No religion preaches terrorism

THE terrorist carnage in the Canadian city of Ontario must be condemned by all of humanity. Four innocent souls were snatched by a fascist just because they were Muslims. Words fail to describe such mindless slaughter. Those who perpetrate it, whoever they are, personify the embodiment of evil and sheer cowardice.

The mindless slaughter of men and children is an affront to humanity. Terrorist is a label that jumps easily into headlines when the perpetrator is Muslim, but is often handled with caution or tossed out entirely when the perpetrator is white.

Global media stigma has real and devastating impacts on the lives of Muslims. Every day there are more Muslims dying, either by these terrorists, in the name of terrorism or in the war against terrorism. For many Muslims in non-muslim lands, unfortunately for them it feels commonplace. From extremely horrific events like what happened in Canada to daily micro-aggressions and invalidations of their identity.

Therefore we must insist, as those who carry the torch of civility, that we must unite and squelch those who proclaim their outlandish virtues as they decimate the innocent.

No religion preaches massacres and extremism. Terrorism is a sickness of the mind, a selfproclaimed method of war, which is as old as war itself. It is related to no particular religion.

In fact, terrorism is in no way related to the world’s great religions. Our tormented world is fraught with bereavement and pain caused by unbridled violence.there is no symmetry, not in the scope and not in the degree of severity between terrorism and its victims.

FAROUK ARAIE |