From: bhat@ccad.uiowa.edu (Dinkar N. Bhat)
Subject: Re: Contradictions in Quaran
Organization: CAD-Research, University of Iowa, Iowa City
Date: Sat, 15 Aug 1992 23:43:23 GMT

In article <1992Aug12.145323.10616@cs.yale.edu> ahmed-shakil@CS.YALE.EDU (Shakil Waiz Ahmed) writes:
>
>In article <1992Aug11.210640@IASTATE.EDU>, porayath@IASTATE.EDU (Rajiv Porayath) writes:
>> I shall use this opportunity to ask why is it that in countries where muslims
>> are a majority,it is declared an islamic state and people forced to obey 
>> islamic laws whether they like it or not?eg. women are threatened if they
>> do not wear the burka,you are not allowed to eat or drink during ramzan,
>> segregation of sexes,imposition of prohibition etc.Don't you agree that 
>> everybody has the right believe in and do what they want.Why should you be 
>> forced to something the majority believes in.
>
>Well, from what you say above, it seems that you are a firm believer
>in anarchy.  Every society needs some set of rules and laws to be
>governed by.  As long as the laws apply to everyone, there is no
>question of discrimination since the laws do not favor any person over
>the other.  There are certain laws in this country, for example, which
>we all have to follow.  Similarly in Islamic countries.  Or do you
>expect them to follow an anarchistic basis for laws?
>
True, the state needs rules to govern, but these should not be specific to
any community or religion. You can have rules to regulate but you cannot
discriminate a society based on that.

>>  Both Pakisthan and Bangaladesh have become islamic states, why did they not
>> stick to secularism.Securalism does not mean that you cannot practice islam,
>> and can you name any country with a muslim majority which is not an islamic
>> state(except turkey).Though many countries have christanity as a state 
>> religion it is not enforced on the population as islam is in islamic
>> countries. 
>
>Well, you're wrong.  Bangladesh has Islam as a state religion, in
>exactly the same way that the UK has Anglicanism as a state religion.
>It is not enforced upon anyone, and I would ask you to present any
>evidence to the contrary.
>
>> I do not intend to hurt anybodys feelings ,having lived in a country 
>> where all religions are practiced and you are free to do what you want I find
>> it hard to accept totaltarian states,it reminds one of the communist block
>> which eventual collapsed.
>
>I really don't know where all this is coming from.  You are free to
>believe in any religion you want in Bangladesh.  That's why we have
>over 15% religious minorities.  Indeed, Islam itself prescribes that
>there is no compulsion in religion.
>
>Please don't randomly accuse countries of things which do not exist
>when you clearly appear to know very little about the country in
>question.
>
>-- Shakil

You were talking of the benefits of an Islamic State like Saudi Arabia where
you said fear has made the society crime free. And when Rajiv argued that
Pakistan and Bangladesh are Islamic States, you quickly change your attitude
and say Bangladesh is not an Islamic State and talk about its good points.
Do you support an Islamic State or a Secular State liek INDIA ?

Dinkar.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bangladesh,soc.culture.indian,soc.culture.pakistan