Reviews
Irish Times
Oct 11, 2004
A review of what is happening in the world of the arts.
Kazazyan, Finucane, RTE NSO/Brophy
NCH, Dublin
Borodin – Prince Igor Overture
Tchaikovsky – Violin Concerto
Stravinsky – Three Pieces for solo clarinet
Stravinsky – Symphony in E flat
Although the young Igor Stravinsky didn’t pursue a course at the St
Petersburg Conservatory, his private studies under Rimsky-Korsakov followed the
conservatory pattern.
At the beginning he wrote a piano sonata, which late in life he described as
having been “fortunately lost,” although it had in fact survived, and was
published in 1973, just two years after his death.
At the end was a symphony, the formal Op. 1, in which he followed the models
laid down by his teacher and showed a clear mastery of a style of Russian
music that he was very rapidly going to put behind him. Yet he clearly retained a
fondness for it, and in 1966, at the age of 83, he made a commercial recording
of it.
For modern listeners the symphony’s most remarkable aspect is how little it
heralds the Stravinsky we have come to know and love.
It’s the evocations of Glazunov and Tchaikovsky that stand out, and only the
fleet Scherzo is at all suggestive of the deftness that the young composer
would soon be showing.
Yet though the piece is clearly derivative (Stravinsky was assiduous in
meeting the demands of a teacher he described as being “like an adopted parent”),
it also has a brio that’s not to be taken for granted in the academic models it
was following, let alone in student exercises.
David Brophy’s performance in the RTE National Symphony Orchestra’s ongoing
Stravinsky survey at the NCH on Friday took the work very much at face value.
The playing was robust and often full-blooded, although some of the tempos
sounded a bit cautious, and the finale was certainly taken too slowly to convey
the spirit of a two-in-a-bar Allegro molto.
There were no such tempo issues in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, where the
young Armenian violinist Haik Kazazyan (born 1982) kept things moving nicely
and mastered the virtuoso challenges with ease, and sometimes with dazzling
polish.
Yet at the same time this was a rather cool account, more calculated to
inspire admiration than stir the passions.
There was a sense of reserve also in the evening’s remaining performances.
NSO principal clarinettist had the stage to himself for a studied account of
Stravinsky’s Three Pieces for solo clarinet, and David Brophy dispensed a
clean-limbed reading of Borodin’s tuneful Prince Igor Overture.
Michael Dervan
Martin, RTECO/Wagner
Mahony Hall, The Helix, Dublin
Blacher – Paganini Variations
Rachmaninov – Paganini Rhapsody
Beethoven – Symphony No 4
The chemistry of conductors and orchestras are every bit as mysterious as
those of relationships and marriages.
One thing, however, that’s sure at the moment is that Laurent Wagner and the
RTE Concert Orchestra’s concerts at The Helix are setting new standards in
Dublin.
The programming of these concerts is mostly cautious, and the marketing of
them is bland in the extreme.
Themed series sold as “A Tale of Four Cities,” “Tales from Vienna” and
“Beethoven PLUS” are unlikely to identify themselves as exciting or essential
musical adventures either to audiences new to classical music or to listeners long
familiar with it.
That’s not to say that Wagner hasn’t been doing his bit to step, albeit
gingerly, a little bit outside RTE norms of repertoire, especially as they have
applied to the RTECO.
The inclusion of Boris Blacher’s Paganini Variations in last Saturday’s
programme, and Henri Dutilleux’s Le loup the week before make this clear.
His major contribution, however, has been quite simply the freshness of his
music-making.
And, if Saturday’s performance of Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony is anything to
go by, he is leap-frogging the RTECO right over the RTE NSO in terms of one of
the most remarkable developments of recent years, the mainstreaming of
period-performance practices in the music of the Viennese classical period.
Thierry Fischer has already taken the Ulster Orchestra well down this road,
and in Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony Wagner took a similarly refreshing approach.
He coaxed from the RTECO such a lithe, taut responsiveness that was so lean
in tone, alert in interplay, and often infectiously high-spirited, that the
orchestra was hardly recognisable as the same group that had been heard at the
NCH the previous Tuesday.
To be fair, the acoustic in the Mahony Hall at The Helix is a great help.
