<p>^^^Did he convert because of the influence of a prison cleric, or due to influence of other prisoners?</p>
<p>I wonder what was the thinking behind giving this ex-con a job at Vaughan Foods? </p>
<p>“Nolen, according to state corrections records, was convicted in January 2011 of multiple felony drug offenses, assault and battery on a police officer and escape from detention. He was released from prison in March 2013.”</p>
<p>Why was he out of jail already anyway?</p>
<p>@CTTC: Maybe it was the incentive of the federal tax credit. See federal Form 5884 - Work Opportunity Credit (qualified ex-felon).</p>
<p>This man may not be connected to ISIS, but it is known that ISIS is recruiting on social media with slick videos and other messages.</p>
<p>It’s interesting to think about who would be attracted to this. Cults have been soliciting members for years, but not everyone is succeptible to this. Someone has to be wanting something the cult claims to provide.</p>
<p>I assume that most people are revolted by ISIS videos, so for them to get recruits, only a small fraction of people would find them appealing. It seems to me that they would appeal to people with violent criminal records, sociopaths, and it would offer them not only validation but a sense of belonging. It would make sense that these people are in prison. </p>
<p>This man wasn’t radicalized in prison. He was legitimized- and he liked it. I’m all for religious freedom but that freedom ends when it endangers someone’s life. I don’t know who preached to him in prison, but if that person exploited the job of prison minister for recruitment, he/she should not be allowed to do this. </p>
<p>I think one would be safe in assuming that in this case it would be a he. I doubt that radical Islamists allow female clergy. :)</p>
<p>But in any case, haven’t prisons been run by gangs by other names for decades? Aryans and Black Muslims, and so forth?</p>
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<p>What gives you that idea? I think it more likely that he would find himself with people who thought he was a hero.</p>
<p>You’re right. I was thinking egalitarian for the ministry, but egalitarian doesn’t seem to exist in that brand of “religion”.
(hardly want to call it that because the people I know who are religious ( many kinds) would never imagine doing something like that)</p>
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<p>Maybe because, as a society, we are unwilling to pay for the services we say we want, like prisons.</p>
<p>Based on my experience preparing food items like poultry and ribs, I would assume it takes an incredible amount of fanatic determination to behead someone with a knife. Anyone capable of that should never again be allowed in the company of human beings without being shackled. I mean solitary confinement for life.</p>
<p>Solitary confinement for life is the most likely outcome for him. Fingers crossed. I do not want this guy on the death row because we, the taxpayers, will be paying for his constant appeals and giving the propaganda opportunities to the radical scum who would be trying to portray him as a martyr. Throw him into the nastiest prison with zero chance of parole and throw away the key.</p>
<p>The right knife would make a big difference. Also, methinks you have only cut dead meat, and likely refrigerated:(</p>
<p>Even not being religious, I find it pathetic that cowards and maniacs hide behind religions based on love and compassion, to most adherents, and make believe that the sickos version is what is right.</p>
<p>It’s like saying Jim Jones or David Duke represent Christians to say that this guy represents Islam in any way. Or that John List represents Christians. Or that all Christians believe that making fun of a religious person’s bald head should result in sending vicious bears after children. (2 Kings 2:23-25)</p>
<p>(You have to wonder how dumb someone is to fire the guy and not bring the police in immediately. The FBI should have told them to keep him employed until they were able to take him away.)</p>
<p>Where is this man’s community and who is his clergy? </p>
<p>This nutcase may have just decided “woo hoo I love to commit violent and disgusting crimes and I just found a religion that thinks this is a good thing- I’m a Muslim!”. If this is the case, then his conversion is a disgrace to Islam. There should be some statement as to the legitimacy of his conversion. Sure, nuts can convert to any religion, and there are examples of this everywhere, but if potential violent converts are flocking to American Islamic communities because they are attracted to their wrong impression of Islam, then it needs to be made very clear to them that this is not a legitimate conversion. </p>
<p>I think American Islam has a serious issue that they must face soon if they want to be seen as a “religion of peace”. I agree that there are nutty examples of every religion. Westboro Baptist Church, that Mormon polygamist cult, Bernie Madoff’s financial fraud. I could name more, but in actuality, these incidents are rare, not common and not repeated multiple times. Recently though, there have been countless beheadings overseas, parading heads on sticks, crucifixions, pregnant women jailed, kidnapping, suicide bombings. and gruesome videos all while screaming “Alahu Akbar” There have been too many of these to not make the association.My plea to all decent Muslims is to make some very outward expressions and attempts to dissociate from these people, delegitimize their conversions, and please, show us what you really stand for. We can all use some more peace. </p>
<p>I think a lot of newbies to anything tend to be fanatic. I noticed that with my mom’s religion, I’ve grew up with that religion so I’m not so fanatic because I know better.</p>
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<p>Yes. Many Christians and Christian groups have publicly denounced, say, WBC. I’m mystified by the reluctance of Muslims to denounce ISIS, Al Qaeda, etc. I hope this begins happening very soon. </p>
<p>You mean like this:
<a href=“From Muslims in America, a New Fatwa on Terrorism - The New York Times”>From Muslims in America, a New Fatwa on Terrorism - The New York Times;
<p>or here’s a few you’ve obviously seen as they’ve been publicized in national press (sarcasm off…):
<a href=“Islamic Statements Against Terrorism | Charles Kurzman”>http://kurzman.unc.edu/islamic-statements-against-terrorism/</a></p>
<p>Did he kill her because he is Muslim or because he was fired. Lots of people go back to their former places of employment and exact revenge after firings. The method is more horrible to think about but people who are shot by former co-workers are no less dead.</p>
<p>He was fired because he was trying to convert co-workers and got into a heated argument about stoning eomen (he took the pro side).
