Hardly have the bodies been counted in the latest jihadi atrocity than the "IS has nothing to do with Islam" crowd renewed their chant. The latest example is the letter by Kwok Hau-lam, "IS has nothing to do with genuine Islam" (November 18).
This is dangerous nonsense.
It is nonsense, because it is clearly wrong on the evidence. The evidence is in Islamic State's multilingual publication, Dabiq, which explains their aims and motivations. It is replete with Islamic doctrine, from the Koran, the hadith, the Sunna and the life of Mohammed. This is not "cherry picking", for the quotations are extensive. And they are not wrong, for they can be checked.
The leader of IS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has a doctorate in Islamic studies from the University of Baghdad. Are we to believe that Kwok, joining the ranks of "nothing to do with Islam" crowd, knows more about Islam that Baghdadi?
It is dangerous, because unless and until people recognise the issues within Islam, there is no hope for reformation of its problematic aspects. The concept of martyrdom and sanctity of armed jihad are about as controversial within Islam as the resurrection of Jesus is in Christianity.
Of course most Muslims are peaceable folk, as Kwok says. I have worked in North Korea, in China of the Cultural Revolution and in the Soviet Union. All the people I met were fine and friendly. But those ideologies weren't. However nice and moderate the Muslims that Kwok met has nothing to do with the ideas within Islam. The worst of those ideas need to be challenged.