It’s much fuller in the bass than the NCH, and seems altogether more
accommodating of extremes of dynamic.
I’m not yet convinced, however, that it is as readily accommodating of pianos
as of the orchestra as a whole.
Philip Martin’s glittering fluency in Rachmaninov’s Paganini Rhapsody often
blended a little too fully into the orchestral texture for my taste.
Yet, apart from Martin’s reluctance to accommodate to the orchestra having
the tune in the famous 18th variation, this was a performance which traded
successfully on a kind of runaway exuberance.
It was good also to hear a representative work by Boris Blacher, one of a
group of now largely neglected generation of German composers born in the first
decade of the 20th century.
His Paganini Variations are written in a sly, witty, deftly showy style that
would make an upbeat introduction to any programme.
This they certainly did on Saturday.
Michael Dervan

Arafat condemns Israeli settlers’ attack on Armenian archbishop
Palestinian news agency Wafa web site, Gaza
10 Oct 04
to inquire about his health following an attack on him by Israeli
settlers” published by Palestinian news agency Wafa web site
Ramallah, 10 October: Yasir Arafat, PLO Executive Committee chairman
and Palestinian National Authority president, this evening held
a telephone conversation with Deputy Armenian Patriarch Archbishop
Nurhan to inquire about his health following a sinful attack on him by
a group of Israeli settlers this morning. The archbishop was assailed
as he was leading the religious procession of the Orthodox Armenians.
During the telephone conversation, the president stressed his
condemnation of this act, which is in violation of all traditions
and conventions and is a serious infringement upon the freedom of
worship and a continuation of the Israeli policy of encroaching upon
the freedom of worship and the Christian and Islamic shrines.
A group of settlers assailed the religious procession of the Orthodox
Armenians this morning. The procession set off from the Armenian
Patriarchate and passed through Hebron Gate and Suwayqiyat Allun to
reach the Christian neighbourhood where a mass was to be held at the
Church of Holy Sepulchre in the holy city of Jerusalem. They ripped
the cross off the archbishop’s chest, slapped him and threw his mitre
on the ground in an extremely aggressive way that showed disrespect
for men of religion.

ABOUT 100 AGBU MEMBERS IN NKR
Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
11 Oct 04
On October 8 at the meeting hall of the government about a hundred
members of the Armenian General Benevolent Union met with the NKR
president and the speaker of the National Assembly. Addressing
the guests who represent 24 countries, president Arkady Ghukassian
mentioned that the people of Karabakh won the war owing to the powerful
backing of Armenia and the Diaspora. However, the war still goes on
in the economic, cultural and finally political spheres, and in this
context the role of the Armenian Diaspora is increasingly important.
â^À^ÜIf the recognized countries can have only one ambassador in
one country, the unrecognized countries, including Karabakh may have
thousands of ambassadors. I appoint you ambassadors of Karabakh in your
countries,â^À^Ý stated Arkady Ghukassian. In the current political
situation he pointed out the importance of lobbing mentioning that
the Armenians of the Diaspora should do their best to make the
governments of their countries recognize that if they act against
Karabakh they will have to deal with the entire Armenian nation. Arkady
Ghukassian emphasized that it is not necessary that the visits of
the Diaspora Armenians to Artsakh be connected with some program,
connected with material. â^À^ÜThe people of Karabakh need to feel
that they are not alone in their struggle,â^À^Ý said the president of
NKR. Speaking about the activities of the AGBU in Karabakh, the head
of the country mentioned that during the war Stepanakert was bombed
from five directions and almost all the buildings of the town were
damaged. Today the traces of war have been removed but historic Shoushi
and thr regions of Artsakh need to be restored. â^À^ÜToday you visited
Gandzassar, as well as the far-away village of Norashen in Hadrout. You
drove both on repaired and ruined roads. You saw that Artsakh needs
your assistance,â^À^Ý mentioned A. Ghukassian. Answering the question
of Ashkhen Muradian (San Francisco) whether the reason for unsettled
areas in Karabakh is the lack of financing, the NKR president said that
both financial and human resources are needed. He mentioned that even
if all the villages are restored, people are needed to settle down
there, which in its turn requires providing certain conditions. In
this reference he mentioned that Karabakh with a state budget of 27
million dollars cannot afford to restore Shoushi, which requires 100
