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Double Suicide Attack in Baghdad Kills Dozens

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by Rehan Qamar

Another horrific incident occurs in Iraq, adding to the increasing country death toll, as a twin suicide bombing occurs in central Baghdad.

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Health, at least 27 people were killed and many others injured Monday, from the twin suicide bombing which occurred in a heavily crowded market street in central Baghdad. 

Security forces, and medical teams rushed to the scene to contain the area after the attack, hurrying to clear the debris and help as many people as possible. Injuries totaled to about 100 people, officials said. 

Most of the victims included large groups of laborers who usually gathered in the morning looking for work.

Monday’s suicide attack marked the second deadliest attack to hit the city of Baghdad in the past three days.

Earlier that week, on a Saturday, a suicide bomber attacked a Shitte gathering in a market square. Killing 41 people and injuring at least 33 people. The attack took place in a crowded market tent in the neighborhood of Shaab. ISIS later claimed responsibility in an online statement.

Baghdad has been a key target to the terror group, ISIS, as they gained land in 2014.

As of now, No group has taken responsibility for either attacks done in the past days.The attack in Aviation square was deemed the deadliest attacks in Baghdad since the massive truck bombing. Which killed 324 and injured many, in a commercial district of Karrada, July 2016. This bombing was the single deadliest attack Iraq has faced since the 2003 US invasion that exiled Saddam Hussein.

Iraq has been subject to many attacks in the past from ISIS which have been occurring after the Iraqi government claiming victory over ISIS. They had claimed this victory after regaining control of an estimated one third of the country that had been under ISIS control.

Pipe Bomb Explodes Near New York Bus Terminal

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by Rehan Qamar

An attempted terrorist attack struck the Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and 8th Avenue near Times Square on Monday morning. Three were injured causing chaos in one of the busiest commuter cubs in the nation, officials said.

Police have identified the suspect behind the New York bus terminal explosion as Akayed Ullah, 27, a Bangladeshi immigrant living in Brooklyn.

Ullah wore an “improvised low-tech explosive device attached to his body,” which he intentionally detonated, New York Police  Department Commissioner James O’Neill said.

Ullah had attached a pipe bomb to himself with a “combination of Velcro and zip ties,”  O’Neill said. The fastening may have indicated Ullah intended to carry out a suicide bombing.

According to officials, the device went off prematurely with the explosion being recorded on surveillance video.

Ullah, now at Bellevue Hospital, is being treated for lacerations and burns to his hands and abdomen, New York City Fire Department Commissioner Daniel Nigro said.

The incident comes a few weeks after a deadly terror attack in Lower Manhattan, where a man killed eight and injured others as he drove a pickup truck down a bicycle path near the World Trade Center on Halloween. This was the deadliest terror attack in New York City since the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center.

The blast occurred around 7:20 a.m. in an underground walkway connecting two subway lines.

After the explosion was reported, chaos erupted as commuters underground near 40th Street and 8th Avenue began to flee after the loud, muffled sound was heard in the Port Authority subway station.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority reported that 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, N, Q, R, W and 7 trains were skipping 42nd Street, affecting the commute of thousands to the busy commuter hub.

In a news conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio called the blast an attempted terrorist attack and said no other devices had been found.

“Our lives revolve around the subway,” he said. “The choice of New York is always for a reason, because we are beacons of the world. And we show that a society of many background and many faiths can work.”

“The terrorists want to undermine that,” he added. “They yearn to attack New York City.”

While police sources say the suspect was heard doing this for the name of ISIS, no confirmed connection has been made.

Two Years After My Husband’s Arrest, My 4 Kids And I Still Await Justice To Prevail

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by Umaima Jafri

Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad is awaiting trial for two years at Lucas County Correction Center. His trial has been postponed four times, the judge has been changed three times, and he has been denied bond twice. He is charged with conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. His wife and kids are petitioning his release on bond. A 72-page indictment can be found on Mohammad’s charge.

