Oh, that’s right, he said the opposing sect shouldn’t commit mass murder for sectarian reasons. Wow! You’re right! What better model is there to hold up to the world?

These transparent attempts to obscure and whitewash true evil have become disgusting. Mohamed Hilout’s comments were right on target. A true “moderate” would not even need to make such a statement. Denouncing jihad would preclude takfir.

Anybody who thinks that the majority of muslims (and even Islamists) aren’t opposed to the takfiris, just has no understanding of Muslim politics.

I think that the point that is more often made is that Islamists manage to get extremely hot and bothered about trivialities such as cartoons, but seem to avoid demonstrations, direct action, and public displays of anger over the slaughter of muslims by other muslims: in Hama in Syria, or Darfur, or elsewhere.

But Haroon’s basic point is a foolish one. He thinks it is remarkable that a Shi’ite Islamist condemns Sunni takfris. That’s about as noteworthy as - say - the Rev Iain Paisley condemning the IRA because “hey, they’re both Christian organisations”.

I think there is another simple reason : the history !

My Prophet Muhammad and his successors (Califas)left me, the moslem, a big Empire conquered by jihad.

The truth should be to condemn jihad as a mean to convert and do war since the early islam (year 1)until today and also for tomorow

It is the same think with takfir : if you declare jihad to persons who don’t believe in Allah, you are ready to kill persons who don’t belive in Allah like you do !

Takfirism is very much an aberation within traditional Islamic practice. Schismatic groups of jihadist murderers - from FIS to Al Qaeda - have been keen on it: particularly because it allows you to kill your (Muslim) neighbours who don’t want to be ruled by you.

But there’s absolutely nothing remarkable about muslims, or even Islamists, repudiating takfirism.

Similarly, I don’t understand why you, or Haroon, are heartened by Hizbollah’s spiritual leader deciding that it is wrong for Sunni Takfiris to murder Shias. What else do you think he would say?

I can think no senior, establishment Muslim clerics who have explicitly sanctioned the murder of other Muslims: even across the sectarian divide. There are certainly mainstream clerics who have encouraged sectarianism, though.