million dollars, the irrigation system which costs 60 million dollars,
build 60 schools in villages, repair all the roads. And in this matter
the Diaspora should have an essential role. During the meeting Arkady
Ghukassian also spoke about the necessity of propagating Karabakh
by the Armenians of the Diaspora. He mentioned that the Azerbaijani
propaganda is very active although they do not have a diaspora. At
the same time the guests emphasized that Karabakh needs to present
its problems in a proper manner. â^À^Ü Karabakh must raise the entire
Diaspora on their feet. Whereas this work is not done actively,â^À^Ý
said Ashkhen Muradian to â^À^ÜAzat Artsakhâ^À^Ý. And this despite the
fact that, as Arkady Ghukassian mentioned, NKR has representations in
the USA, Russia, France, the Near East, Australia, soon in Germany
too. Answering the question of the AGBU representative concerning
the talks for the Karabakh problem, Arkady Ghukassian noticed that
the process had been frozen in the recent years. â^À^ÜThe regular
meetings of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and the visits
of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen to the region cannot substitute
for a complete negotiation process in which Nagorni Karabakh also
participated as a conflict party in the years of 1992-1997. But the
alternative to the negotiation process is the war, and Karabakh will
do its best to prevent war. We are ready to discuss any question
without preconditions,â^À^Ý said Arkady Ghukassian, emphasizing
that the Armenian side recognizes the impossibility of a decision
without compromise. Arkady Ghukassian emphasized the role of the
Diaspora in the conflict settlement saying that it is necessary to
influence through political lobbing the international community which
should recognize that the independence of Karabakh is the only fair
settlement of the confrontation. The AGBU representative in Armenia
Ashot Ghazarian thanked the NKR president for the warm welcome and
mentioned that the members of the organization already have certain
programs. Among the Armenians who visited Karabakh was also the wife
of the chairman of the AGBU V. Sedrakian.
NAIRA HAYRUMIAN. 11-10-2004
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Armenian minister says EU membership talks with Turkey “politically-motivated”
Mediamax news agency
11 Oct 04
Yerevan, 11 October: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
Yerevan today that the decision of Brussels to give the “green light”
to open membership talks with Turkey is “largely politically-motivated
because Turkey does not fully comply with the requirements set forth”.
Vardan Oskanyan was quoted by Mediamax as saying that Armenia cannot
play a crucial role in the issue of EU admission talks with Turkey
because it is not a member of the European Union itself.
Vardan Oskanyan expressed concern about the fact that Turkey was
considerably behind Romania and Bulgaria which are also in talks with
the EU. The minister also voiced his regret about the fact that the
EU has not given a due assessment of the fact that Turkey is refusing
to open the border with Armenia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

IN THIS ISSUE:
*** NGO INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
*** LAND AND CULTURE NGOs’ 2004 SUMMER ACTIVITIES
*** ARMENIAN NGO SECTOR ASSESSMENT
*** NEW PUBLICATION: DEMOCRATIZATION OF ARMENIAN SOCIETY
*** INTEGRATION OF DEAF CHILDREN
*** SUPPORTING VULNERABLE GROUPS OF THE COMMUNITY
*** NEW DRAFT LAW ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DEVELOPED
*** NGO INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ISSUES
On September 29, the Armenian Assembly of America’s NGO Training and
Resource Center hosted its regular Thematic NGO/Media encounter. Similar
events, initiated by the AAA NGOC, are aimed at introducing and discussing
problems of vulnerable groups to the public-at-large, NGO activities
directed at solving those problems, and obstacles encountered. This
particular event, devoted to the involvement of NGOs in community
development issues, was the sixth among a series of Thematic NGO/Media
encounters. The goal was to direct public attention to NGO activities
carried out in communities throughout Armenia. During the discussions,
representatives of the Support to Communities, Armenian Committee of
Helsinki Citizens Assembly, All Armenian Women’s Union and Community Support
Center NGOs made presentations on Health Issues in Communities. Poverty
Reduction, Working Together – Building Community Connections, Women
Participation in Water Resources Management and Pilot Community Projects in
Charentsavan projects, respectively. Community development NGOs and
representatives of media, foundations, international organizations and state
structures attended the roundtable.
