The reaction to the recent spate of beheadings by Islamic terrorists has ranged from fearfulness, anger, to the ridiculous. An example of the latter may be this report from the recent crackdown in Australia where the authorities may have confiscated a plastic sword, with a religious Shiite saying, as part of evidence collection. The Sydney Morning Herald reports about this;
Dirani said his parents bought the plastic sword at a night market in Sydney. It has been on display in the family home for years.
Hard to second guess what a policeman or woman conducting this massive operation may have been thinking – probably that they’d rather be too careful than not and cover their rear. A bit more from the article.
Jamal Daoud, a prominent member of Sydney’s Shiite community, said the sword would be found in almost every Shiite household as a decorative item either hanging on the wall or sitting in a drawer.
Sheikh Zaid Alsalami, leader of the Nabi Akram Islamic Centre in Granville, said many Shiite Muslims would also wear the sword as a pendant similar to Christians wearing a crucifix necklace.
“It basically denotes the sword that was carried by Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam,” he said. “The Prophet handed Imam Ali this particular sword [in a battle]. It’s not anything of any ritual value, it’s just a reminder of something that represents the relation that Imam Ali had with the Prophet.”
Should fans of Lord of the Rings who may have a replica Morgul Blade be concerned? Or maybe those who collect Samurai swords? What about a devout Sikh carrying a kirpan? Swiss Army Knife ok?
Plastic sword collected as evidence in Aussie terrorism raid
