The Propaganda of Terrorism

from IslamOnline (http://www.islamonline.net/



Title : The Propaganda of Terrorism
Question
I very rarely hear Islam representatives speak against “terrorism”, in the name of God. Why?

This is clearly hurting the Muslim community as it helps the media/the public link terrorism to Islam. Don’t we need a more vocal Islamic community to condemn terrorism?

I read more and more articles about how Islam is an “evil” religion, and I believe that the Muslim community is favoring this through silence…
Date
2003/2/28 
Name of Consultant
ShahulHameed

Content of Reply

Salaam Friend,

Thank you very much for your question.

I fully endorse your view that we need a more vocal Islamic community, to speak out against terrorism of all kinds.

In fact, after September 11 and since, Muslim leaders and scholars have been voicing their condemnation of terrorism loud and clear. But, unfortunately most of the world media were not interested in giving them the kind of publicity they needed.

This was because of two main reasons:

·       One, they are controlled by vested interests disposed against Islam and Muslims for religious reasons.

·       Two, the media have a tendency to highlight the sensational and the spectacular; so they gave undeserving publicity to the alleged statements of extremists, rather than those of the moderates.

The above factors were responsible for giving the world, especially the western world, the impression that Muslims are silent against terrorism.

It is a fact that the ordinary people of the world - in general - and the Muslims - in particular - are confused about terrorism. They understand that the September 11 attacks were terrorist attacks. They have heard that the stone throwing by the Palestinian teenagers or the “suicide” attacks they launch against the Israelis, as part of their Intifada, are terrorist attacks.

Then, they are told that the cold-blooded massacre of hundreds of Arab men, women and children in Deir Yassin, by MenachemBegin - who won the “Nobel Prize for Peace” - and the calculated genocide perpetrated in Sabra Shatila, under the direction of Ariel Sharon - “the man of peace” - are not terrorist acts… Naturally, they are perplexed!

It is unfortunately true that there are a number of people, who speak of Islam as “evil”. This attitude is due to two main reasons:

·       One, there is the widespread perception that the September 11 attacks were perpetrated by Muslims.

·       Two, there is a growing feeling - particularly among the Christian Right - that Islam, as the fastest growing religion in the US, is going to undermine the America they visualize.

Besides, there is an uneasy awareness in the West, since Samuel Huntingdon’s Clash of Civilizations, that Muslims are going to be the greatest threat to the western hegemony.

The orchestrated propaganda by the Israelis against the Arabs and Muslims also add fuel to this fire. In addition, God has deposited a lot of oil wealth in the region occupied by the Muslim countries, which also aggravate the situation…

I think the Christian Right want to expedite the second coming of the “Prince of Peace”, by letting the Israelis shed Palestinian blood and occupy the Arab lands - around the Sacred Land. It is a pity that this version of Christian love does not include sympathy for the suffering and the death of “Middle Eastern-looking” people, or for any of the starved and dispossessed millions in Asia and Africa.

Any one who speaks for them is branded “a terrorist” or a supporter of terrorism. Even the freedom to publicly voice protests against the negative policies of the government is drastically marginalized in “the land of the free”. Actually, a famous TV host was “crucified” for criticizing the government policy of “lobbing cruise missiles from 2000 miles away”. Please see:
The case of Bill Maher of ABC Television
So, the point I want to make is that the people who control the media are so bigoted and fanatical. This is despite the fact that some of them claim to be the ministers of the Nazarene, who exhorted his followers to “love thy neighbor as thyself”.

The prophet of Islam, Muhammad (pbuh) meant the same thing when he said:

“None of you becomes a believer until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”

The Qur’an, the Holy Book of Islam, also teaches in Surah 4, verse 134:
*{O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, or whether it be [against] rich or poor, for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts [of your hearts], lest you swerve. And if you distort justice, verily Allah is well- acquainted with all that you do.}*
So, our request to the critics is to learn what Islam really teaches and judge whether it is evil or whether it is the real guidance from the Good God.

May Allah help us all to see the light of truth!

Thank you and please keep in touch.

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