Contact: Anahit Lazarian
AAA NGO Center
39 Y. Koghbatsi St.
Tel.: (374-1) 54-40-12, 54-40-13
E-mail: [email protected]
*** LAND AND CULTURE NGOs’ 2004 SUMMER ACTIVITIES
Following its mission of restoring and preserving Armenian historical
monuments, this year, the Land and Culture NGO united more than 80
volunteers from Armenia, Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, France, Georgia,
India, Iran, Lebanon and the USA. Program activities took place in the
village of Shatvan, on the shore of Lake Sevan (Armenia), in Shushi (Nagorno
Karabakh) and the Armenian village of Kessab (Syria.) In July and August,
volunteers renovated the Shatvan community school, which had been left
neglected. The roof and windows were replaced and the foundation was
reinforced. As a result, on September 1, the school welcomed 126 students of
Shatvan. Volunteers renovated the surgical department of Shushi hospital:
they painted the walls, covered the floor with new ceramic tiles and
renovated the doors and windows. In Kessab, volunteers helped restore old
Armenian houses to encourage Armenian families to remain on their ancestral
land.
Contact: Gevorg Yaghjyan
Land and Culture Organization
5 Vardanants St.
Tel.: (374-1) 52-91-71
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
*** ARMENIAN NGO SECTOR ASSESSMENT
On September 7, the World Learning NGO Strengthening Program released the
results of its Armenian NGO Sector Assessment (2004), illustrating changes
since and comparing with 2001 data. The survey included 347 NGOs in the
republic and 61 experts from Yerevan and six regions. Progress is displayed
with reference to the formal organizational development dimension: formerly
1%, the number of advanced NGOs now is 10%; intermediate-level NGOs jumped
from 22% to 49%. Compared with 2001, considerable changes are noted
regarding organizational effectiveness, protection of interests,
co-operation, trust and financial viability dimensions. The report also
contains conclusions and suggestions aimed at eliminating obstacles
hindering further advancement of NGOs. Representatives of NGOs working
throughout Armenia, international organizations operating in the country and
mass media, as well as Members of Parliament, state officials, academia and
business people were invited to the presentation.
Contact: World Learning for International Development NGO Strengthening
Program, Armenia
Tel: (374-1) 54-35-76, 52-08-51, 58-26-20
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
*** NEW PUBLICATION: DEMOCRATIZATION OF ARMENIAN SOCIETY
The Association of Women with University Education NGO has published
Democratization of the Armenian Society: Realities and Tendencies
collection, the presentation of which was held on September 9. Leaders of
the Association, other NGOs and political parties, representatives of
scientific institutions, international organizations and media, ROA National
Assembly deputies, and state authority system officials attended the
presentation. In the collection, the NGO’s Democracy and Peace Center
experts present research carried out in the republic at the end of 2003 and
early 2004. The authors discuss issues of civic and political rights,
legitimacy of basic democratic institutions and trust towards them in
conditions of social transition, dynamics of gender relations, economic
bases of democratic changes, obstacles in the democratization processes of
the Armenian society in post-election period. The publication is intended
for NGOs, political parties, state structures and local self-governing
bodies, as well as for all those interested in the democratization process
of Armenian society.
Contact: Jemma Hasratyan
Association of Women with University Education NGO
Tel.: (374-1) 58-15-83
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** INTEGRATION OF DEAF CHILDREN
On September 7, the Public Organization of Hard Hearing Children’s Mothers
Havat convened a roundtable with the participation of interested NGOs, state
structures, international organizations and mass media to present its
Creating An Integration Center For Deaf Children project. In the center,
deaf-and-dumb pedagogues worked on developing the oral speech of 24
pre-school aged children. Rhythm classes, accompanied by music, were
conducted. As a result, five children were able to begin attending secondary
school and two were able to go on to a special school in this new school
year. Twelve hard of hearing children attending secondary school, have
completed computer classes in the center and will have the opportunity to
advance their knowledge in the academic system. Within the framework of the
project, speech therapists from various regions of Armenia underwent
vocational training and will work as deaf-and-dumb pedagogues on sites. As
stated by the Project Coordinator S. Zhamkochyan, “Ensuring relevant
assistance in response to the needs of deaf children is one of the
achievements of the center, that raised their education on a qualitatively
new level.” The project was implemented with funding support received from
the Eurasia Foundation Armenia office.
