the sides apart.
Perhaps Israel is partly responsible for recent image problems. Israel woke the world up with white phosphorus over Gaza recently. This is an offensive breach of international law against a civilian population. Self defense by a state should be just that, not overkill.
Terrorists, regardless of their affiliation, are not a state army representing an elected government, so it is impossible to hold them to the same standards as members of the United Nations. Does Dan really want us to lower our standards of international conduct for Israel? How does this help?
Who do you think perpetrated 9/11 and what education if any have you received in the sciences?
Shalom – I think it would be fair to say that there is still a majority in Israel who want Israel to remain a “Jewish” state but who would also like to see a Palestinian state in most of the West Bank and Gaza. Given that Israel will never accept any significant right of return to within the 67 borders, and will insist on some sort of border adjustments and division of Jerusalem – as a former member of the PLO do you see peace as possible?
Hi,
I would just like to quote from Walid Shoebat’s Web site :
“Love is the only force
capable of transforming an enemy into a friend”
Martin Luther King Jr. 1929-1968
——————————————————
In 2006 the Israelis wiped out Lebanon
Recently the Israelis wiped out Gaza.
Tell me – were the Israelis showing ” love ” . ?
Thanks
==================================
http://www.al-islam.org/
***********************************************
Hi,
My question :
If you can convert from Terrorist to Christianity
then there is a better chance that you can convert to
‘ Real Islam ‘
Thanks
@Lubna
Murder is a very serious charge. Are we to assume that the perpetrators were arrested, tried and sentenced? Maybe there exists a conspiracy in the Iraqi Government to prevent murderers from being brought to justice.
I think that you need to rephrase and not slander good people trying to give the Iraqi people something they never had but desperately need.
Had the reporter thrown his shoes at Saddam Hussein he along with his family would have been put into a human shredder. Ahhh…. the romanticism of those days……..Ahhh.
Walid,
Israel faced accusations of a ‘disproportionate’ war against Hamas in Gaza.
Here in Israel many Israelis think that Israel did not do enough as Hamas were not depleted to the level that Fatah under President Abbas could take charge of the Gaza Strip.
It seems that Israelis are alone in acknowledging that peace is not possible while Palestinians are represented by Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Do you agree that it is possible to completely defeat radical Islamic terror regimes, such as Hamas and Hizbollah?
I find fault in the phrasing “the goal of Islam is to overthrown Western Culture”. Wouldn’t it be more accurate that an overthrow of Western Culture is more a means to a goal? If this is true, what in fact would be the “goal” of Islam?
As a former Terrorist What are the differencies and similarities between TERRORISM and JIHADISM? What are the objections and aims of terroritism? Does terrorism have anything to do with Plastine-Isrealis conflict is it just a war of converting people to Islams?
Being so open with all this, are you ever scared of someone killing you now for your VERY open views?
Doesn’t the Koran say that once you turn your back on Islam, you must be killed?
-Anthony, LA, CA
Since so many declare him to be just as extreme in his new faith, perhaps you could ask him, when last he planted a bomb?
Hi,
Is State terrorism alright.
Is it OK to drop 1000 lb dime bombs and chemical bombs on innocent Palestinians.
Is collective punishment justified ?
Thanks
Are you guy sure this man has change? onec a killer is alway a killer. I don’t believe him
Thank
You have engaged in terrorist activities, risking your life, but you have turned the page. Are you not afraid once again of running the risk of losing your life, now from the part of the Islamic fundamentalists?
Oh come on! will this bit pass moderation?
Ideologies should be understood and discussed with some recognition of the varying degrees of seperation that each adherent demonstrates between themselves and more established tradition.
What Waleed is expressing is a form of Islam that has evolved in service of people with political and militant objectives. I don’t dispute that there is this perspective within the Muslim world but to express it as though it is the whole of Islam is not only false but a disservice to the very dialogue of peace that he claims to now be pursuing.
Walid,
Would I be correct in saying that you are considered an apostate by Islamic authorities? . Does “the one true faith” say that apostacy warrants the death sentence?
Do you agree that the the Arab war against Israel is a jihad, a religious, holy war. and that their rejection of Jewish rights and history in Israel underlies the foundation of this Islamic jihad doctrine?
I understand that in your schooldays you were a Muslim in a Chrisian school. What is the situatioh of the Arab Christian in Muslim society?
Mr. Shoebat, I feel like you have a weak understanding of Islam and have read no theory, history, or philosophy of Islam on your own, which is unfortuante because it doesn’t make you a very good speaker or representative of the faith.
Also, I believe that your faith does not define what you should or shouldn’t do, you grew up in the occupied land of Palestine and thus were raised in a “war” environment. You were taught t fight for your land. How you did it was unfortunate. Because you are a terrorist because of YOUR actions not the teachings of Islam.
