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	<title>Comments on: Bashar Assad, Kept in Power by a Theocracy, Condemns Political Islam</title>
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	<link>http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/bashar-assad-kept-in-power-by-a-theocracy-condemns-political-islam/?utm_source=rss&#038;utm_medium=rss&#038;utm_campaign=bashar-assad-kept-in-power-by-a-theocracy-condemns-political-islam</link>
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		<title>By: Alvaro</title>
		<link>http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/bashar-assad-kept-in-power-by-a-theocracy-condemns-political-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-5240521</link>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Alvaro]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Jul 2013 06:49:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://frontpagemag.com/?p=195560#comment-5240521</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mr. Greenfield: Assad is most of all a Ba&#039;athist like Saddam Hussein was. The Ba&#039;ath parties endorse(d) Arab nationalism, and are/were nothing like the theocracies of Iran or Saudi-Arabia. Generally, minorities were much better  treated than in other predominantly Muslim countries, and Christians could hold high positions in government: Tariq Aziz, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq under Saddam Hussein, was a Christian.

Of course it is not like Western secularism. But it is the kind of secularism that at least tolerates Christians instead of literally trying to exterminate them.

&quot;Constitution adopted on 13th March 1973. Article 3(1) declares that religion of the President of the Republic shall be Islam.&quot;

Even the Norwegian Constitution § 2, states that the Evangelical-Lutheran Christianity is the State religion. And Norway is one of the most secular countries on the planet. 

&quot;Assad may not have noticed, but he’s being kept in power by the Iranian theocracy and the Islamist Hezbollah militia.&quot;



Ironic, isn&#039;t it. Almost as ironic as Obama providing the muscle of Saudi foreign policy in the Middle East, and being an ally of Al-Qaeda and their Jihadist cohorts in Syria.


Destroying Ba&#039;athism is a grave mistake since Arab nationalism is the only political force that effectively can keep religious zealots and thus sectarian violence in check. 


Don&#039;t get me wrong:  Assad is a dictator - but I would much rather be a Christian in Syria under Assad than under a post-Assad Syria run by Sunni extremists backed by Obama.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mr. Greenfield: Assad is most of all a Ba&#8217;athist like Saddam Hussein was. The Ba&#8217;ath parties endorse(d) Arab nationalism, and are/were nothing like the theocracies of Iran or Saudi-Arabia. Generally, minorities were much better  treated than in other predominantly Muslim countries, and Christians could hold high positions in government: Tariq Aziz, the former Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq under Saddam Hussein, was a Christian.</p>
<p>Of course it is not like Western secularism. But it is the kind of secularism that at least tolerates Christians instead of literally trying to exterminate them.</p>
<p>&#8220;Constitution adopted on 13th March 1973. Article 3(1) declares that religion of the President of the Republic shall be Islam.&#8221;</p>
<p>Even the Norwegian Constitution § 2, states that the Evangelical-Lutheran Christianity is the State religion. And Norway is one of the most secular countries on the planet. </p>
<p>&#8220;Assad may not have noticed, but he’s being kept in power by the Iranian theocracy and the Islamist Hezbollah militia.&#8221;</p>
<p>Ironic, isn&#8217;t it. Almost as ironic as Obama providing the muscle of Saudi foreign policy in the Middle East, and being an ally of Al-Qaeda and their Jihadist cohorts in Syria.</p>
<p>Destroying Ba&#8217;athism is a grave mistake since Arab nationalism is the only political force that effectively can keep religious zealots and thus sectarian violence in check. </p>
<p>Don&#8217;t get me wrong:  Assad is a dictator &#8211; but I would much rather be a Christian in Syria under Assad than under a post-Assad Syria run by Sunni extremists backed by Obama.</p>
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		<title>By: observerBG</title>
		<link>http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/bashar-assad-kept-in-power-by-a-theocracy-condemns-political-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-5240354</link>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[observerBG]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2013 20:25:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://frontpagemag.com/?p=195560#comment-5240354</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was researcing this question before years and Syria was never really secular. I would call it moderate (in comparison to Saudia Arabia) Islamic country. But not secular in any western sense. 

