We need to understand the Koran’s exhortations

At Sunday’s rally in France, Taoiseach Enda Kenny stated “This is a march about terror and cowardice, not religion”. With all respect, this is foolish talk.

These men were not cowards. They knew they would be hailed as martyrs by their leaders and sympathisers. To a civilised person this is a despicable perversion of the word, but they believe it strongly enough to die and kill for it.

But to denounce the cruelty while denying the reality of the religion behind it is to strike at the fruit while leaving the root unharmed.

The Koran exhorts ‘believers’ in the plainest terms to ambush, kill and mutilate the unbeliever at every turn. Their reward in the next life will be a feast of wine and women.

The fact that so many Muslims do not live like this only proves that they remain good people despite their religion. Christian and Buddhist criminals are breaking their commandments; these criminals were obeying their own.

Liberals assume that everyone in the world knows and respects the Ten Commandments. Christian leaders in the Middle East have been warning us this is a dangerous illusion.

Micheál Ó Fearghail

Loreto

Sallybrook House

Glanmire

Co Cork