If you read the history of the world, which obviously you haven’t, you will see a trend that people (of all nations) will fight for their land and there will be a bad guy and a good guy. You were taught that the Israelies were the bad guys, which not all of them are. But do me and the world a favor before you open your mouth and talk about things you have not studied, and READ up on it first so that you don’t sound uninformed.
The West needs to hear this… we spend so much time pointing at ourselves. Muslims protest that they are not ALL Islamists… and yet the shedding of the martyr’s blood is a goal of many many Muslims.
Shouldn’t ideologies be understood and discussed with some recognition of the varying degrees of seperation that each adherent demonstrates between themselves and more established tradition?
Your guest is a disturbed individual who has simply switched allegiances. His present view of Islam is as stereotyped as his former view of Judaism. Why are you giving valuable air time to a person who represents only himself, and whose self-serving pronouncements will not shed light on this important issue, nor move the discussion forward.
Hi,
My Question :
Are you now inciting hatred against Muslims ?
I am listening with interest to today’s editions of your program. As a practicing Muslim myself, I am truly happy Mr. Shabbat renounced terrorism. If this came at the expense of his islamic faith, I -personally- find this regrettable but again, I am happy he found his inner peace in Christianity.
I am however deeply concerned by his portrayal of the religion he abandoned. The islam I practice, the one that was practiced by my parents and everyone I know is a religion of love, dedication to God and strive for righteousness. The religion I practice clearly condemns terrorism of all kinds and the killing of civilians, denounces Al Qaeda, and preaches fairness and equality amongst all.
The concept of martyrdom or shahada is one that has been twisted and misused by fundamentalists of all religions in the worst possible way. It is one of the most noble forms of dedication to God – giving up the dearest thing you have – your soul and body for the cause of God. The fact that some groups of people bastardize the cause of God and trivialize the sacrifice of one’s life is but the corruption of a noble moral, the blame of the religion for it is rather unfair.
Once again, I am happy Mr. Shabbat has found his inner peace – this is what we all strive for, but I urge fairness when talking about a religion that has been hijacked for far too long by far too many.
Best regards.
This guest sounds like Colin Powell testifying at the UN about WMDs in Iraq, he’s a phony-bologna.
I’d suspect that he is funded and promoted by American Conservative Republican Christians as part of their ongoing campaign of spreading FUD, Fear, Uncertainty, and doubt.
The ways of lying are: Generalizations, Distortions, and Deletions. He is using all three.
I am concerned that Walid is spreading and strengthening the very misconception the Western world has on Islam. I am a Muslim woman from Singapore. I have lived a balanced life, striking between modernity and Islam. Have you heard of Islam hadhari? Islam as a religion and a way of life does not ask its followers to do jihad by killing people, as jihad can be as simple as getting an education and struggling for that paper certificate. Out of the billions of Muslims in the world, most co-exist peacefully with people of different faiths. The fact that there are terrorists is because of their wrong and extreme interpretation of the Quran, which Walid is perpetuating.
Hi, this is Nikki Chambers from Jamaica
Your guest, Mr. Shoebat is providing very candid expose’ on how extremists think…
I believe we can learn from his honesty, and it may be possible to find ways to combat this kind of ‘absolutist’ thinking
Hi,
Thank you so much for this programme.
I have read Walid Shoebat’s books and have studied Islam for over 3 decades. How refreshing it is to see someone have the courage to speak out so openly and truthfully about such controversial issues.
In this day and age appeasement and the downplaying of Islamic agendas appears to be the order of the day and Walid is likely to face animousity at every turn, even on this programme.
Kindest regards,
Doug.
I think Mr. Shoebat’s desire to quote the Quran is valuable in this conversation. If it is the basis of Islamic ethics, such blanket statements as that he attributes to Muhammed concerning the killing of those who leave Islam is valuable evidence toward the intent of the Quran. But, I believe equally damning statements are easily pulled from the Bible or Torah. I would like to know if Mr. Shoebat differentiates between Muslims who live peaceful, productive, admirable lives, and those who simply find violence in Sharia and use it as an excuse to kill for their political views.
Mr. Shoebat,
Have you found that your message and personal experience is effective and compelling among practicing Muslims? Nominal Muslims?
The problem with your guest is that is too prone to generalizations. All he needs is an example of Muslim women marrying out of Islam. I invite him to go to Nigeria or other non-Mideastern countries where Israeli politics does not predominate religious life for many examples. I am myself an agnostic, but cannot buy his overgeneralizations about Islam AND Christianity.
My question to shobat is e still muslim? I work among muslins and none of them,would follow extrimints, they all live with values and respect within our society.
Why would one want to kill? when a country that allows everyculture to live and work in a fair society. I can only speack for the u.k.
i AM SORRY BUT YOUR BOOK WOULD NOT APPEAL TO ME.
What does seem unfair is how a country like Isarel conflict can cause so much bloodshed. And is no way made to pay compensation to build Gaza again not only that where was the muslim society in helping their people at a time when help was needed.
i AM TAKING ABOUT THE BIG ARAB STATES.