For example, up to 2009, male honour killers received reduced penalties if the reason for the murder was female adultery. Homosexuality was punished with up to 3 years in prison. Generally, the police did not respond to domestic abuse and wife beating.  There were no laws against spousal rape. The law stateted that   &quot;If there is a contracted marriage between the man who commits rape, sexual abuse, kidnapping, sexual harassment and the victim, then there is no charge or the punishment is stopped.&quot; If a rapist agree to marry the victim, then there is no punishment for him. 

Jews were banned from state empoyment. Regardless of religion, child custody laws for all children, including non muslim children, were based on Sharia Law. The Government does not recognize the religious status of Muslims who convert to Christianity. The reverse is not true. In the event of a conversion to Christianity, the Government still regards the individual convert as Muslim and still subject to Shari’a (Islamic Law). A Muslim woman cannot marry a Christian man, but a Christian woman can marry a Muslim man. If a Christian woman marries a Muslim man, however, she is not allowed to be buried in a cemetery for Muslims unless she converts to Islam. If a person wants to convert from Christianity to Islam, the law states that the presiding Muslim cleric must inform the prospective convert&#039;s diocese. 

While there is no civil law prohibiting proselytizing, the Government 
discourages it and occasionally prosecutes missionaries for &quot;posing a 
threat to the relations among religious groups&quot; when they engage in such
 activities. 

Religious affiliation is documented on the birth certificate. State radio broadcast the dawn, noon, and afternoon Islamic Prayers. State television also broadcast recitations from the Qur&#039;an in the morning. Under the country&#039;s interpretation of Shari&#039;a, the legal standard for Muslim men to obtain a divorce is much lower than that for Muslim women.
 Husbands may claim adultery as grounds for divorce, while wives often face a higher legal standard when presenting the same case. A man can be found guilty of adultery only if the act takes place inside the home. 

If a wife requests a divorce from her husband, she may be denied alimony
 and the return of her dowry in some instances. In the event of divorce, under Shari&#039;a, a woman loses the right to custody of her sons when they reach the age of 13, and her daughters when they reach the age of 15, regardless of religion. 

Women can also lose custody before their children reach this age if they remarry, work outside the home, or move outside of the city or country. In such cases, the custody of the children reverts to the maternal grandmother until the ages of 13 and 15, respectively. After that, custody reverts to the father until the children reach maturity at age 18.

Inheritance is based on Shari&#039;a for all citizens except Catholics. Accordingly, married women are usually granted half the share of inheritance that male heirs receive. When a Christian woman marries a Muslim, she is not entitled to
 an inheritance. Polygamy is legal for Muslim men. The Government continued to promote Islamic banking.

Muslims and Christians were a subject to their respective religious laws on marriage and divorce.  Orthodox and other Christians remained subject to Sharia Law in matters pertaining to adoption, inheritance, and guardianship. Social conventions and religious proscriptions made conversion 
relatively rare, especially Muslim-to-Christian conversion, which is 
technically illegal. 
 In many cases societal pressure forced those who undertook such 
conversions to relocate within the country or to leave the country 
altogether to practice their religion openly.  The Government bans Jehovah&#039;s Witnesses. 

