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In reasonable time I hope to include some details from the book by Jacques Barzun briefly reviewed below. Tomorrow we'll return to philobarbarism and John Carey, Intellectuals and the Masses. For now, three brief pieces on intellectuals.
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The message of "The House of Intellect" is that its inhabitants, the intellectuals themselves, have trashed the house. The blame cannot be placed with the crassness or greed of big business, the shallowness of a consumer society, or the ignorance of the uneducated. The major malign influences are distorted perceptions of the nature and function of Art, Science and Philanthropy. These things have their value and their place, but Barzun shows how they have become diverted from their proper ends to impose in a destructive manner upon the conditions of scholarship and the life of the mind. Rafe Champion
http://www.amazon.com/gp
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Intellectuals or extremists? The case for and against leading Muslim figures
Backgrounds of moderates and radicals reveal wide range of beliefs
Hugh Muir and Brian Whitaker
Thursday July 21, 2005
The Guardian
Yusuf al-Qaradawi
Who is he?
An influential religious figure in the Arab world, based in Qatar, whose fame as a Sunni scholar has been spread by appearances on al-Jazeera television. Born in 1926 in Egypt, he became dean of the College of Sharia and Islamic Studies at Qatar University, is an adviser on Islamic affairs for Algeria, and is in overall charge of the website Islamonline.net, where he heads a committee to ensure that none of its content violates the fixed principles of Islamic law.
The case for or against
In the west, Mr Qaradawi is often described as an extremist. He has been banned from the US since 1999 on the grounds that he advocates violence. On BBC Newsnight he appeared to condone suicide bombing against Israel, saying: "It is not suicide, it is martyrdom in the name of God."
He has also faced strong criticism for his social views, describing homosexuality as "a perverted act is a reversal of the natural order, a corruption of man's sexuality, and a crime against the rights of females". In the Arab world, however, he is regarded as relatively moderate. He condemned the September 11 attacks on the US and urged all Muslims to donate blood to help the injured. He also criticised the London bombings, calling them "evil acts characterised by barbarity and savagery, which are condemned by Islam in the strongest of terms".
How radical is he?
He appears to make a clear distinction between actions permissible in the Palestinian conflict with Israel and what can be justified elsewhere. Generally seen as a moderate.
Omar Bakri Mohammad
Who is he?
A self-styled cleric and the former leader of the Islamic group al-Muhajiroun. Omar Bakri, 45, has lived in Britain for 20 years. He won leave to remain in the country after being expelled from Saudi Arabia. Renowned for inflammatory anti-western preaching in mosques and community halls.
The case for and against
Yesterday he told the Guardian: "If we are saying that you are an extremist because you don't follow man-made laws, then I am an extremist. For years I was able to hold the youth together and prevent them from doing any kind of action in the UK. Now that I am banned, my organisation is banned, many of the youths are going abroad. They can put Omar Bakri behind bars ... but if they do and a bomb goes off, who will they blame?" Last year in an interview with Portugal's Publica news magazine, he predicted that London would be attacked. "It's inevitable because several [attacks] are being prepared by several groups," he said. Critics say he used his internet site to praise al-Qaida, adding: "You are obliged to join. There is no need ... to mess about."
He has apparently disbanded the British arm of al-Muhajiroun, which was also accused of inflammatory remarks - its website praised the 9/11 hijackers as the "magnificent 19". He claims to have given religious instruction to two Britons who went to Israel on a suicide bombing mission that killed four and is alleged to have said afterwards that they "will now go to paradise". This week he claimed that the London bombings were the fault of "the British people", both Muslim and non-Muslim. Mr Bakri accused Tony Blair and everyone who voted for him of helping to create a "cycle of bloodshed".
How radical is he?
Largely shunned by most in the Muslim communities. Regarded as a marginal, self-regarding figure by many but as a dangerous demagogue by others. His name and number was found on a mobile phone carried by the two Britons in Israel. He is not thought to have direct involvement in terrorist operations but is alleged to provide the spiritual encouragement and justification for them.
Abu Qatada
Who is he?