He killed her because he’s a violent sociopath.
He beheaded her post-mortem because he’s a radical Muslim violent sociopath. </p>
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<p>When I lived-in Europe, I had this explained to me in a very simple way when I asked a similar question of why this silence to a couple muslim colleagues. Their response was almost in unison (paraphrased): “Would you speak out publicly if it is part of your family’s culture / religion that a family member can kill you for dishonoring the family and said member then becomes a hero to the family? How safe would you feel?” </p>
<p>There was nothing in response I could really say, but given they believed that and were genuinely scared of deadly familial retaliation, I am not mystified by the silence anymore.</p>
<p>I don’t think he killed her because he is Muslim. I think he killed her because he was fired and angry about it and crazy enough to act on it. However his new found “religion” gave him a reason to legitimize his actions and an example of how to do it. I can imagine him deluding himself by convincing himself that his rage was founded and that his actions would bring him heavenly reward. I say “religion” because I don’t believe his version is legitimate. </p>
<p>The man is a convert. I imagine his religion of origin is Christianity, which teaches “thou shalt not kill” and has the concept of Hell. Part of him knows that going on a murderous rampage is wrong and he may be afraid of going to Hell. However, his new found “religion” has now assured him that he will have his place in Heaven, and he chose to murder her in a way that he thinks is endorsed by his “faith”. </p>
<p>Sure, I get that new converts can appear fanatical at first. I have known knew converts adhere to their religion in very enthusiastic ways and then it becomes more routine. However, I have never known one to cut off someone’s head. This is beyond fanatical. It is insane. </p>
<p>It’s great that there are statements from Muslim leaders, but I don’t want just statements. Saying Islam is the “religion of peace” while people are being tortured, brutally murdered, and all on glossy videos glorifying it is not going to give a peaceful impression no matter what anyone says. </p>
<p>I want action. What someone believes is less visible than what that belief leads to. I have a Muslim friend and the fact that I ran into him serving food at a local soup kitchen tells me more about what he believes than any statement on paper.The church van that pulls up to a sick neighbor’s house tells me more about that church than its doctrine. The Jewish man who gave a hopeless unemployed man a job speaks volumes. Beliefs and statements are empty without actions. </p>
<p>The papers don’t say much, but all they say is that the Muslim community does not condone this man’s actions, that they are afraid of the associations people might make between them and ISIS, and that they have extra security to protect themselves against nutters. I get that they are afraid of some vengeful nutter. The part that was missing in the papers I read was concern for the victim. It wasn’t the fault of the Islamic community, but as part of the religious community as a whole, I would have expected prayers and concern for the victims and perhaps some kind of outreach - maybe some sort of donation to the local rescue squad or organization that helps save lives. Any positive gesture would speak more than words and anyone of any religion can do this. </p>
<p>Something has to be done to stop this brutal insanity that keeps happening over and over again. If Islam is the religion of peace, please, someone show us the peace. </p>
<p>I just heard about this today. Too horrible 
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<p>@LasMa What I personally find more mystifying is how unnoticed Muslims denouncing terrorist groups and beliefs is. We do it so often. But the media doesn’t cover it.</p>
<p>An interesting related article: <a href=“#MuslimApologies tackles pressure to say ‘not in our name’ | TV Shows | Al Jazeera”>#MuslimApologies tackles pressure to say ‘not in our name’ | TV Shows | Al Jazeera;
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<p>@Pennylane2011 He might have had no clergy (or community). I believe Islam works differently then Christianity in this regard. The “clergy” has very different roles. Imams often do not individually know everyone who comes to their mosque. I’ve never personally known an imam of any mosque I’ve been to.</p>
<p>I also found this article on the subject: <a href=“US man shot after beheading colleague | Crime News | Al Jazeera”>http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/09/us-man-shot-after-beheading-colleague-2014926233713271290.html</a>
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