You may call Syria a moderate Islamic country. But this is not a secular country.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I was researcing this question before years and Syria was never really secular. I would call it moderate (in comparison to Saudia Arabia) Islamic country. But not secular in any western sense. </p>
<p>For example, up to 2009, male honour killers received reduced penalties if the reason for the murder was female adultery. Homosexuality was punished with up to 3 years in prison. Generally, the police did not respond to domestic abuse and wife beating.  There were no laws against spousal rape. The law stateted that   &#8220;If there is a contracted marriage between the man who commits rape, sexual abuse, kidnapping, sexual harassment and the victim, then there is no charge or the punishment is stopped.&#8221; If a rapist agree to marry the victim, then there is no punishment for him. </p>
<p>Jews were banned from state empoyment. Regardless of religion, child custody laws for all children, including non muslim children, were based on Sharia Law. The Government does not recognize the religious status of Muslims who convert to Christianity. The reverse is not true. In the event of a conversion to Christianity, the Government still regards the individual convert as Muslim and still subject to Shari’a (Islamic Law). A Muslim woman cannot marry a Christian man, but a Christian woman can marry a Muslim man. If a Christian woman marries a Muslim man, however, she is not allowed to be buried in a cemetery for Muslims unless she converts to Islam. If a person wants to convert from Christianity to Islam, the law states that the presiding Muslim cleric must inform the prospective convert&#8217;s diocese. </p>
<p>While there is no civil law prohibiting proselytizing, the Government<br />
discourages it and occasionally prosecutes missionaries for &#8220;posing a<br />
threat to the relations among religious groups&#8221; when they engage in such<br />
 activities. </p>
<p>Religious affiliation is documented on the birth certificate. State radio broadcast the dawn, noon, and afternoon Islamic Prayers. State television also broadcast recitations from the Qur&#8217;an in the morning. Under the country&#8217;s interpretation of Shari&#8217;a, the legal standard for Muslim men to obtain a divorce is much lower than that for Muslim women.<br />
 Husbands may claim adultery as grounds for divorce, while wives often face a higher legal standard when presenting the same case. A man can be found guilty of adultery only if the act takes place inside the home. </p>
<p>If a wife requests a divorce from her husband, she may be denied alimony<br />
 and the return of her dowry in some instances. In the event of divorce, under Shari&#8217;a, a woman loses the right to custody of her sons when they reach the age of 13, and her daughters when they reach the age of 15, regardless of religion. </p>
<p>Women can also lose custody before their children reach this age if they remarry, work outside the home, or move outside of the city or country. In such cases, the custody of the children reverts to the maternal grandmother until the ages of 13 and 15, respectively. After that, custody reverts to the father until the children reach maturity at age 18.</p>
<p>Inheritance is based on Shari&#8217;a for all citizens except Catholics. Accordingly, married women are usually granted half the share of inheritance that male heirs receive. When a Christian woman marries a Muslim, she is not entitled to<br />
 an inheritance. Polygamy is legal for Muslim men. The Government continued to promote Islamic banking.</p>
<p>Muslims and Christians were a subject to their respective religious laws on marriage and divorce.  Orthodox and other Christians remained subject to Sharia Law in matters pertaining to adoption, inheritance, and guardianship. Social conventions and religious proscriptions made conversion<br />
relatively rare, especially Muslim-to-Christian conversion, which is<br />
technically illegal.<br />
 In many cases societal pressure forced those who undertook such<br />
conversions to relocate within the country or to leave the country<br />
altogether to practice their religion openly.  The Government bans Jehovah&#8217;s Witnesses. </p>
<p>You may call Syria a moderate Islamic country. But this is not a secular country.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: rogerinflorida</title>
		<link>http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/bashar-assad-kept-in-power-by-a-theocracy-condemns-political-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-5240325</link>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[rogerinflorida]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2013 19:09:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://frontpagemag.com/?p=195560#comment-5240325</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mr. Greenfield, 
You are undoubtedly correct that Assad is being helped by Iran, however considering the forces trying to bring him down (and who the US is supporting) by comparison Bashar Assad is a shining example of tolerance and good govt.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Mr. Greenfield,<br />
You are undoubtedly correct that Assad is being helped by Iran, however considering the forces trying to bring him down (and who the US is supporting) by comparison Bashar Assad is a shining example of tolerance and good govt.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Profit</title>
		<link>http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/bashar-assad-kept-in-power-by-a-theocracy-condemns-political-islam/comment-page-1/#comment-5240306</link>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Profit]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Jul 2013 18:06:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://frontpagemag.com/?p=195560#comment-5240306</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Muslim governments who say they are secular are practicing the old taqiyya trick.]]></description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Muslim governments who say they are secular are practicing the old taqiyya trick.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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