I got up this morning, got all four kids ready for school, dealt with a good deal of tantrums, and hustled them into the car so we could beat traffic and get to school on time. I came home, sat my toddler in front of the laptop to watch cartoons until nap time, which has now become a norm because I just do not have the energy or willpower to handle his 3-year-old tantrums. Single moms can understand my struggle.

The monotony of routine, the hardship of providing, the loneliness—I won’t say it’s always hard, but some days are definitely harder than others. Lately, however, I feel the weight of time passing like a boulder on my chest. With each swing of the pendulum, I realize the gravity of time that has elapsed since they took him.

Rewind two years ago to November 2015 when life was quite different. My husband, Ibrahim, and I had moved to Dallas three months prior from the Midwest. We were full of ambition, dreams, and plans. Then just like that, the fantasy of being closer to my family, having that six-figure job, finding that amazing school for the kids and living in our dream home was gone in the blink of an eye.

They came in 14 unmarked cars. FOURTEEN. Why so many to arrest one man is still a mystery to me. Ibrahim was holding our 2-year-old son at the time when they stormed into our garage. Ibrahim was simply on his way to work. I was getting ready to take the kids to school. It was supposed to be a typical day. What was happening? I shouted at my three older children to go to their rooms; I did not want them to see what was going on in the garage. I ran out, sans hijab, and took our youngest son from Ibrahim. I demanded a warrant, which was initially denied but presented briefly thereafter. They did have a warrant, and this was no mistake. Ibrahim, along with three other Muslim men, was charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. In a nutshell, it’s what they charge any Muslim man with when they don’t know what else to conjure up.

Ibrahim blacked out. He was standing there listening to the barrage of legalities, the instructions given to me by the U.S. Marshalls: which court, what time, what steps to take, which lawyer. On and on they droned while Ibrahim’s life flashed before his eyes. Would he ever see our four children again? Would he ever get the chance to run around the house with them again? Would our toddler even remember him? Would he ever see his mother again? It was all too much for him, and he came crashing down.

My husband is built like a linebacker. Six feet tall, broad shoulders, strong as an ox. And he fell. I cannot recall what I did with our son, but in an instant, he was no longer in my arms, and I found myself at Ibrahim’s side beckoning him to get up. He was sweating profusely, soaked completely through his clothes. They called the paramedics, and then went on with business. It was just another day at the office for them, and a never-ending nightmare for us.

The U.S. Marshalls, I will admit, was somewhat considerate. They allowed Ibrahim to hug his kids goodbye, and they were considerate enough not to put cuffs on him in front of the children. But the children saw anyway. They watched, confused and horrorstruck, from the upstairs window, unbeknownst to me, as their father was taken in cuffs into the back of an unmarked car. I watched from the driveway, initially shocked and cold in the heat of a Texas autumn. My shock eventually turned into determination as 14 cars drove my husband away.

That was two years ago. Ibrahim was extradited to Ohio for his case. This was the beginning of a witch hunt akin to an absurd legal drama that includes problematic evidence, entrapment, deception, lies, and tragedy. We have been denied bond twice. This is the reality of the injustice that is incarceration. This is the reality of our “justice” system. And we continue to await a trial that has been postponed and rescheduled at least four times already.

Each day I answer questions from our children about when Baba will be home, who took him away, and why they took him away. Our now 3.5-year-old remembers what the others never saw. “Baba fell down in the garage.” He remembers, despite my desperate prayers that he forgets that one final image of his father. He thinks we go to Baba’s house during “visits.” Our visits involve hazy video chats transmitted live to a loud jailhouse lobby. We try to have normal conversations with Ibrahim, who sits somewhere on an upper floor in front of another hazy screen. This has been our contact. Nothing physical, nothing through a glass wall, but rather a low-quality video chat where I can only take one child per week for a maximum of 30 minutes. Ibrahim has watched his children grow from behind this video screen, seeing them only through the eyes of a camera, and from the pictures, I am able to send him.

