The recent ban on bras and beard shaving in Somalia by Somali terrorist groups cannot go unquestioned. The reports that we have is that the warring Islamic gang of Hezb-ul Islam banned women from wearing bras. So too, men are not allowed to shave their beards except trimming their mustaches. Likewise, schools were banned from using bells. Instead, they are to clap hands to gather and alert students! What a backward move to this failed state? Why the ban? Using the said things is un-Islamic as per these terrorist groups.

With shock and dismay, I read news that men in Somali capital were given 30 days to mandatory grow beards and trim their mustaches. So too, I was shocked to learn that the same terrorist group Hezb-ul Islam ordered women not to wear bras. More so, these morose terrorists banned people from watching the just ended world cup matches in South Africa! The act they termed as madness! Whimsically, this current razzmatazz sort of fundamentalism puts Islam up a gum tree. The edict to this effect read as: “Men are ordered to grow their beards and trim their mustaches and anyone found violating this law will face consequence.”

Interestingly though, many people are querying, what’s the hidden agenda behind all this in the name of Islam that we have known for many centuries? Are those behind this brand truly educated in Islamic matters or they are just quacks seeking bread under the cover of Islam? And why other so-called Muslim nations have kept mum, while the gavel of the mad is descending down to their religion? We wonder, because for long we came to know the so-called Muslim countries for their noises whenever Islam is touched especially by the West. Are they silent simply because this time around who wrongly touched Islam is their colleague? Other hypocrisy and it‘s contrary to Islam tenets.

“There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.” (Quran, 2:256) .

Strictly speaking, religion must comply with time and be always up to date. Consenting to backward-looking type of Islam is not doing Islam good. Doing this, apart from making Islamic draconic, it makes it archaic and barbaric. It hugely undermines Islam and all those that are being this megalomania should know that in the first place.

Many still wonder, what is the logic of all this violation of human rights?  What rises eyebrows is the fact that the same so-called ‘Islamic guardians’ are turning a blind eye to piracy that is becoming an anathema in the region. Who knows? Like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda that have always survived thanks to dealing in drugs, maybe even the same benefits from piracy. That’s why it has comfortably coexisted with piracy. This if anything, is but hypocrisy and cowardice. Why use religion for political gains in lieu of standing on political rostra with a solid political agenda?  

Many mad so-called Islamists are making much noises that some countries must be ruled by Islamic law. But they fall short of any precedent to this effect. How many countries did prophet Mohammad leave behind that were ruled by the Quran as they want to rule us now? The answer is convincingly simple and clear. None!

We have heard a lot of noises of people condemning some European countries for banning the burka. But we have nary heard any condemning this neo-nihilism hidden behind Islam. Many so-called Muslim countries are not happy with the move to ban burka. But the same are comfortable with their resistance for churches to be built in their countries! If they can force western women to wear veils when they visit their countries simply because their culture wants that, what is wrong for the West to force them to wear as per western culture when they visit, or live in western countries?

Somali terrorists are lucky. Thanks to being wanted, they don’t travel abroad. Had they, it’d make more sense for one to order them to shave their beards and see how it feels to be forced to do something you don’t like.

The other day I heard somebody saying that the cross is the symbol of curse. Therefore whatever resembles it is un-Islamic. But when I told him to urge his Islamic academicans to burn the use of aeroplanes, he saw how stupid his contention was and thus retracted. It time to engage all those that think they can bring a new brand of Islam today. Western countries should treat the same whoever treats them with contempt.

Hither comes the leeway of negotiating human rights with all so-called Muslim countries that are abusing them. No culture is better than another save in the eyes of the beholders. Arabic culture is good for Arabs and the likes just like the western one is to the westerners and the likes. Human rights are as paramount equal like a human himself. No human is better than another. We all are equal before God and law. Quran says: “O mankind! We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that you may know and honor each other (not that you should despise one another). Indeed the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most righteous.” (Quran, 49:13)

Today Arab countries, which in essence call themselves Islamic countries, wonder how western countries can allow prostitution, the same way western country view polygamy that’s legal in Islam.

Going back to the ban in Somalia, is this brand of nugatory-Islam, Islamic or barbaric and type of  sheer maniac? Isn’t it a cult? Is this Islam or barbarism?

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.