I am not for any kind of violents, but when this peole cannot have a very good life to leave there families in such a state of affaires. Its such a selfish act to do.
What about the peole they have killed, how would you feel if you where a son or mother left behind. when your husband has commited such a act.?
what change your mind about being a extreminist.?
I feel that islam and the west have alot to offer, each other.
Non terrorist people feel perhaps Islam is brainwashing you so that Muslims the world over should suffer the consequences of terrorrism so that they become better muslims??.
Islam, in its true form, is no more militaristic than Christianity. But unfortuanately, those who twist the Holy Books to their own advantage have much more power in Islam than they do in Christianity (Al-Qaeda, for example, versus the Moral Majority). So the goal of fundamentalist Islam, like fundamentalist Christianity or Judaism, is to overthrow anything that does not use their respective religion. We know this is wrong in all senses, but there is no more reason to generalise about Muslims than there is to generalise about Christians.
I have known many perfectly nice Muslims, and many conniving and arrogant Christians and atheists. And vice-versa. It is a fallacy to judge someone by religion, unless they openly admit to being “fundamentalists”.
It is really amazing. He just move from one extremism that wrongly interprete Qor’an and Hadiis claiming to be the best muslim to another corner of extrimism with same wrong interpretation and understanding of Islam. It is unfortunate that he is using the extremist ideology he had been brainwoshed (and using to kill the innocents) against the whole religion.
Mr Terrorist doesnt know anything about muslims ! I am from Turkey and in my religion which is muslim, there is nothing written as ‘kill people’ ! I think he didn’t even read Kuran thats why he became a terrorist ! and he is even talking about Ataturk ! He is a muslam too ! So as we can see there are different muslam beliefs and it cant be generilize. I am really shocked about his description about islam. Please somebody tell him not to talk anymore, otherwise he will influence other people badly. already people are hating muslims…
WHYS, I think that you’ve been played.
This guest is just the next American Conservative Republican Christian propaganda step in the series that includes distributing the DVD “Obsession”.
You’ve been tricked, you fell for it.
As an Orthodox Christian, I too am dismayed that one never hears about the plight of the indigenous Christians in the middle East.
WHYS, this is quite a strike!
First of all, there are two issues involves here: Arab-Israeli conflict and Religion–a combination that it would be almost impossible to get a subjective point of view out of it. We would not get clear results here; the only thing we would get is scrabbled thoughts.
Second: In his debate, why your guest is *very keen* to giving very sufficient “contact information” for the people he had worked with—name, position, city (hopefully he will not give phone numbers!); what is his point of that?
I’m glad that this fellow has stated that he was a terrorist / extremist Even the most uninformed Muslim rejects this notion of terrorism and extremism as a part of true guidance. He speaks of the different kinds of punishment for crimes such as kidnapping and connects it to Sharia and Muslims(perhaps rightly so). But what he fails to mention is the history of colonialism, bio/chemical/nuclear terror perpetrated by christian countries. From American slavery to Hiroshima, we see that no one is safe from moral attack. It would be more balanced to not only look at what Muslims and Islam says and does, but let’s look at what the bible has to say to christians. Eye for an eye. Africans were lynched in the name of Jesus(not Muhammad or All_h). Bush called his war on terror a crusade. Let’s not delve into the reality of the crusades. The christians ATE babies on th crusade trail. This is all published information. I’m not saying that Muslims haven’t been culpable, But even a guy like me can show folks that this christian convert never had true Islam in his heart. It is apparent that regardless of this man’s upbringing, something went awry. I would like to know where Islam says kill women, children and the elderly. It simply is not there.
I do not agree with submitting to an ideology and not accepting all the concepts that that ideology purports. Being muslim should not concern where you’re born or what religion your parents are it should concern the Koran and every word in it. I am Christian and I believe every word in the bible. Do not say there are different flavors of Islam, Islam is the Koran. Christianity is the bible. If you are a Christian who doesn’t believe the bible your faith is false. The book ,Bible for Christian or Koran for Muslim, should be the word of God to you if you disagree with it you disagree with God.
Walid , you are living happily in USA.
Should USA encourage all those Zionist who have settled on Palestine lands to return to USA.
Palestinians want to live in peace.
Let them live in peace.
Mr. Shoebat,
I have heard a lot of hostility directed at you because of your story. I would like to hear why you think this is.
SUISIDE BOMBERS of Plastines are not following the orders of Allah and the Porphets who said one wrongful killing of a human being is like killing the whole of humanity. Prophet Never ordered his companions to comitt suiside. OR to kill a un arm civilian.
Question: If Islamic societies vote for pro-Shariah political leaders, should they be given the vote?
Hi, Nikki Chambers from Jamaica here
Mr. Shoebat,
To return to an unanswered question…I am curious…did the prophet Mohamed carry out any jihad or killings on behalf of Allah?
Please forgive my ignorance in asking this question, but I am sure that there were many disbelievers in his day too.