Contact: Tamara Manukyan
Public Organization of Hard Hearing Children’s Mothers Havat
17 Shirvanzade St.
Tel.: (374-1) 23-19-53; 25-78-26
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website:
*** SUPPORTING VULNERABLE GROUPS OF THE COMMUNITY
The Gyumri based Ozone Young Men’s Christian Association NGO’s Supporting
The Community project is currently underway. The project is aimed at raising
the quality of life of families living in Yerevanian Highway district and
Voghji village. Leisure time of lonely aged refugees is filled with various
events. Five days a week they are provided with quality food. Computer and
Armenian language classes are also organized for refugees aged 25-50.
Another group of project beneficiaries are children of vulnerable and
refugee families. Project staff helps them prepare homework, organizes games
and cultural events, and provides foods rich with vitamins. As stated by the
Project Coordinator, “The activity ensures considerable assistance to the
refugee and vulnerable families in Yerevanian Khchughi district and Voghji
village both from social and educational perspectives.” The Voghji Mayority
and the Gyumri Municipality are the NGO’s partners within the framework of
the project. The latter is implemented within the framework of the AAA NGO
Center’s Social Partnership Grants Program to Meet the Needs of the Needy.
Contact: Martin Petrossyan
Ozone Young Men’s Christian Association NGO
Gyumri, 11 Paruir Sevak St.
Tel.: (374-41) 3-29-94
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
*** NEW DRAFT LAW ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY DEVELOPED
On September 30, Armenia’s draft law on Environmental Expertise was
unveiled. This was developed by the Center for Regional
Development/Transparency International Armenia within the framework of the
Developing Legislation on Environmental Impact Assessment project, funded by
government of Great Britain. Representatives of the ROA Ministry of
Environment, other ministries and NGOs participated in the development of
the draft law. Several open discussions among interested parties were held
and their opinions considered in creating the documents.
Contact: Sona Ayvazyan
Center for Regional Development/Transparency International Armenia
Tel.: (374-1) 58-55-78; 52-69-14
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
__________________________________________________________________________
Armenian NGO News in Brief is a publication of the NGO Training and Resource
Center (NGOC) issued in the Armenian, English and Russian languages for
electronic dissemination inside and outside Armenia. Primary funding for the
NGOC, which is a project of the Armenian Assembly of America, is provided by
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Individual
NGOs are welcome to submit information for publication to the NGOC. The NGO
Center is not responsible for the clarity of information provided by
individual NGOs.
Dear Readers,
The not-for-profit, non-governmental sector of Armenia is rich with diverse
civic initiatives and activities. This electronic publication, though far
from covering all activities of the sector per any given period of time, is
intended to contribute to raising awareness, both inside and outside
Armenia, of the activities of Armenian not-for-profit, non-governmental
organizations.
Your comments and feedback about this electronic publication are greatly
appreciated.
Thank you.
NGOC staff.
Contact Information:
In Armenia:
Armenian Assembly of America
NGO Training and Resource Center
39 Yeznik Koghbatsi St., Yerevan 375010
Tel.: (3-741) 54-40-12; 54-40-13; 53-92-04
Fax: (3-741) 54-40-15
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
In the United States:
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NGO Training and Resource Center
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Washington, DC 20001 USA
Tel: (202) 393-3434
Fax: (202) 638-4904
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:

Moscow Times, Russia
Oct 10 2004
News In Brief
Border Closed
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — The closure of a Russian-Georgian border
crossing following the Beslan hostage-taking raid last month has
halted hundreds of vehicles headed for Armenia, choking off a key
supply line to the country, officials said Friday.
More than 1,500 cars and trucks going from Russia to Armenia
via Georgia have been stopped by the closure of the Verkhny Lars
crossing point, said lawmaker Vladimir Badalyan, a co-chairman of an
Armenian-Georgian business group.

