"The directive from ISIS, citing the Islamic concept of "dhimma", requires Christians in the city to pay tax of around half an ounce (14g) of pure gold in exchange for their safety. It says Christians must not make renovations to churches, display crosses or other religious symbols outside churches, ring church bells or pray in public. Christians must not carry arms, and must follow other rules imposed by ISIS (also known as ISIL) on their daily lives. The statement said the group had met Christian representatives and offered them three choices - they could convert to Islam, accept ISIS' conditions, or reject their control and risk being killed. "If they reject, they are subject to being legitimate targets, and nothing will remain between them and ISIS other than the sword," the statement said. A group of 20 Christian leaders chose to accept the new set of rules, ISIS said." BBC
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This set of restrictions was normal practise in Islamic states before colonial administrations interfered with their freedom of action. The post colonial governments have ,in the main, shrunk from re-imposing this set of restrictions. The Baath and Hashemite states never tried to restrict Christians in this way. Yes, I mean Syria among them. This is why the Syrian Christians support Assad. pl
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26366197
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhimmi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jizya
Thomas,
Thanks for the link. I had missed this one.
Ishmael Zechariah
Posted by: Ishmael Zechariah | 04 March 2014 at 09:51 PM
Yes, the Empire of Ashoka...
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 05 March 2014 at 09:57 AM
Ishmael,
Your welcome.
Posted by: Thomas | 05 March 2014 at 02:16 PM
"Ashoka, the Mauryan Emperor, looked at the bodies strewn around the smashed city, and at the Daya River that ran red with blood. He was surveying the damage that his army had inflicted on the recalcitrant Kalinga region. About 100,000 civilians were dead, as well as 10,000 of Ashoka's soldiers.
Far from feeling the glorious rush of victory, Ashoka felt sick and saddened. He vowed that never again would he rain down death and destruction on other people..."
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/india/a/ashoka.htm
Ishmael Zechariah
Posted by: Ishmael Zechariah | 05 March 2014 at 03:30 PM
Ishmael Zechariah :
Ashoka repented.
Has the Turkish Republic repented?
I think not.
At a minimum, per Muslim Law, the Turkish state must pay compensation to the Pontic Greeks for the losses in their property and businesses and additionally blood money to the Armenians.
Per the recent change in the Laws of Spain, a further act of Turkish parliament would be to restore citizenship to the descendants of the Pontic Greeks and Armenians.
Of course, that is not going to happen.
Tow wrongs do not a right make.
Posted by: Babak Makkinejad | 06 March 2014 at 02:20 PM
Dr. Makkinejad,
This provides tragicomic relief from a possibly imminent nuclear exchange between the two Great Powers, but here we go:
1-You keep shifting positions. My question had the magic word "uniformly". Once you have secured all you want, it is easy to "repent" and become a "liberal". Scipio also cried when he watched Carthage burn (again, the Aneid).
2-Has Iran "repented" per your definition and paid up to the kin of those 18 straw filled heads @ the link I posted previously?
3-Turkey, as a secular republic, does not obey Islamic law. If we have our way, it will NEVER obey the medieval nonsense called "islamic law".
4-What makes you think that we hold your idea of "right" to be the "right"? Is using 200 foreskins of your enemies to pay for a bride "right"?
You might have more leverage trying to fix Iran. The "revolutionary guard" may need some civilizing.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/31/iran-acid-woman-pardons-attacker
Ishmael Zechariah
Posted by: Ishmael Zechairah | 07 March 2014 at 10:52 AM