Hi
I believe that to use the term extremist is a misnomer.. the word is fundamentalist… Walid is follow the fundamentals of the Christian faith… where once he followed the fundamentals of Islam..
Husam
Here in Europe many people who see themselves as muslims have a non-radical interpretation of Islam. I believe that the contents of a religion are better defined by the views of those who consider themselves believers than by a “written standard”. I wonder whether Mr. Shoebat considers these people as muslims.
-Arthur, Germany
So he doesn’t plant bombs and go around stirring up hatred and fear. Thats makes him more tolerant. He does seem to have lots of personal issues to work through.
Hey. Do you think Christianity is a religion?
to me, It’s not. Christianity is a relationship.
Thank God you converted.
We Christians do accept.
We accept.. But we don’t agree with what you do.
Humans are tend to be Critical.
hope i don’t offend anyone.
=D
Thanks
Would your arguments be similar or dissimilar to those held by the Islamic Doctor (whose homa nd children was fired upon by 2 Israeli tanks shells)?
Islam do not appoved of a suiside bombing. No companions of the Prophet ever comitted a suiside.
Bush declared a New Crusades shortly after he took office, in a speech to his Conservative Republican base!
I have asked my Muslim neighbors about the same issues you talk about. They have always minimized or denied the parts of the Koran that advocate violence and intolerance, saying that I’m not reading them in the right context. They seem to always draw a sharp distinction between Islam and the violence done in Islam’s name. Do you think, therefore, that my American Muslim neighbors in general are in self-denial about the attitudes of literalist Muslims in the world, or are they consciously trying to obfuscate the issue and fool me?
I am an American jew. I was married to a Palestinian woman until her death. Her family and I were as close to me as my own. Her brother, upon graduating with an MSW from Brandis Univ. in Mass., decided to return to Lebanon to work with his people. He went to work in the Sabra camp…..
The problems of fanaticism are not unique to any single religion. The best of Judaism, Islam and Christianity is a tribute to man’s finest impulses. Their worst is Hell on Earth.
Walid,
If there would be a Muslim denomination would denounce all types of violence they would have the right to use the name Islam.
Also look at the percentage of violence commited in the name of Islam.
Walid, and I use his first name as he garners no respect, is nothing more than an opportunist looking to make several bucks, just like Irshad Manji, and all those who write books looking for gain. I always thought the PLO was primarily secular, yet he is espousing religion. No, he clearly does not have the capabilities to pull of a Ponzi scheme, so the next best money maker is travel the West and bash Muslims, Islam, and the Palestinians. Same old song, different, person.
Dalell in the USA
I would like to know why Mr. Shoebat’s accent keeps changing mid sentence? I wonder if he is who he says he is/ who you say he is. CIA maybe??? Or Israeli? I wonder if you’ll discuss this?
Thank you for exposing the double standard of the media– hating all signs of Christianity, yet extensively accepting all other forms of religion. Let’s face it, it is an all-out on Judeo-Christian values
In short, despite inevitable generalizations, I respect Walid, and think he makes many valid points. For example, his passing question, “What about freedom of speech?” when being disallowed to quote scripture was on point.
How can we build friendships and tone down the fear?
How about hosting students and teachers in your home or sending your child to a foreign country to learn about a different culture? My husband and I have hosted 3 exchange students. Two of the students were Muslim. They are part of our family now. Anyone can be part of the solution.
Mr. Walid mentioned that Turkey, Egypt etc. were converted to Islam under the sword, but he does not appreciate New York, London being a melting pot, sounds like he wants people in NY or London to be converted Christians under the sword.
I want to know if he agrees to this, Muslim, Christianity or Judaism is not the problem. The problem is how we misuse the religion, including himself who is talking like a confused fundamentalist with Muslim and Christian background.
God bless you for your courage.
WHYS
GREAT SHOW…BRING WALID BACK AGAIN!!!!!!!
The debate goes on? Really?
Greetings.
How do you explain Western armies’, which are predominantly Christian, acts of atrocities against Muslim populations in the garb of fighting so-called “wars of terror”. How do you not expect in such situations to produce suicide bombers, who will tie explosives to their bodies and kill as many people as they can besides themselves. I not at all condone suicide bombings but in the recent siege of Gaza by Israel and the killings of hundreds of innocent Palestinians, don’t you think there will be people eager to avenge the blood of their loved ones??
Thank you so much Walid Shoebat. You are a brave man. Thank you so much for taking a stand against the media and the politically correct views of various religions that ignore the facts. I am glad that you are enjoying the right of free speech, and that you have left behind a history of violence. I am so glad to hear someone extolling people to take another look at the West’s Judeo-Christian values and heritage.
Thank you again.
I have to give Mr. Shoebat kudos for having the courage, tenacity and conviction to appear on the BBC. You are a brave man, sir.