For two years I have raised our children back in the Midwest, surrounded by old friends who have known Ibrahim and our family for over a decade. They stand by my side relentlessly. They show their support unconditionally. They love our children like their own. These are people who have known Ibrahim for so many years as a friend, a successful engineer, and a man who was obsessed with his family. He was that engineer who helped design elephant enclosures at the city zoo, he was that friendly neighbor who used to stop and chat with the neighbors, he was that man who everyone knew for his toothy smile, he was that friend who people could rely on even in the middle of the night.

We were that typical American family who cleaned out the garage when it was warm out, who washed their cars on the weekends, who went biking around the neighborhood, who went to Costco just to try the samples. Ibrahim was the husband who woke up early on the weekends so I could sleep in, made his famous omelets for the kids (four different types for our four picky eaters — well, five if you count me), sat down with the children and read Quran with them, prayed with his family at home, helped me with chores and dinner, and my favorite, put the kids to bed. They loved his bedtime stories. The ones that had adventures galore and lessons to be learned, the ones I thought were much too long. After these nearly hour-long bedtime stories, it would finally be our turn. Chai and cookies, and just us.

Now, our days consist of the standard breakfast (only one type of egg for our four picky eaters), the mundane routine of school, homework, and me counting down the minutes until bedtime. There are no bedtime stories, no imagination left for me to conjure up anything, nothing that will ever come close to matching Baba’s adventures. After putting them to bed, I head to our bedroom, alone, no chai or cookies, no us. Two years of going to bed alone, dreaming about Ibrahim and then waking up alone. Two years of being mom and dad, provider and comforter. Two years of waiting, struggling, hoping, and more waiting. Two years of being emotionally and physically drained. Two years and he’s still not home.

Ibrahim, as I write this, is still awaiting trial, our family’s life is still in limbo, we are still holding on to the hope of bail until said time. How things turn out in the near future, how they turn out eventually, at what point any of this comes to an “end” is known alone by God above. In the meantime, we carry on, doing our best and fighting the good fight.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the views of Brown Girl Magazine, LLC. 

This post was originally published on Brown Girl Magazine and republished here with their permission.

The Constant Battle Between the West and the Muslim World

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by Amina Khan

The term “Islamophobia” and the ostracization of Muslims have cemented a polarized community and scrutinization of a 1400-year-old religion. After every attack claimed under the name of ISIS, the debate once again sparks on whether or not Islam is an oppressive and violent religion. However, the conversation should not levitate towards fear of Islamophobia right after an attack, but rather on discussing terms on denouncing the radicalization and political agenda of so-called Muslims.

It is egocentric and offensive to victimize Muslims after a terrorist attack. Victimization is a weakness and it only reinstates the idea that “radical-Islam” is a religious concept when it is purely political. Therefore, Muslims should not have to apologize or condemn terrorist attacks, ever. Your first thought should be on how to educate people on the differences between a practicing Muslim and that of a psychologically disturbed extremist.

Repeating “not all Muslims are like that” and “Islam is a religion of peace” does nothing to gain friction for the conversation we need to be having. Trying to put a used band-aid on a bloody wound only hinders the discussion on why radical extremists even exist.

Hatred For the West + Extremism

Extremists hide behind the guise of Islam in order enforce their acts of horror sparked by an adamant hate for the West and to pursue a fanatical political agenda. Their hate is conditioned by the West’s historic responsibility for the radicalization of Islam under terms of Zionism, CIA backed coups, colonialism, Balfour, etc; things the West would like to ignore. Their treatment of Muslims as sub humans to be manipulated and exiled has abused a supremacist attitude. Therefore, these extremists are created and classified as psychologically disturbed but do not account for the Muslim community or Islam. Extremists despise modern society, and therefore, modern Muslims.