Jordanian-born, Abu Qatada is 45 and lives in west London. He fled to Britain in 1993 from Jordan where he was convicted of inciting terrorist acts.
The case for and against
Described as Osama bin Laden's ambassador in Europe, he was arrested in London in 2002 and held in Belmarsh prison. Though freed in March, he is subject to a control order which keeps him under effective house arrest. The government has accused him of involvement in a range of support activities, including fundraising, on behalf of terrorist organisations, including those linked with Bin Laden. During his appeal before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission, the judges concluded that he was "a truly dangerous individual".
It is understood that tapes of his sermons were found in the Hamburg flat used by some of the 9/11 hijackers. Spanish investigators have alleged he is al-Qaida's spiritual leader in Europe, and he has been linked to the Madrid bombings. His supporters claim he was against the 9/11 attacks on the basis that they were a tactical mistake. An Italian magazine published statements in which he is alleged to have called for an attack on Rome, saying: "Muslims' target is the west. We will split Rome open."
How radical is he?
Many in the western intelligence service believe he is a dangerous figure whose teachings and rhetoric provide spiritual inspiration for al-Qaida attacks.
Tariq Ramadan
Who is he?
The grandson of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic revival movement, Professor Ramadan was brought up in Geneva after his father, Said Ramadan, fled from Egypt in 1954. His books explore reinterpretation and reform within Islam and its relationship with other religions and cultures.
The case for or against
Critics cite an Italian magazine interview in which he is quoted as saying: "In Palestine, Iraq, Chechnya, there is a situation of oppression, repression and dictatorship. It is legitimate for Muslims to resist fascism that kills the innocent." He claims that he was misquoted. Last month the Sun newspaper said Prof Ramadan should be prevented from entering Britain. His employment visa was revoked by the US but he has been invited to reapply. A French ban has been challenged and rescinded. He is scheduled to give a lecture next week at The Middle Path conference, partly funded by the Metropolitan police, in London.
How radical is he?
He has been criticised in the US but also acclaimed by Time magazine as one of the 21st century's likely innovators. Seen by most as an important interpreter of events, rather than an extremist.
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Killing of Intellectuals one of the most brutal and savage carnages in the history of Bangladesh. It was a planned killing of the Bangali intellectuals- educationists, journalists, literateurs, physicians, scientists, lawyers, artists, philosophers and political thinkers - executed by a group of collaborators under the directive and guidance of the Pakistani military rulers during the war of liberation in 1971. The blue print of crippling the intelligentsia is said to have been chalked out by Major General Rao Farman Ali, the military adviser to the governor of East Pakistan. The armed cadres of al-badr, a para-military force, is alleged to have executed the brutal killing having been provided with arms and support by the Pakistan army.
The killing of the intellectuals virtually began with the army crackdown in Dhaka on the night of 25 March, and continued till the surrender of the Pak-army on 16 December 1971. The act of killing was initiated in Dhaka and gradually spread over the whole of East Pakistan especially in the district and subdivisional towns. The brutality and killing took a serious turn especially in Dhaka during the days preceding the surrender of the Pak army, particularly on 14 December, the day now commemorated as Shaheed Buddhijibi Hatya Dibash (Martyred Intellectuals Day).
The killers used to abduct and carry away the targetted victims from their houses in gestapo style to particular camps or spots very often covering their face with black cloth. They mostly took advantage of curfew in the city and kidnapped the victims. The victims were physically tortured, brutaly killed mostly by indiscriminate bayonet charges. The main spots of execution in Dhaka city were the marshy land at Rayerbazar near Mohammadpur and another at Mirpur, where a huge number of dead bodies were found scattered in the ditches, plains and inside the heaps of bricks. The dead bodies, eyes covered and hands tied, were found wounded and swelled all over their bodies and bullet shots on the chest, head or back.
The number of intellectuals killed is estimated as follows: educationist 991, journalist 13, physician 49, lawyer 42, others (litterateur, artist and engineer) 16. [Muazzam Hussain Khan]
banglapedia.search.com.bd/****
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