Mr. Shoebat,
My wife and I accepted Islam 10 years ago in India. Now we are in the US and raising four American Muslim girls and are very peaceful and fulfilled. I guess I am missing your point on what is the conflict between western heritage and Islam. Our family is a testimony of multi-national and multi-culturalism living peacefully under one roof. No problems here…. you need to clear your head of exagerrated threats manifested in your head.
Well at first,I want to ask Walid Shoebat a two questions:
What are the bases you believe in your distinction between “terrorism ” and “Jihad”?
Have you ever thought how hard is to slaughter the Innocent people in the name of the Islamic religion?
Concerning the term “terrorism”, There is no need to make this rogue word relevant to the religion of Islam as far as we saw how sorrowful Gaza swallowed the bitterness of the dime bombs and chemical bombs which are belonging to such troops that are not Muslims.So why do the whole west and Israel urge that Islam holds the seeds of terrorism,whereas,the Israeli troops did commit unmitigated crimes as terrorists would do?
Muslims and others that say there is many interpretations of Islam,
Where is your outrage and condemnation of the terrorism in any specific way? Do you state that those Muslims are not “real” muslims? Do you separate yourselves from voting for them or worshiping with them? Where are your publications and books describing how the agressive portions of Islam are not accepted in your religion any more? I hear nothing in the public radio or advertised in books by Muslims.
How do you justify belittling the law of Islam in many countries and homes when it is very agressive and when there is apparently so much fear defending your more tolerant version of Islam?
Renate, Shelton, WA
I want to know how can one go to heaven by killing other people? Secondly, these same muslims who are proud to live in the western world and say that they are happy, will they ever have such opportunities in their muslim worlds? Thirdly, why is it that the presenters of programmes on air are biase, or is it that they are scared or naive about the truth? My brother, God will guide you and see you through.
Thanks
“We have agreed to stay off of the reference to scripture and I think we ought to stick to that.”
What an example of what I’ve grown more frustrated with in discussion of religion and faith…scripture is the basis of true faith. Holy scripture, whether one takes that as the Koran, the Bible, or the writings of other faiths, is most often SPECIFIC and comes from a specific context. It reflects terribly on the show moderator/producers to prohibit discussion of scripture.
I find Mr. Shoebat’s view very euro-centric or Western view of the world. Why Islam is a threat to the Western Civilization but not eastern civilizations? Majority of Muslims do not live in Arab land so it is not proper to form opinion about Islam based on experiences in that piece of land.
World’s largest Muslim countries are Indonesia and India. They have rich tradition of respecting the local traditions and it is the work of sufis that resulted in many people getting attracted to Islam.
Even after 1000 years after arrival of Muslims in India, majority of Indians still practice religion other than Islam. This shows that Islam has existed in harmony with other religion and relationship was of not conflict as it is being made out today.
As an American who once joined a yoga cult with an Indian religion, I can tell you that there are certain things about other cultures with religious rules that western liberals just can’t understand until they experience them.
This man has already said that his brother has the responsibility of killing him for leaving his religion, and that his parents have taken away his property and children in a court of law.
It’s so easy to say that if a woman wants to leave or go against the established social system, she can, especially in a free country. But if in her little world, the penalties are losing her children, or even her life, it isn’t so simple.
I am originally from New York, and can tell you that it is not the fundamentalists who join in the melting pot. My parents, the children of immigrants, tried as hard as they could to give up their heritage to become Americans, and that is what many on the outside don’t see. Melting pot means melding as one with slight differences, not retaining your original culture, language and internal laws.
Until you’ve lived fundamentalism, and given up the western ideal of individualism, it’s hard to understand this man’s pain and what he risks by speaking as he does.
These same muslims living in the western world are using the same western money to support destruction of the west, and yet they lived there happily and are proud to say it loud. My question is, do they feel quilty of such a crime? Or is it that the fact that people are saying that they want to over throw the western world is true? If not what do they want to prove to us?
What am I waiting for?
One word describes this man: arrogant.
Walid is fully right!
he is not the only one saying these things about Islam. Ayan Hirshi Ali of Holland said it all in her bestseller: Infidel.
Irshad Manji of Canada said it a few years ago and recently, FOX news had a documentary with a former Hamas member, who also converted to islam, and said pretty much the same thing as Walid is saying. Islam will never change, because the Quran and Hadith are full of hatred to Jews and Christains.
Islam disapproves of suicide in fact its a major sin. There is no such thing as suicide Jihad. Even during Jihad a Muslim is not allowed to kill woman or children or older men. not only that Prophet PBUH warn his companions not to even distroy vegetation or any living creatures. Good Example of that is when the Prophet Muhmmad entered Makkah with his 10,000 companions.
Sounds like Mr. Walid was a brainwashed Muslim funfamentalist and now a self made Christian fundamentalist.
The only thing common here is fundamentalism, religion is not the issue.
The kill attitude he mentioned about Islam, seems like he is saying what he heard during his brainwashing sessions, and not by bothering to read the Quran himself.