Calcutta Telegraph, India
Oct 11 2004
Exhibition
Exotic artefacts, jewellery, stationery and garments on view at CIMA
Gallery, 11 am to 8 pm. Works of Armenian sculptor Levon Tokmajyan on
display at Armenian College & Philanthropic Academy, 3 pm to 7 pm. An
exhibition of handicrafts of Bengal, organised by Nimble Fingers, at
Effex Showroom on Mirza Ghalib Street, noon to 6 pm.

Terror’s Islamic Roots
By Robert Spencer
Front Page Magazine
Oct 11 2004
Mustafa Akyol’s third and latest attempt to show that Osama bin Laden
and Company have hijacked the religion of peace is as mind-numbingly
disingenuous as it is windy and off-point.
In his article, “Still Standing for Islam – and Against Terrorism,”
in Frontpage’s October 8 issue, Akyol says: “At the outset, I should
clarify the meaning of the term jihad. It does not necessarily mean a
military struggle….” He should know that it is completely beside
the point, because although it may not “necessarily” be a military
struggle, it is for the global jihadists. Does Akyol think they will
lay down their arms because jihad can also be a spiritual struggle?
As a matter of fact, Hassan Al-Banna (founder of the Muslim
Brotherhood) and Abdullah Azzam (a founder of Al-Qaeda) among others,
taught that the idea of jihad as a spiritual struggle was based on a
weak hadith, and thus had to be rejected by loyal Muslims. But of
course Akyol does not deal with that.
Akyol also says: “Mr. Bostom also asks what will happen to atheists
if they are not convinced. Of course, nothing. Let them deny the
obvious. ‘There is no compulsion in religion’ (2:256) and Muslims are
ordered to say ‘The truth is from your Lord, so let him who please
believe, and let him who please disbelieve.’ (18:29)”
Interestingly enough, just yesterday someone sent me this from a
Muslim Q&A website, quoting Qur’an 8:39 and 9:5 to say that yes,
there is compulsion in religion:
“And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and
polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allaah), and the religion
(worship) will all be for Allaah Alone [in the whole of the world]”
[al-Anfaal 8:39]
“Then when the Sacred Months (the 1st, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of
the Islamic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikoon (see
V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them,
and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent
[by rejecting Shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism] and
perform As‑Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give Zakaah, then
leave their way free. Verily, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”
[al-Tawbah 9:5]
This verse is known as Ayat al-Sayf (the verse of the sword).
These and similar verses abrogate the verses which say that there is
no compulsion to become Muslim.
But Akyol is ready for that. He attacks the Islamic doctrine of
abrogation on which this argument is based, saying it is “actually a
late invention, introduced by some classical jurists during the
fourth century (late 10th century) of Islam.” He quotes Dr. Khaleel
Mohammed, a professor of Religion at San Diego State University: “The
allegation that 120 verses on the invitation to Islam were abrogated
by the verse of the sword (9:5)…is in fact one of crassest
stupidity.”
Gee, that’s swell, but unfortunately, Dr. Khaleel Muhammad has not
yet taken up his throne as the Muslim Pope. And here, as in so many
other instances, he resorts to shallow and base name-calling instead
of actually addressing the arguments of his opponents. Jihadists,
quite obviously, still employ the practice of abrogation. Does he
think that pointing out that it is a tenth-century innovation and
accusing those who use it of the “crassest stupidity” will really
stop them? “Fellow mujahedin! Dr. Khaleel Muhammad has called us
stupid! Let us lay down our arms!”
In fact, abrogation (naskh) is not a tenth-century innovation. It is
based on the Qur’an itself: “Nothing of our revelation (even a single
verse) do we abrogate or cause be forgotten, but we bring (in place)
one better or the like thereof. Knowest thou not that Allah is Able
to do all things?” (Sura 2:106).
Likewise, Akyol’s contention that “the war verses describe only an
abnormal state of affairs — in which the Muslim community faced an
enemy that sought its annihilation — and verses that promote peace
and tolerance describe the Islamic ideal” will do nothing to pacify
radical Muslims, since they have argued again and again that today
the Muslim community faces an enemy that seeks its annihilation. Thus
even by Akyol’s own standards, Muslims are justified to invoke the
Qur’an’s war verses and wage jihad today.
