By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
The Taliban are claiming this kidnapping is to save their people and establish a government on behalf of the beliefs of Islam. However, many Islam experts have denounced their brutality as being far from the Islamic tenet and distort its original spirit.
``Jihad is used 33 times in the Quran and the term means to strive or struggle. That doesn't mean to take innocent lives,'' said Lee Won-sam, professor of Sun Moon University.
Professor Yousef Abdul Fattah of Cairo University said ``Shyariah,'' Islamic law never allows killing people, especially children, women and elders. The Islamic written texts, the Quran and Hadith say ``Don't kill people without rightful reason,'' ``Don't take holy lives created by God'' and ``Never kill women and elders.''
``If you are the real 'Taliban' who are studying the Islamic tenet and consider women, old people and children's lives are important as written in the Quran, you should release the Korean hostages immediately,'' the Islam, Buddhist, and Catholic Councils said in a statement as well.
However, the Taliban killed two Korean volunteers who were dispatched to Afghanistan and threaten the lives of the remaining Korean hostages.
Lee Hee-soo, professor of Hanyang University, said Islam has adopted a policy, ``Dihmmi and Millet'' to protect minor religions and is lenient to other religions. ``The Taliban is the shame of Islam and irrational enough to destroy Buddhist statues.'' However, the Taliban claimed that the abducted Koreans are Christians and their missionary trip is criminal and against Islam.
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi mentioned last time that the Islam tenet teaches an ``eye for eye'' so they can do as the American army in detaining Afghani women. However, Lee Hang-rae, Islamic leader of Seoul Central Mosque, said ``the term `Islam' is originated from the word `Salaam' which means peace, so it values peace and love for humankind.''
With these reasons, most Muslims are not tolerant of the Taliban and view them as a group using the name of the religion to achieve political goals.