I wish Mr.Shoebat would stop using the old interupt and attack your opposition in the debate. It is a sign of a strong voice masking a weak arguement. The previous caller had a point. The U.S plenty of neo-con types who are really quite aggressive, I’m not saying this represents the majority of Americans, but a signifigant minority,
Mr. Shoebat,
While I agree with virtually all your viewpoints, it was very difficult simply because I reacted very negatively to your combativeness and rudeness. I believe this had something to do with the equal combativeness of the host and many of the callers.
By all means, present your message, but get rid of the attitude – you’ll be a lot more successful.
I’m also a former Muslim, born and brought up in Britain. I am a Christian, am am still under tremendous persecution and stress for my choice to leave Islam. My faith in Christ has been insulted, they make a mockery of my Bible by calling it corrupt. I cannot go to church on Sundays without the fear of having yet another showdown at home. I cannot beleive you are having a go at Walid for simply speaking the TRUTH,. UK Wake up!
I listed to the last part of the conversation where the gust was saying the west shouldn’t be melting pot shouldn’t be inclusive of different cultures. I was curious enough to know about his background and check out his website.
An immigrant who was accepted to the west b/c of the inclusive culture is telling us western countries shouldn’t be melting pot. It is really ironic.
I am very disappointed with this choice for WHYS. This guy is promoting hatred and prejudice and that’s called racism. I can’t believe you gave him a whole hour of air time.
This fellow reminds me of Rush Limbaugh. He will listen to those who agree with him and cut off those who might confront him. There is no conversation. I don’t understand the point of giving him this soapbox. Doesn’t add to our understanding of difference at all. What is the point? What was your goal in having him?
@ M Iqbal
Maybe he’s still a fundamentalist today, but as achristian fundamentalist I don’t think he’s tried to kill anyone, so which fundamentalist is worse?
@ Danna
How is it “called racism” if it has nothing to do with race but rather religion? He’s of the same race as many of those who he is criticizing. Are you saying that voices you don’t agree with shouldn’t be allowed a platform? And you are tolerant?
As Salamu Alaikum/Peace be upon you Walid. It seems like you are a very angry person, and as a monotheistic religious person, I am sorry to tell you I would be anxious for someone as troubled as you to represent Islam or Christianity. You claim to be a former Muslim and currently a Christian, but I don’t believe you have ever been either. I’m not going to give you a history lesson or a religious one, although you are in desperate need both, it wouldn’t make a difference because you are content misguided.
You have embraced a different religion and have conveyed your beliefs that you are on the ‘straight path’. Don’t you find it disconcerting that with your new-found ‘piousness’ your goal is to cause rifts between religions and nations?
I am exercising great self-restraint in avoiding being drawn into a political debate. If you are who you say you are, then you know the truth and conveniently ignore it for the sake of some worldly gain. But anyone who has done their homework knows, your alleged history is a subject of controversy.
I hope you find peace.
Dear Walid.,
one question, why the Hell did you become a Chrstian? I think I heard that you are one, in tonight’s programme, of which I heard the half. I am born a Christian, a Dane, now living in Berlin. I am an atheist, and it grows worse and worse the older I get.
I believe that all religions are potentially dangerous, not only Islam, and can easily develop into repression and fanaticism. Oh, I did read some ‘book’, quite a lot. The Bible I read many times, I know more about what’s in the Bible than most modern christians do. I read ‘your’ Quran, oh, how boring, a whole summer, every beautiful, warm evening in Copenhagen, I must know what kind of scriptures these Muslims believe in. How boring, nothing entertaning, just a few stories, borrowed from the Christian-Jewish Scriptures, and a story which must be an Arab folk-tale, about camels by a lake.
I know a lot of people who have a religion, believe in Gods, or in Buddha and Nirvana, a couple of Jews, a couple of Mulims, and quite a lot wo call themselves Christian, also some who have degenerated into dangerous sects . I sincerely believe that all religions are a kind of father-and-mother-worshipping, but in adults.
As Freud once said: Religion is an insult against intelligence. As an old man he declared that he was a Jew, I think he said so as a kind of protest against Nazism, because the Jews I know vehemently defend themselves by saying that Judaism is no religion, but at culture. False.
What has this absurd Christianity done, before it became a bit less dangerous? We all know. Killing people who dared to say that God doesnt exist, or only that Trinity is absurd, which it is.
So why the Hell did you convert to ‘my’ absurd religion, Christianity? Well, I admire that you dare fight ‘your’ former religion, Islam, so vehemently. Keep going on! I wish I knew how to fight agaist all this stupidity, but if I were to make this the ‘project of my life’ I would become a female Dona Quichotta, fighting against wind-mills. But I do admire people who dare to fight.
Why the Hell did you become a Christian? I heard that you said someting about your mother, maybe it is in defense of her and her rights to have the religion she had, maybe Christianity is, for you, as for non-fanatical Jews, a culture.