Then Akyol performs a neat pirouette to avoid the avalanche of
quotations that Bostom, others, and I myself invoked from the hadith
and sira — traditions of the Prophet Muhammad and his biography —
to justify the killing of captives in Islam. He simply denies the
authority of the sources: “Well, I don’t question the Koran, which I
believe to be the infallible Word of God, yet I, like many other
contemporary Muslims, feel free to question traditional Islamic
sources such as the hadith and sira. These were written at least one
and a half centuries after the Prophet and we already know that there
were many fake sayings attributed to and fables made up about Prophet
Muhammad. The collection we have today was compiled by men most of
whom had the best intentions, but good intentions are not enough to
create an infallible source.”
That’s great for Mustafa Akyol, except for two small problems:
1. He immediately contradicts his own statement in the paragraph that
follows by invoking two statements of Muhammad that are not in the
Qur’an, but are taken from the Islamic traditions he just rejected.
2. Most Muslims accept the hadith and sira as authoritative. I am
glad that he and other Muslim reformers reject them, but they face a
herculean task in convincing the majority of their coreligionists to
do so (particularly when Akyol rejects them and then uses them in
practically the same breath).
But since Akyol rejects the authority of passages from Islamic law
that Bostom and I cited in our respective replies, he doesn’t have to
answer or explain them. Instead, he spends the bulk of his article
citing Muslim apologists and questionable historical sources to
establish that in history, Muslims acted better. Once again, even if
this is true, it establishes nothing: the mujahedin believe that they
are acting in line with Islamic law, and historical examples don’t
disprove this.
In order to avoid ten years in prison as mandated by law in his
native Turkey, in the course of his long-winded historical tour Akyol
breezily dismisses the Armenian genocide, in which two million people
were slaughtered, as “inter-communal violence,” and blames the
Armenians as much as the Ottomans.
This Holocaust denial in itself reveals the utter moral bankruptcy of
Akyol’s argument, but there is one more thing. He also sees dark
motives behind what Bostom and Ibn Warraq (and, by implication, I
also) are doing, seeing behind us the shadows of Stalin and Pol Pot.
“According to Ibn Warraq, as Mr. Bostom delightfully quotes, ‘There
are moderate Muslims, but Islam itself is not moderate’ and ‘Islam
need [to] be marginalized for liberty to flourish.’ What Ibn Warraq
does is to reiterate the dull atheists mantra — that religion shrinks
our liberties and instead we must shrink religion to save them. From
Epicurus to Nietzsche, from Freud to Richard Dawkins, this is the
unholy crusade whose political fruits included mass murderers such as
the Jacobins, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot. And I am firmly against that
secularist agenda.”
In case you missed it, the sleight-of-hand he performs here is to
equate Ibn Warraq’s opposition to Islam with the opposition to
Christianity that did indeed lead to the monstrous atheistic regimes
of Jacobins, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot. Ibn Warraq is indeed, as far as
I know, an atheist, but this has nothing to do with the statements
from him that Akyol quoted. “There are moderate Muslims, but Islam
itself is not moderate” is not a call to Stalinist genocide; it is an
observation that certain teachings of Islam itself enjoin violence
against unbelievers. If you don’t believe that, go back and read Sura
9:5 and what the Islam Q&A site makes of it.
I myself am not an atheist, and I do not reply to him out of some
sinister cypto-Stalinism. I made it abundantly clear why I am doing
this in an earlier reply to Akyol:
Why am I doing this? To make life difficult for a moderate? No. I am
only trying to point out that Akyol’s conclusion (the beheadings
“stem from a kind of necrophilic nihilism, not from the essence of
Islam”) is unwarranted, and his argument will be unconvincing to a
radical Muslim, who can invoke the authorities I have cited here and
others.
So in sum: Akyol’s piece is not the kind of moderate Islamic
presentation we need in order to neutralize the radicals. We need one
that confronts and refutes their arguments; his simply ignores them.
Those who are looking for moderate Muslims to rise up and refute the
radicals should keep looking.
I stand by those statements. Akyol more and more seems to me like one
who is trying to reassure jittery Westerners about Islam, rather than
refute the radicals. But his reassurance is hollow, and is only
likely to make people less guarded against future attacks by Muslims
who do not accept his arguments. His arguments do nothing to stop
jihadists from continuing their murderous work.
