Lina Allan, a Palestinian-Jordanian activist who lives in Michigan, published a video in which she attempted to rebut the position of people who prohibit the stabbing of Jews by Palestinians. Allan called on these people to not talk about something they don't understand and to "go back to watching Turkish soap operas" instead. She added that objecting to the stabbing of Jews is like defending animal rights "at best." In 2011, Allan co-founded the Jordanian "Step & Mile" NGO, and in 2012, she represented the State Department's U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) in the Jameed Festival in Jordan, according to an interview she gave to the Jordanian Roya TV.
Following are excerpts:
Lina Allan: Hello. Today, I'd like to talk about something that has been going on for a while, but still, I felt that I should talk about it and express my opinion.
"Is the stabbing of Jews haram [prohibited in Islam]?"
Lina Allan: Some people have commented on the Palestinians' stabbing of Jews, by saying that it is haram, that it is prohibited.
There are a few points that we need to tell these people. First of all, who are you to say what is halal and what is haram? Sadly, there are many people in the Arab world who think that just because their mother and father are Muslim, they themselves automatically became muftis, and are allowed to say what is halal and what is haram – according to their whims and personal desires, of course. If they like smoking, they pronounce cigarettes halal, and if they hate cigarettes, they pronounce them haram.
Secondly, everything that has happened in Palestine – the occupation, the massacres, the barbarity, the slaughter – is fine by you? Or in other words, it is "halal"?
Or have we gotten so used to seeing Palestinian blood that when we see it on TV, we view it as stats, not as human beings? For about 70 years, the Palestinians have been dying in their thousands, but we have not heard anyone saying it is haram. The Arab governments, God bless them, would "condemn," "disapprove," or "feel concern." So people, anyone who insists on saying these stupid things is welcome to do so, but don't tell us what's halal and what's haram.
Thirdly, let's assume that it is haram for a Palestinian to stab a Jew in order to put the pressure on the Israeli-Zionist entity. Even if you think that it's haram, they want to do it. Will you be held accountable on their behalf?! If so, let me know and we will discuss this further. The people who say that these stabbings are haram are trying to give the impression that they are sensitive, delicate people, and to create a [singer] Tamer Hosny-style, human-rights atmosphere. Let me tell you that at best, you are representing animal rights – not human rights, but at best, animal rights. Let me tell you, even animals would not object to this if they could talk.
Nobody can feel the suffering of the Palestinian people but the Palestinians living in Palestine. I wish that you would stop interfering. Spare us your views, and go back to watching Turkish soap operas. It would be better if you didn't talk about something you don't understand.
There is something that everybody must understand: Israel has occupied all the Arab countries, in order to cement its occupation of Palestine, but it has failed. Nobody can.
I, Lina Allan, do not support the Palestinian government or any party. I support the Palestinian people, and I support any decision made by the Palestinian people, in order to regain its rights and its land. In conclusion: "Oh mountain, don't let the wind shake you." I will see you in my next video. Assalaam Alaykum.
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