Woul you please answer? this about religions is so difficult for me to discuss, for, exactly as it is when you mention the idea of ‘art.’, you are suddenly in great trouble, and here you are in the middle of a fight where chairs are demolished and used as weapons. People become aggressive, ‘but look, it is written, in the Scriptures, these are the words of God’ (the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost). Even people who seem to be educated and very polite and nice to discuss with, and then … it turns out that they are in this superstitious religion, the more sophisticated are Catholics, in spite of all thir reading and knowlede.
For the fourth time: Why are you a Christian? Protection of some kind, culture? Religions have been in much great art, Bach, for instance, in music, but it is not ‘the source’ og art, Islam has also fostered beautiful works of art, in words, in pictorial art. Did you ever know any fellow animal, because human beings is a species of animals, who had gods or any religion, og art? They are wiser than this human species who needs Gods.
Kind regards,
Viveca Liventhal
Berlin
According to histry MOHAMMAD (peace be uppon him) use to work in a farm & owner of the farm was Jews, during that owner & worker never try to change each other, what do you say about you change theory>
Do you hate Arab’s native Christine’s & Jewish too or just European’s?
I would like to make the following point about the show and your guest:
1. picking and choosing aspects of Islam without real context and presenting them to people who already don’t know much about Islam is breeding hatred, quite contrary to spreading love,peace and tolerance.
2. A Muslim with such extreme views would never get this amount of air time; and even if he/she did, they would be arrested under anti-terrorism law for propagating hatred.
3. Your guest needed to question himself as he was contradicting the very message he was trying to preach. He was full of hate and making Muslims sound subhumans. he promoted ‘life’ but yet said that Gaza should not exist?? he was contradictory in all terms.
4. I think he is also forgetting history of Christianity, which is more bloody then any other history and the message of Christianity was spread with the ‘sword’ through the crusaders and missionaries.
5. Christianity is more of an institution then any other religion as can be seen in Rome, where the Vatican’s sit!
lastly your guest mention he would be willing to stand trial in Israel…i would like to know why he has not done so already and furthermore why hasn’t he handed himself in. Empty words fool nobody!!
I am appalled by the aggressive, and arrogant attitude of your guest Walid, who had a tough upbringing in a war zone and confused his criminal acts with a peaceful religion of Islam. There is no compulsion in religion and everybody has a right to believe in his/her religion without harming any one. God has given man intelligence/freedom to choose any religion which can be used or misused depending on the individual. Everybody is responsible for his actions and not for others. Walid is only spreading hate and fear for a small gain.Shame he can’t leave peacefully with his own family.
Thanks for keeping it real WHYS. It is too bad that many people commenting seem to have no interest in learning from anything nor anyone that makes them uncomfortable or challenges their engrained ideologies.
@ Dan
“Murder is a very serious charge. Are we to assume that the perpetrators were arrested, tried and sentenced? Maybe there exists a conspiracy in the Iraqi Government to prevent murderers from being brought to justice.
I think that you need to rephrase and not slander good people trying to give the Iraqi people something they never had but desperately need.”
How would you rephrase “murder”?, “kindly encouraged” to die”? There is no other word for “murder” and every time you become indignant and tout the great freedoms we have afforded the Iraqi people, it seeks to rationalize away the atrocities committed. Had the justice systems, established in Iraq, been truly functional I am sure that many more “good” americans would have been imprisoned and rightly so. How dare you minimize loss just to remind someone of how much better things are since you arrived and”strongly encouraged” a million or so of their people to die……….and some wonder why we are hated………
Wally Shoebat was not a very good Muslim, and then he “got Jesus”, and now he is a professional anti-Muslim.
A psychologist could go on about convert enthusiasm; but this fellow doesn’t actually know much about Islam (nor much about Christianity, for that matter).
He plays well to uneducated evangelicals in the boondocks… but he certainly doesn’t deserve the BBC’s time or attention. You have given a forum to someone far more extreme in his sectarianism than Ian Paisley (and far less reliable in his statements about his opponents, if that is imaginable), and you really should have known better.
To Viveca Liventhal: according to your post you see yourself as a very rational, mature, wise, intellegent person looking down at all religious people, well good for you. But if even you don’t understand the meaning of any religion like this guest doesn’t, you should not claim that all religions are dangerous, isn’t it also a radicalist view of a sort? And you said that Bible and Qoran are boring and not entertaining, did you take them literally and expect they were written with a purpose to entertain you??
My question since the show to air already:
But, what was the reason you are know a “former” terrorist…..
Was something happen?
~Dennis Junior~
@Dan:
You are my hero!
Thank you for standing up for the obvious; even if it is not widely accepted.
You are the voice of reason here.
What Waleed says is right, no Muslim can deny
That Islam sees Sharia law as the only acceptable law.
And who disagree with Waleed, they know nothing about Islamic constitution.
Yes, that’s what our teachers have taught us at the school when we were kids.
But, as I see all Muslims do not follow what religious men say about everything, otherwise they become extremists.
In case of Waleed , I think he accepted and believed in every single word of religious men and that’s what made him as an extremist !
