The clearly terroristic attacks on the offices of the Charlie Hebdo publication and those that occurred subsequently are flat out disgusting. As a devout and practicing Muslim I cannot wrap my head around how anyone justifies such horror in the name of religion. These actions are so far from what I have been taught and seen within the Muslim community that I will in no way consider these people as members of my faith. They can identify themselves however they want, but I do not see them as people of faith.
I have seen firsthand the "satirical" comics that caused such over-zealous outrage. Quite frankly I find them vulgar and disrespectful. I do not think the goal of the Hebdo cartoons was simply to comment on religion, the cartoons are too distasteful, in my opinion, to indicate such tact. However, as stupid as I think these cartoons are no one needs to die for being stupid. Honestly, there would be no one left on this earth if we took stupidity to heart.
What I fail to understand with these ridiculous attacks is why these radicals cannot see that logic? It also demonstrates for me that there is clearly a lack of even the most basic religious knowledge with these individuals. All prophets were mocked and ridiculed and mistreated by the populations in which they emerged. The same poor treatment was passed on to those who devoutly saw the right path and followed these leaders; despite all this negativity the prophets persevered in following God and spreading their message. Why does it matter if the people around you are insulting you and turning away when you know in your heart you are doing what is right? These same challenges that the prophets faced during their time now exist in present day. And just as those challenges were handeled with dignity in days of old, we must do the same.
These attacks not only have harmed the peace and safety of Muslims living in these countries, but they have brought unnecessary support and attention to a small magazine that had a fairly low readership. The comedy presented in Charlie Hebdo was not mainstream; these unthinkable attacks have essentially led to the promotion this negative magazine. How are these terrorists achieving any kind of justice for anyone if this is the outcome?
I have also come across an NPR article that claims there is a double standard in France with regards to freedom of expression when mocking religion. A French comic by the stage name Dieudonne has had numerous problems in expressing his own brand of comedy which tends to mock the Jewish faith. However, he finds that there is often censorship against his satire from the French government;mthe writers of Charlie Hebdo probably never encountered any censorship of any kind. Double standard? Probably. It is not a secret that French society has a prejudice against those who are seen as "others." Unfortunately, these bipolar attitudes make it very difficult for some in the French immigrant Muslim community to decry the acts against Charlie Hebdo. If these people are isolated and withdrawn from the normal society, this type of injustice will eat away at these groups to spawn the type of hatred that produces terrorist attacks.
Where do we go from here? The momentum cannot come from only one side. Too often I hear that Muslim communities need to do more to fight against these budding terrorists, but the truth is we cannot do it alone and we should not be required. I have yet to hear any Cathloic need to take personal responsibility for the child molestation that occurs at the hands of their priests nor do I hear the need for any Causian to shoulder the burden of crimes committed by white serial killers.
These terrorists did not only kill French men and women, they targeted a Muslim man as well. If anything, that action should make it clear that this fight is bigger than extremism in the Muslim community. I am just as much a target as anybody else. This fight is against pure evil NOT religion.
#JenesuispasCharlie
