ISIS has perpetrated an attack of unthinkable proportions upon the people of Paris.
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The objective of the attacks in Paris wasn’t exclusively to inflict fear in the hearts of the French but also to antagonize them by fueling their hate towards Islam and Muslims, thereby furthering their vision of the elimination of the grayzone.
The Islamic scholar sent his “deep condolences” to the victims’ families and the people of France. By far, the biggest victims of Islamic extremist groups like the Islamic State are Muslims, and yet the reaction by so many following attacks such as these is to pin it on the entire Muslim world.
Wall released a second statement later Saturday calling for Canada to continue contributing air forces to the conflict against ISIS. That Islam has taught us to have patience (sabr), to fight the struggle (jihad) within ourselves and let peace (as-salam) reign through our words and actions.
“It is mandatory, it is required for you and I to stand for justice and truth regardless of who it benefits or not”, said Hanif Mohebi, executive director of CAIR San Diego.
Khaled Beydoun, an assistant law professor at Barry University in Florida and a columnist for Al Jazeera English, tweeted a graph showcasing a breakdown of terrorist attacks in Europe by what percentage were confirmed to be carried out by Islamists, or those who believe in a political version of Islam. A few related the situation to terrorist attacks committed by other religious and ethnic groups in past and the aftermath that followed.
“This has the potential to go bad fast”. However, the response should be rational and proportionate. For example, Russian Federation and the United States appear to be bombing and intervening on opposite sides of the dispute in Syria.
Leaders from the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations said they stand in solidarity with the people of France “against terrorism and violent extremism”. At the time, French society and the rest of the “civilized world” lamented the killing of courageous journalists who fought with a pen for freedom of expression. To make a long-term difference, there needs to be increased attention on poverty, inequality and other issues.
“We do short-term physical security well, but not long-term. There are root causes”, he said. Unfortunately, a few are also blaming the loss on Muslims in general after Syrian extremists claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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Among those huddling and holding hands, staring at the growing pile of flowers in front of the establishments’ shattered windows, was 18-year-old Ryan Abeichou, a third-generation French Muslim whose grandparents came to Paris from Tunisia. New Zealand Muslim Association president, Hazim Arafeh, says it’s hard to imagine anyone else but Daesh would commit such “cowardly” crimes.