And once you become an extremist, you lose your faith!
Mr Shoebat belongs to that rarest breed of men who dare to speak his mind and call a spade a spade despite the grave dangers his articulations pose to himself. Placing his quest for justice and righteousness above personal safety and comfort, he has proven to possess the guts and gumption of 100 men.
May the God of the Holy Bible meet his every need and continue to sustain and protect him as he seeks to bring a spiritual awakening to the many millions who are shackled by a hate-filled, soul-destroying religiosity. Amen.
Salam alycom
First , Rebecca said that the show is not against Islam or any other religion… whereas the whole show made Islam its target to attack.. anyway this is not the point.. but the point is that they don’t let anyone to answer their attack ..
The guest said that he was a former terrorist, and I find him still.. He said that Islam has made him a terrorist..and now he is different, well his talk made me feel that he wants to kill us all.. then where is all the mercy that he said he has learnt from his new religion??
Well it’s not the fault of Islam that he read and studied the wrong books.. who knows what is he reading now? Please choose the good Islamic books to read.
Believe me it’s not a matter of Islam or christianity.. or any religion.. It’s all a matter of his character… if he was a muslim terrorist for some personal reasons..it seems that he’ll be a christian terrorist for the same reasons.
Please WHYS once again if you want a serious show do bring someone real.. cuz your guest seems extremely unbelievealbe, he was shouting and making fun of the callers most of the time.
But the good thing in this show is that people now know who is a terrorist.. it is a man who has now religion, and not faith.
It was informative & an eye opener to hear from a former terrorist who has had the opportunity to mend his ways.
This just shows that when one becomes genuine in seeking for truth it is revealed to them & can make you take an about turn knowing the consequences one will face are going to be tough. Like Saul to Paul of the New Testament same as a terrorist to one who seeks reconciliation and wants all to know the truth.
It was surprising to hear such a controversial subject discussed on Radio in this age of being political correct.
Wishing BBC and all who took part in it all the best.
Just listened to the podcast. Great show, professionally and smoothly presented by the WHYS hostess. Always good to hear the frank and uncompromising views of the courageous Walid Shoebat. And of course he is 100% correct about the threat of fundamentalist Islam. It’s a shame though that he was prevented from quoting the Koran. That’s obviously a vitally important part of the debate. And it’s also a shame that many people on this blog and on the show felt the need to stifle his freedom of speech because they don’t like his message. Ironic too that they use a medium that promotes freedom of speech to deny others that freedom. We see this intolerance over and over again from Muslims.
Strange also that when someone like Walid Shoebat comes onto WHYS he swims against the current but when a Hamas apologist like Azzam Tamimi comes on he is treated with complete deference. The BBC needs to seriously examine its respectful attitude towards Islam in contrast to its scorn for Christianity.
Listened to part of the show last night and just listened to the podcast. Great show, professionally and smoothly presented by the WHYS hostess. Always good to hear the frank and uncompromising views of the courageous Walid Shoebat. And of course he is 100% correct about the threat of fundamentalist Islam. It’s a shame though that he was prevented from quoting the Koran. That’s obviously a vitally important part of the debate. And it’s also a shame that many people on this blog and on the show felt the need to stifle his freedom of speech because they don’t like his message. Ironic too that they use a medium that promotes freedom of speech to deny others that freedom. We see this intolerance over and over again from Muslims.
Strange also that when someone like Walid Shoebat comes onto WHYS he swims against the current but when a Hamas apologist like Azzam Tamimi comes on he is treated with complete deference. The BBC needs to seriously examine its respectful attitude towards Islam in contrast to its scorn for Christianity.
Hello sir,
Its good that now you became a good person.
Being a good is good for all that everyone can accept.
Writing your thoughts gives pleasure and reconization.
Now what is your further plan your same old pal who are still on the run for big issue and big target. Have you ever being contact to them.
What do you think of The God Of A Thousand Faces?
People and the media don’t know about the real Islam. My wife was a Muslim who converted to Christianity. I had witnessed with my own eyes how the Islamic court officially stripped her of all inheritance from her father (who was very wealthy). This was done according to the Islamic Shari’a law. Talk about peaceful and just Islam.
Hundreds are tortured and killed every day because of their conversion to Christianity from Islam.
You just have to read the Quran and the Hadees to find out the real Islam.
A former terrorist? Do you happen to be the ‘former terrorist’ who was on tour giving lectures and speeches and the like with other former terrorists in the United States before the elections?
For a second I thought terrorists and former terrorists go to jail, why haven’t you been arrested yet?
Hi there
Sheobat should be a role modole to may Muslem believers across the world who still take up arms as a means of conversion. Learm from him and change you tackticts of spreadnig your faith. Violence does not help it instead brings more hatrate to islam. yes it’s true that you persecute of non moslems for your faith and conducting torrerism ageinst them that do not agree with you is part and persual with islam faith but this is not the genaration for that