Robert Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch and the author of
Onward Muslim Soldiers: How Jihad Still Threatens America and the
West (Regnery Publishing), and Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions
About the World’s Fastest Growing Faith (Encounter Books).

Electoral vagueness in Abkhazia
The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 11 2004
Abkhazia’s unrecognized presidential elections have taken numerous,
unexpected twists and turns in the separatist state. Raul Khadjinba,
the former Prime Minister who was seen as Putin’s favorite was defeated
in the election, leaving Sergei Baghapshi as the preliminary winner.
The election of October 3 was very important, as it should have made
it clear who would be the heir to the ailing President Ardzinba.
Khadjinba, like Russian President Putin, is from the state security
community and may have thus gained Putin’s sympathy. He was treated
to a personal meeting with Putin and a photo opportunity that became
a frequent image in his election campaign. Now analysts conclude that
his open relationship with Moscow may have cost him votes from ardent,
pro-independent voters. In any case, the Kremlin’s support has failed
to deliver an overwhelming victory.
In separatist Abkhazia, Sergei Baghapshi’s group had more supporters.
They were in control of most election districts and did not allow
anyone to falsify the election to benefit Khadjinba. The result is
an electoral stalemate; although Baghapshi won in the early count,
courts decided that their were several errors and on October 17 repeat
elections will be held in the Gali region to decide who the winner
of the de facto post really is.
Russia has already reacted to the situation and dispatched an employee
of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situation Nodar Khashba to take
over the post of prime minister instead of Khadjinba. Khashba is
a person with speculative presidential worth in the region but was
refused participation in the vote because he did not live in Abkhazia
during the last 5 years.
Khashba arrived in Abkhazia and began “to set up order.” According
to reports, he even made an indirect statement critical of Baghapshi.
Adding to the confusion, there have also been reports that President
Ardzinba will declare a state of emergency and will install the new
prime minister as president and thus by pass the elections.
Khashba states that a draft law on a state of emergency does not
exist and that it is impossible to develop one. He faces a stern
balancing force from local paramilitaries who were awarded with title
of local heroes for expelling Georgians and now warn Khashba not to
touch their economic assets or interfere in national policy. These
‘respected people’ are also the supporters of Baghapshi and want to
ensure his final victory.
Abkhazia’s current events are observed with great interest in
Tbilisi. Some talk about the defeat of the Kremlin and hope that
Sergei Baghapshi will win. While both Khadjinba and Baghapshi are
anti-Georgian, there is still an evident difference between them.
Khadjinba is regarded as the obedient and meek promoter of the Kremlin
who will continue the policy of the joining Abkhazia to Russia. And
Sergei Baghapshi is considered as more pro-Abkhazian, who does not
want to join Abkhazia but rather to preserve ‘independence.’
It is also clear that to have hope on Baghapshi is absurd; he too is
connected with Russia and was a representative of Yeltsin’s political
cadre. Putin simply preferred Khadjinba. Furthermore, Abkhazia is
controlled by Russia oligarchs and generals who have serious material
interests in the region. Baghapshi will not be able to oppose their
interests. Russia need not worry yet since they can easily alter
course and work with Baghapshi, but they will first pull him aside
and extract certain guarantees of good behavior from the leader.
Any overt interference by the Kremlin is likely to aggravate Abkhaz
society and Moscow will seek to avoid any hostilities in the region.
The only clear indicators out of the election are that now the vote
will depend on many ethnic Armenians and Georgians who are vulnerable
to influence by threats and discrimination in the region. Another clear
indicator is that the Abkhaz state is far from a monolith and there
are still a variety of paths for the regions future. Georgian must now
sit and wait, hoping that one of the paths will lead to reconciliation.

Georgian-Russian Border Temporarily Reopened
Civil Georgia, Georgia
Oct 11 2004
On October 10 the Russian side temporarily reopened its border with
Georgia at the Larsi checkpoint, which has been closed since the
hostage-taking tragedy in Beslan early last month.
The border remained opened for several hours only, in order to allow
citizens and trucks from both Georgia and Armenia to cross the border.
According to the Georgian Border Department, talks are currently
being carried out over the reopening of the border and these talks
include the active involvement of the Armenian side as well.