“Islamic-extremist online recruiters are very good at pulling in people who are mentally vulnerable,” Heather Hurlburt, of the Washington-based think tank New America, said.

“[ISIS] seems to calculate- correctly in my view – that small-scale lone-wolf attacks on symbolic targets will get it outsized attention. So you see these propaganda broadcasts encouraging individuals who may be mentally unstable, who may have had a little or no actual training, to use weapons like knives and cars that will surely lead to the attackers’ capture or death.  The propagandists seem to understand the link between certain forms of mental illness and susceptibility to mass violence, even if we don’t,” Hurlburt added.

Unfortunately, people believe practicing Muslims are here to kill or forcibly convert non-Muslims based upon the illogical reasoning of their own interpretations of the Qur’an. Verses in the Qur’an are continually taken out of context by people who abuse the nature of Islam in order to fulfill the needs of a political agenda; whereas, hateful critics of Islam use verses to ‘warn’ the world about an illusion that Islam is destructive. Both sides are inherently similar in the sense they are unquestionably misleading. It is displeasing to see people choose to believe violent-natured evil men who are audacious enough to call themselves Muslim, over authentic and amicable Muslims.

Critics of Islam who seek to find a maleficent ideology behind a 1400-year-old religion use their platform as a scholar to fulfill this heroic perception of ‘uncovering the deep dark secrets of Islam’. It is understandable to be critical of Islam as it is necessary to fully apprehend religion; however, preaching hate and the defamation of religion whilst criminalizing its intentions with failure to fully understand it, is derogatory. Jointly, belittling one religion in order to prove another religion is superior demolishes any sense of tolerance, acceptance, and respect.

Violent verses in Qur’an discuss wars that took place in Meccan society in defensive battle. Nowhere in the Qur’an does it state to incite violence against innocent civilians. Those who do commit violence under the name of religion in modern society cannot be associated with Islam as their actions are misguided. Additionally, there is an entire four-hundred-page fatwah on deeming terrorism and violence as a major violation of the teachings of Islam.

Shari’a law is perpetually debated as scholars dissect and Islamophobes attack with little regard to actually understanding what it means. Creeping Shari’a is a non-existent movement as the set of ideologies is only utilized by practicing Muslims. Any claim that it is to be ‘forced’ onto the Western world is incredibly fallacious as it is stated in the Qur’an that “no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion” (2:256) is conventional.

A further expansion of the misconceptions of Shari’a and Jihad can be found here.

ISIS’s War Against Muslims

Some scholars of Islam, such as Bassam Tibi, believe that, contrary to their own message, Islamic fundamentalists are not actually traditionalists. He refers to fatwahs issued by fundamentalists such as “every Muslim who pleads for the suspension of the Shari‘a is an apostate and can be killed. The killing of those apostates cannot be prosecuted under Islamic law because this killing is justified” as going beyond, and unsupported by the Qur’an. Tibi confirms, “the command to slay reasoning Muslims is un-Islamic, an invention of Islamic fundamentalists.”

Many are under the illusion that terrorists are going back to the roots of Qur’an and Sunnah which further stems the concept that practicing Muslims don’t realize what their Holy Book teaches. However, Eli Berman argues that radicalism is a movement seen to practice “unprecedented extremism“, thus not qualifying as a return to historic fundamentals.

ISIS kills far more Muslims than non-Muslims because Muslims do not share their invented vision of violence. The top countries that these terrorists attack include Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Yemen, India, Somalia, Egypt, and Libya. Unsurprisingly, these countries are Muslim-majority (minus India). Some of these countries hold laws that do not allow the freedom of religion and are strict against people who convert out of religion; however, these laws are not a reflection of Islam but rather cultural values. There are legitimate reasons why many Muslims emigrate to non-Muslim societies and there is no need to tolerate immigrants who resist assimilating into secular democratic societies.

