Fadallah was not only known for being a spiritual leader to Hezbollah since 1980s but also for his controversial religious opinions and fatwas.It is not only Lebanon that has lost one of its religious icons but also the Shiite Islamic world has lost one of its outspoken moderate figures.You can watch Al Jazeera documentary about Al Shiite to see him speaking about his sect's beliefs
Hezbollah has announced an official mourning for three days , along with a huge public funeral.
 |
| Lebanese President paying his condolences to Fadallah's family |
May Allah bless his soul.
Technorati Tags: Hussein Fadallah,Politics,Lebanon,Hezbollah,Religion,Islam,Arabic faces,Arabs,Mideast,Middle East
May Allah bless his soul. so sad.
ReplyDeleteFadlahllah was behind fatwas justifying the following incidents:
ReplyDelete(1) 1983 truck bombing in Beirut killing over 300 US Marine peacekeepers
(2) 1985 murder by trampling of American Navy diver Robert Stethem on Hezbollah hijacked TWA Flight 847.
(3) 1988 kidnapping of Colonel William R. Higgins, tortured for over a year and then killed.
(4) Around that time, torture-psychiatrist Aziz al-Abub's abuse of CIA attache William Buckley for over a year, followed by his murder.
(5) 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires killing 29.
(6) 1994 bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires killing 87.
These are only examples. He justified Al-Qaeda operations, terror attacks on ordinary Americans, etc.
As an American I hope you will forgive my not sharing your warm feelings for this man.
@Jason: dnt you think there is a difference bet attacking civilians and military personnel? When the Americans wanted independence from the Brits didnt they attack them?
ReplyDeleteHi Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteYes, of course there are legal and ethical differences varying with particular cases. I don't understand your analogy between the six attacks Fadlahllah approved of and the American revolutionary war, but I accept my lack of understanding as my own shortcoming and hope you will explain patiently. You might start by explaining how blowing up scores of old Jewish ladies knitting and sipping tea in Argentina is similar to Americans attacking British soldiers in the revolutionary war, because that comparison is the most unreasonable prima facie. (6) should prevent people with kind hearts from having warm feelings for Fadlahllah even if they approve of attacks and tortures (1) through (4). You shouldn't have to be Jewish, American or Egyptian to understand that.
Hi Jason
ReplyDeleteFadlallah unequivocally condemned the 9/11 attacks. He called the attacks terrorism and stated that the attackers are outside the folds of Islam. He condemned terrorism generally and was against the attacking of civilians. Just do a quick google search on Fadhallah 9/11 or september 11 and you will find countless articles stating that fact.
Fadhallah has denounced all al-qaeda and al-qaeda inspired operations. However he differentiates between terrorism and what he views as legitimate resistance to the Israeli occupation of Lebanon and the occupied territories. He did specifically distance himself though from the abduction of westerners in Lebanon in the 1980s and and repeatedly called for their release. He believed that kidnappings and abductions have nothing to do with resistance to Israel
Fadhallah is not the spiritual leader of Hezbollah as western media likes to claim. Both Hezbollah and Fadhallah have refuted this several times and yet the western media keeps perpetuating this myth. Fadhallah differed from Hezbollah ideologically in that he does not believe in the concept of wilayat al faqih which forms the basis of the Iranian regime. Wilayat al Faqih can be translated into guardianship of the islamic jurist. The current wilayat al faqih is with Khamenai and previously it was with Khomeini.
Here is an article on Fadhallah from a lebanese newspaper: http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=116719#axzz0svG71IXz
"You might start by explaining how blowing up scores of old Jewish ladies knitting and sipping tea in Argentina is similar to Americans attacking British soldiers in the revolutionary war"
ReplyDeleteFadhallah condemned all attacks against civilians which would include the jewish ladies knitting and sipping tea in Argentina. However he did believe in resistance to Israeli occupation.
@ Jason: I wasnt commenting on what you listed as incidents he is claimed to have supported. I was asking about the main issue of what constitutes resistance and thats why I tied in the US resistance to make it closer to home for you, i also wrote of course attacks on civilians are out of the question and my understanding of my religion of Islam is that they are forbidden and that the end doesnt justify the mean in Islam.
ReplyDelete@Reeshlez: thanks for the info and the article, I will also read them. I didnt know much about the man to be honest until today and I have loads of friends who are Egyptians and mourning the man as well as a moderate and respectable religious figure.
@Zeinobia, Hi, what happened to my post? I thought it was polite. It was initially approved, I think. Did anyone think it was unacceptable?
ReplyDelete@Reeshiez and @Anonymous, thank you for the Fadhalla links and info. I will investigate. I think you are right that he was against 9/11.
To some extent I think the average American and average Egyptian views of Middle Eastern conflicts are irreconcilable. It's too bad but still good to talk. There are also things we agree on.
@ everyone -- related news: CNN Editor Fired for Saying She Has "Respect" for Hezbollah Cleric
ReplyDelete@Zeinobia, haha you are too fast for me. You blogged the news I posted in my previous comment. ;)
ReplyDelete