EGYPT: Muslims must stop terrorists

The attacks in Mumbai, India, have prompted a Middle East writer to urge Muslims to cleanse Islam of terrorists who kill in its name. Aijaz Zaka Syed, the opinion editor of the Khaleej Times in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, wrote this for Egypt's Al Ahram weekly:

“How many innocents have to die in the name of Islam before Muslim leaders and countries take effective action to deal with the lunatics out to destroy us all with their nihilistic cult?”

He goes on: “Only Muslims can solve this problem. Only Muslims can confront these anarchists in their midst. Only they can get their faith freed from the clutches of extremism. This is no time to hide. It is a time to stand up and speak out. For the terrorists will continue to speak on our behalf, until we do. This is no time for silence. Enough is enough!”

To read the rest of Syed’s commentary click here.

-- Jeffrey Fleishman in Cairo   

Photo: A woman evacuated from the besieged Oberoi hotel in Mumbai, India, on Nov. 28. Credit: Reuters

Comments

[Gabriella Salama]

You are incorrect John Eric, they are not applying QURAN anymore than a Christian would be applying the BIBLE from Matthew 10:34 "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

You have to put it in context.

If you go by the Quran alone it is perfect and does not need to be added onto. IMO the problem is when people take hadith out of context and try to apply it to modern day life. They also pick and choose the things to believe in or follow, neglecting the fact that Islam specifically says that "Anyone who has killed another person it is as if he has killed the whole of mankind".

IMO these people are sick individuals and are using the religion to further their sense of worthlessness or neglect in their lives and/or countries. I wouldn't doubt that some are mentally unstable and have low self esteem. What needs to be done is for the Muslim populance to stand up and denounce these individuals each time (and I am Muslim so I am not pointing fingers). Unfortunately too many Muslims are ignored when they do state these things because media finds them quite boring in comparison to their extremiests counterparts.

[John Eric]

Everytime a muslim attempts to confront them they find out that these extremist are simply applying what the Koran says. The fact that they are "extremist" is a misconcepton originating from the fact that the West is very "politically correct". The West media does not dare to say that what these terrorist are doing is simply applying the Koran rather than taking an extremist approach. Read any article or book criticising Islam and you'll know what I am talking about.