According to the Italian press agency Adnkronos:
The global spread of the deadly swine flu virus affirms Islam’s teachings and its holy book, the Koran, according to imam Amadia Rachid based in the Italian city of Salerno. “We believe that what is happening shows the truth of our faith,” said Algerian-born Rachid in an interview with Adnkronos International.
Pigs, you see, are considered unclean by Islam.
“Even Muslims who live in Italy are talking about swine flu at the moment,” Rachid is quoted as saying.
Most Muslims, he reckons, are not worried by the disease, because they don’t eat pork and don’t work with pig livestock. Quite how they know they’re not sharing a bus seat with someone who does work with porcine livestock isn’t explained.
“The Islamic faith doesn’t explain exactly why pigs should be considered unclean animals,” he said. “But it’s clear that, for most theologians, it is precisely to avoid the spread of disease that Islamic tradition tends to keep men away from pigs,” he added.
Clear? Clear to whom? Rachid?
“But many believe the disease confirmed the teaching of the Koran.”
How many believe this? Where’s your proof? And, even if you’re right, so what? They believe it because they all subscribe to the same crackpot belief system.
The news report says Rachid claims that scientific truths lie behind the “teachings” of the Koran.
This is almost a version of post hoc ergo propter hoc.
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