Terrorism Alien Concept In Islam – Says Rabiatu Ammah

Dr Rabiatu Ammah, a senior lecturer at the Department for the Study of Religions, University of Ghana, Legon and a member of the Council of State, has said that terrorism and extremism are alien concepts in Islam and should be eschewed by all true Muslims.

'Islam is a peaceful religion and all Muslims must be ambassadors of its principles,' she said when she was delivering a lecture during a public forum on the theme: 'Pre-empting Extremism In Ghana And Radicalisation and Terrorism: Emerging Threats To Islam' to over a 1,300 students from both senior high schools and tertiary institutions at the National Theatre in Accra last Saturday.

The forum was prompted according to the organisers, Marhaba Media Limited, with the support of the Global Haulage Group of Companies, by the recent recruitment of some Ghanaian graduates into the ranks of the Islamic State for Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

'In our efforts to pre-empt extremism in our communities and country, it is important that the youth are well engaged in matters relating to their own development and that of our communities,' she said.

She called for a paradigm shift in Islam so that the religion does not continue to suffer the challenges it is undergoing today.

The misinterpretation of the Islamic scripture occasioned by the non-consideration of their contexts has led to some of the challenges confronting the religion today, she said.

Clerics, she said, should take charge of affairs in the Islamic communities so that the youth in these areas do not fall prey to terrorist organisations.

Rabiatu Ammah recalled how during a forum a young boy got up to announce that he knew some youth who were going to join terrorist groups and asked 'what are you doing about that?'.

The academic said, 'I was not surprised therefore when a newspaper broke the news about some of our children joining a terrorist organisation,' she said.

She painted an interesting picture about a Tema-based lady thought to have joined the terrorist organisation, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria ISIS about whom the DAILY GUIDE reported earlier.

'I know that girl. She started exhibiting strange signs in the house. With hindsight I now understand the changes. Her dressing changed and she became radicalised. (I am not saying that ladies should not cover up). Everything in the house became haram. Then she vanished,' she recalled.

The police when the matter was reported to them, she claimed she was only missing and could return. It was thought that she was in the Brong Ahafo Region.

'All we hear is that she has left. We don't know where she is gone to. It is true our children are being radicalised,' she said.

Bad elements, she said, have taken the contents of the Holy Quran out of context to undertake their violent projects which are not commensurate with the tenets of the religion.

National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu who graced the forum asked Ghanaians to be grateful for the peace that prevails in the country.

A cross section of important personalities in the Islamic community who were present at the function include the Chairman of the Global Haulage Group of Companies, Alhaji Iddrisu Adamu, Rear Admiral Muniru Tahiru (rtd), Maj Gen Abduali Kardo (rtd), Air Commodore Sumaila Abass (rtd), Dr Tanko, a cardiologist at the National Cardio-Thoracic Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

By A.R. Gomda