Mali Tuareg and Islamist rebels agree on Sharia state

[hellheaven1987]

The birth of new Sharia state?

Two rebel groups that seized nothern Mali two months ago have agreed to merge and turn their territory into an Islamist state, both sides say.

The Tuareg MNLA, a secular rebel group, and the Islamist group Ansar Dine signed the deal in the town of Gao, spokespeople said.

Ansar Dine, which has ties to al-Qaeda, has already begun to impose Sharia law in some towns.

The groups took advantage of a coup in March to seize the territory.

Correspondents say the deal is yet another worrying development for Mali and may complicate efforts to stabilise the country.

Source

I don't know, would this "new" Tuareg Sharia state becomes new Al Quaeda heaven?

[Kanaric]

I see someone wants to make themselves a UAV target.

[Basil II the B.S]

why are we wasting time and money for Africa again?

[YuriVII]

Natural resources

[ash874]

i think its wonderful
muslims have the right to demand a sharia state and they deserve it
this is what democracy is about

[fkizz]

i think its wonderful
muslims have the right to demand a sharia state and they deserve it
this is what democracy is about

Did you pay atention to the news? It was an elitist decision of small extremist group and a powerful person, not the majority of the people through voting.

Whatever that's called, it's not democracy, quite the oposite lol.

[YuriVII]

I dont think this has much to do about democracy. But nations deserve the right to decide their own fates. Even if they are fake post-colonial nations like Mali.

[hellheaven1987]

Interesting story.

An Islamist militant group has taken control of the fabled city of Timbuktu in northern Mali. Although the city was once a centre of Islamic learning, the group has objected to some local practises.

So what is their agenda? And will they respect the city's unique literary heritage?

Since seizing the city in March, Ansar Dine has targeted Timbuktu's precious Muslim heritage.

The shrine of a 15th Century sufi saint Sidi Mahmoud Ben Amar has been attacked, according to Lazare Eloundou Assomo of Unesco.

"The entrance gate of the mausoleum was completely destroyed and burnt," Mr Assomo told the BBC World Service. "The curtain that protected the shrine was destroyed."

Source

Well, remind me iconoclasm; I don't know Muslims worship Saints, sounds that traditionalists are not completely wrong.

[Farnan]

Source

Well, remind me iconoclasm; I don't know Muslims worship Saints, sounds that traditionalists are not completely wrong.

Sufis did sort of...

[Rome101]

There goes the neighborhood...

[MathiasOfAthens]

Mali is preparing a counter-attack right now... give it some time and they will start rolling tanks through.

Though I found it odd the secular Taureg rebels would agree to an extremist branch of Islam? Very odd.

[Condottiere 40K]

Depends on exactly what Gaddafi stocked in heavy weapons, and how much Tuaregs requisitioned.

[Prosaic Visitant]

I applaud these freedom fighters.

[Denny Crane!]

All of this has been encouraged by the West, it is convenient.

[Prosaic Visitant]

What? the Islamists?

[Denny Crane!]

What? the Islamists?

Indeed. It causes little trouble (except for the hosts) concentrates them and allows for intelligence gathering, Algeria is one of the main funding and organisation sources, with the blessing of the west.

Or at least that is what a University professor was convincingly stating on Radio 4's foreign affairs world report.

[Prosaic Visitant]

Indeed. It causes little trouble (except for the hosts) concentrates them and allows for intelligence gathering, Algeria is one of the main funding and organisation sources, with the blessing of the west.

Or at least that is what a University professor was convincingly stating on Radio 4's foreign affairs world report.

Geopolitics for a change. What a surprise.

[frozenprince]

Geopolitics for a change. What a surprise.

Truly, I never would have seen this coming. More Geo-Political BS.

[Poet]

Shariah even curses a Muslim for pointing iron (sword or gun) at another Muslim. These people do not know anything about Shariah.

[justicar5]

Shariah even curses a Muslim for pointing iron (sword or gun) at another Muslim. These people do not know anything about Shariah.

All they have to do is convince themselves that there enemies aren't 'proper' muslims (And how hard has that ever been for fanatics to do?) and that prohibition no longer binds them.