A Response to Manchester
Posted on May 31st, 2017
By A. Abdul Aziz.
According to media reports, ISIL claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack, in the great city of Manchester, England. We do not know for sure if so called Muslims committed this terrorist attack but we should condemn all terrorist attacks no matter who is responsible for them and those who believe in the power of prayer should pray for peace and justice. We must also pray for the victims and their families. Everyone though must also do their part to help stop these terrorist attacks from occurring in the first place.
While terrorism has no religion, unfortunately, this Manchester attack has probably taken us in the opposite direction than the direction we intend to be taking in order to counter extremism. President Trump gave an important speech in his recent visit to Saudi Arabia. Although, many praised his speech, the speech will result in more harm than good.
Saudi Arabia seems to be one of the world’s leading sponsors of terrorism. Evidence suggests that oil money is used to finance hate filled madrasahs (Islamic schools) all across the Muslim world. The Yemen conflict is yet another example of genocide committed by Saudi Arabia. Executions are regularly held to punish dissenters and atheists. Furthermore, this speech took place at a summit where a historic $350b arms deal took place. America selling weapons to Saudi Arabia will only lead to more war in Yemen. Saudi Arabia has already killed thousands of innocent people in Yemen and because of this arms deal, it will only become worse.
His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide Supreme Head of the largest group of Muslims, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has repeatedly raised the issue of ISIL and its creation and the supply of weapons originating from Western countries. As His Holiness points out, preventing ISIL from acquiring these weapons is the key to fighting them. According to the Amnesty International, ISIL uses weapons that come from over 25 countries including Super Powers. Perhaps the weapons being sold to Saudi Arabia will never reach ISIL’s hands but if history has shown us anything, it is that they will.
The Trump administration is helping a vicious cycle of violence to continue that can be stopped if a change takes place from investing in weapons to investing in education in the Middle East. Trump conceded in his speech that terrorists do not worship God, they worship death.” Trump also said that 95% of the victims of terrorism are Muslim. These are promising signs that the more Trump learns about terrorism, the more his policies will shift towards pluralism and acceptance of Islam as a peaceful religion.
May 31st, 2017 at 4:26 pm
Abdul Aziz says; “Trump conceded in his speech that terrorists “ do not worship God, they worship death.”
Americans castigated Bin Laden as a Terrorist. But PEW says 95% of Muslim consider Bin Laden, a very good Muslim. May be because he is known to have worshiped Allah five times a day and followed the Koran to the letter. Bin Laden sought to eradicate Jews and Christians and idol worshipers as Mohammad is said to have done in Sunna and Hadith as a true Jihadi.
We’re confused.
May 31st, 2017 at 5:57 pm
I AGREE with Leela.
We are confused. IF everyone ACCEPTS Buddha, Christ and Krishna EQUAL gods to Allah then all problems end. IF one is believed to be ABOVE the rest then violence is INEVITABLE (unless you REJECT all gods).
Aziz is WRONG to say “His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the worldwide Supreme Head of the largest group of Muslims, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community”.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is RESPECTABLE but they are NOT the LARGEST group of Muslims.
May 31st, 2017 at 8:10 pm
When 350 SL born ISIS terrorists come home there will be total anarchy. They will attack Buddhist monks, police stations, supermarkets, etc.
Already they have beat up a young monk in Polonnaruwa and attacked a police station in Kinniya.
June 6th, 2017 at 11:23 am
I agree with Leela. I am confused as well. Until that is you realise that there are many nasty passages in the Koran that say for orthodox muslims to attack the infidel that is non muslims. What you call wahabbism is actually maybe orthodox islam which is very violent and aggressive. Look at how they spread their religion through north africa and middle ast and asia. Through warfare. Because its ok in the their religios books to do so.
Fortunately most muslims are secular and good people. But if just 1 percent follow it. They can be potential terrorists of coarse western governments love these kind of people that they can arm train and use to destabilise other countries which what we saw in Libya,Syria and Iraq.