February 03, 2003

Shuttle destroyed by God, says Abu Hamza

THERE were renewed calls for the deportation of Abu Hamza al-Masri yesterday after he said that Allah had destroyed the shuttle because it was a "trinity of evil" against Islam.

The militant cleric said that God had destroyed the Columbia because it was carrying American Christians, an Indian-born Hindu and an Israeli Jew. He added that the craft's explosion was a message from God because the first Israeli in space, Ilan Ramon, a former fighter pilot, was killed over an area of Texas called Palestine.

The former imam of Finsbury Park Mosque in North London came under fierce criticism from politicians and leading Muslims. They accused him of inciting racial and religious hatred and revelling in the deaths of innocent people.

Mr Hamza, 44, said: "The Muslim people see these pilots as criminals. By going into space they would have sharpened the accuracy of their bombs through satellites. These missions would increase the number of satellites for military purposes. It would increase the slavery of governance of other countries by America. It is a punishment from God. Muslims see it that way. It is a trinity of evil because it carried Americans, an Israeli and a Hindu, a trinity of evil against Islam."

The Muslim Council of Great Britain said: "The vast majority of Muslims are now quite disgusted by (Mr Hamza's) sentiments."

I don't think Mr. Hamza's going to be getting any roses or chocolates on Valentine's Day for this little love talk...
What a guy!
He manages to insult 3 of the world's greatest religions in one sentence: not bad!
But then he's had lots of practice in the Hate Department.
As for those Muslims carrying on about the shuttle exploding over "Palestine," Texas, I think I can safely say that they've honed in on that town's name because they can't pronounce "Nacogdoches!"
[BTW, speaking as a native Texan,I can tell you that those are both nice, pretty little towns, too.]