DEAR EDITOR:

How ironic it is that in the same Friday issue of the MDJ, two letters appear from Muslims extolling the peaceful virtues of Islam and the purity of Muhammad. I refer to “Good, bad in all religions, not just Islam,” and “Freedom of speech should be limited,” and the article titled, “Threats drive Egyptian Christians from Town.”

Letter writers Mahmooda Rehman and Allison Knight-Khan may indeed be peace-loving Muslims; however, they are either naive or sadly mistaken about their religion.

This Roman Catholic Christian has studied the Quran as well as the life and teachings of Muhammad. I came to the conclusion that Islam is not a religion of peace and Muhammad was not the pure and holy prophet they proclaim him to be. As a matter of fact, Muhammad was caught up in sexual gratification and the age or marital status of his conquests were of little concern. Muhammad may have been a prophet; however he was also hedonistic.

If Islam is a peaceful and tolerant religion, why is it that in Egypt, Coptic Christians are being threatened by Islamics for the simple reason they are Christian? If Islam is a peaceful and tolerant religion, why did Islamics behead one of their own because he had converted to Christianity and refused to renounce his new religion?

Mahmooda and Allison, I am sure you are devout followers of your religion, just as I am a devout follower of a truly peaceful religion known as Christianity. Christians do not persecute or murder non-Christians for refusing to embrace their religion.

I will close by pointing out that Islamics have committed 171 terrorist attacks against Christians and Jews since 1993, resulting in the deaths of thousands of innocent people (Wikipedia). Any claim that Islam is a religion of peace is ludicrous.

Wayne Beyea

Mableton