WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/50373
"I hope Harun Bhai (Dr. Harunuzzaman) won't mind if I ask for his comment on thesculpture issue that has created some turbulence in Bangladesh. From the greate-mail he addressed to Dr. Jiten Roy it appears that although he is a believer,his outlook about religion is very broad. Apparently it appears to me that thereis no fundamental difference between religiosity of Dr. Zaman and Dr. Roy." I intend to comment about this and address the comments to Mr. Shah Abdul Hannan. For now, the short answer is I believe there is no ground for opposing sculpture, statues or images in Islam. However, the popular culture of Islam had always an aversion for statues of any kind, whether of great people or as pieces of art. I think this happenned because statues of any kind were initially associated with idols of gods and goddesses, which were clearly forbidden in Islam. This is an example a fallacy of association becoming internalized in an entire culture. This is also an example of a human accretion to a religious tradition, presumably with a divine source. I think the government, instead giving in to the demands for the removal of statues, should have stood firm in keeping them, and should have worked with the more enlightened sections of the Islamic clergy and other members of the Islamic constituency to manage the "religious populism" of the protesters. The present government has used up a lot of political capital in pursuing its poorly crafted agendas such as the minus two theory, and excessively harsh treatment of politicians on actual or contrived corruption charges. Now, it finds itself cornered and readily gives in every time there is a challenge to its authority. I also must note that while many good questions, including the ones you asked, are asked of Mr. Shah Abdul Hannan, the manner in which they are asked leaves much to be desired. The questioners are often uncivil and use a sneering and abusive tone. While I understand the underlying reason - the anger at Jamat because of its role in 1971 and Mr. Hannan's association with that political party, we can do better and get useful answers from Mr. Hannan by maintaining civility and decorum in our conversations in this forum. We are still free to do the acrimonious fighting in other appropriate venues, such as the political battlefield and the media in Bangladesh. Anyway, I expect to address my comments on this issue to Mr. Hannan sometime later. Best wishes. M. Harun uz Zaman----SC
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Sign the Petition : Release the Arrested University Teachers Immediately : An Appeal to the Caretaker Government of Bangladesh
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Mukto-Mona Celebrates 5th Anniversary
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MM Project : Grand assembly of local freedom fighters at Raumari
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