The first steps toward implementation began last week, but the Christian residents of the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, held by al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) have formally agreed to a dhimmatude agreement under Islamic Law.
A policy mostly phased out centuries ago, a dhimma (protection agreement) obliges AQI to protect the local Christian community, and allows them to practice their religion in private so long as they affirm that they are living in Muslim territory.
The Christians will also pay a graduated Jizya fee. Four gold dinars every six months is the standard fee, though the “middle class” will pay two and the poor will only have to pay one.
Jizya was meant to be the non-Muslim equivalent of Zakat payments, charitable contributions Muslims are obliged to make, and were designed in part to avoid making the Zakat a financial obstacle to conversion to Islam.
As Zakat stopped being state run in most of the Muslim world, the Jizya was also phased out. Still, with AQI initially so hostile toward Christians, the introduction of the dhimma suggests they are willing to let the Christian minority stay in their “emirate.”
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Why are you repeating old news? You already said the same thing a few days ago, and did not allow my comment, now what is this for? More propaganda?
I thought this was an anti war site…
Ah – Islam is such a peaceful 'religion' – isn't it?? – and tolerant too – right?
It's not Islam that's the issue but Wahabist/Salafist Islam as practiced by the US's second best buddies in Saudi Arabia. As with all religions/ideologies, there are always extremist interpretations and practitioners. Don't forget that in the medieval period in Europe, it was the muslims (especially in Spain) that practiced toleration. The sad fact is that due to power politics and the rise of the unholy house of Saud, together with the neo-con jerk-offs, AQ and similar groups are getting a free pass. The Neo-zio-cons/Evangelists and the Salafist/Wahabists are two sides of the same coin. That is why to me (as a muslim) I find both evil and a threat to human progress
"Don't forget that in the medieval period in Europe, it was the muslims (especially in Spain) that practiced toleration. I'm afraid that is a myth. Btw, those muslims were conquering invaders.
Sorry Dan, I would respectfully disagree with your reply. Most historians without an agenda to push will say that on the whole, the treatment of Jews and others were on the whole better than that of the Europeans. Granted there were outbreaks of anti Jewish sentiment, but nothing on the scale of the rest of Europe. And when the reconquista in Spain finally pushed the Muslims out by 1492 , most Jews fled to other places such as the Ottoman Empire. And although you are correct in stating that the Muslims were originally invaders, the fact is that they displaced the Visigoth dynasties (themselves invaders) in Spain with the support of the indigenous population. However I do accept that there were other areas where later Muslim Empires such as the Ottomans practiced genocide and pogroms (e.g the Armenian massacres in 1915). But do not let this detract from the need to identify our enemies correctly (elites, warmongers, extremists etc) rather than engaging in sweeping generalisations of Muslims, Christians etc without facts. After all, distraction and disinformation are just a couple of the ways that those who seek to control us will no doubt use.
Why blame Islam for some nutcase lunatics scheming up a cultish mentality and trying to thrust it down everyone's throats by claiming this as true Islam. These Wahabi's came to power in Saudi Arabia with the solid backing of the British who were later replaced by the eager Americans who back them even to this date. If we get rid of the house of Saud, these Wahabi/Salafi bloodthirsty barbarians will wither away too.
If you really want to understand these people read about Ibn Wahab – the founder of Wahabism- and you'll get the picture.
This is the true face of the so-called "freedom fighters" in Syria.
Yeah, about as sweet as the Christian soldiers in Vietnam were, eh?
Malcom X style compromise.
Stick a knife in me 10 inches, pull it out five and call it compromise.