On the other hand, the top terrorist attacks committed in America are by white individuals, not Muslims or foreigners. Despite the popular opinion that refugees and immigrants commit terrorist attacks, all terrorist attacks since 9/11 in America have been citizens or legal residents. Trump’s continuous attempt to propose a Muslim ban will have no effect on terrorist attacks; it only criminalizes innocent and vulnerable people.

Las Vegas Attack v.s. New York Attack + Media’s Role in Detecting “Terrorism”

Choosing to politicize one event and ignore the other is villainous and disgusting, but it’s not shocking in the American landscape.

The Las Vegas attack and the New York attack are two different issues (gun control versus political extremism) so both should be attacked from different angles, but attacked nevertheless. Though expected, it is still irritating to digest the rhetoric behind Trump’s reaction to the Vegas attack and Sutherland Spring attack compared to the New York attack. It is calculable that Trump would push forward his own political agenda over providing solutions towards the safety of Americans. Despite the fact gun violence is an issue that needs to be discussed, it is understandable to respect the second amendment right. However, those who want Muslims banned from the country should realize that this proposal violates several parts of the American Constitution including the very first amendment. Do not preach you are a true American aiming to ‘protect the country’ if you cherry-pick American values and cannot handle any critique of a flawed country.

Nevertheless, the argument should not be on whether or not mass shootings are more important than political terrorism, vice-versa. Labelling one person as a terrorist does not deduce the other individual as not a terrorist. Terrorism is defined under the FBI as: “the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives”. Yet, arguing over why the Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs attack were not called terrorism is irrelevant and foolish. The word “terrorism” has lost its meaning as media has credulously granted ownership of the term to ISIS and radical jihadists, therefore terminology at this point is ineffective.

Media is responsible for deprecating the West’s view of Muslims through their strategic and systematic news broadcasting and creation of shows like Homeland. America is infatuated with the idea of maintaining a heroic and flawless identity which is maintained by labeling foreign countries as threats, specifically Muslim-majority countries.

Mistreatment of Middle-Easterners and Arabs

The New York attacker was labeled as ‘Middle-Eastern’ even though Uzbekistan is not located in the Middle East. The geographical misjudgment has demonized Middle-Easterners, Arabs, and Muslims. This aberration was an issue even before 9/11 in the Oklahoma bombing in 1995 where 168 people, including 19 children, were brutally murdered. The media had stated the FBI was looking for Middle-Eastern looking men, an analysis compelled by anti-Arab bias in Western culture. The suspect ended up being a white-American ex-Army soldier, Timothy McVeigh.

“To speak of people with dark Middle East complexions as authors of the terror even as the F.B.I. was issuing warrants for the arrests of white Americans is an act of terror, too,” said Abdelbari Atwan, editor of Al Quds, an Arab daily in London.

The credibility of facts is devoured by bias and opinion in a dangerous manner. Similarly, the recent New York attacker yelled “Allahu Akbar” before plowing into victims, a term that has unfortunately been used under negative circumstances but does not account for what it means. Practicing Muslims say “Allahu Akbar” several times throughout the day through prayer and if an enlightening event occurs. Imam Omar Suleiman has given an exceptional definition of the term; it is insulting to praise God and then commit murder.

The negative connotation of the Arabic language has forced society to be critical of Arab people. The Western conception of the Arab world has mustered up stereotypical standards like labeling the mistreatment and oppression of women an ‘Arab’ concern. Mistakenly, this conception fuels the notion that Islam is responsible for the oppression and abuse of women. It is ludicrous that people are not able to differentiate culture from religion. Islam has given more rights and respect to women way before modern Western culture, on matters like economic rights, equality to men, encouragement to work, etc.

Broadcasting the Muslim Narrative + Modernization of Society

Showing the community what a ‘normal’ Muslim is like, is not ‘breaking the stereotype’, rather it capitalizes a truth which people fail to notice due to ignorance and lack of knowledge. Many believe Islam is not compatible with Western culture, which is false. Yet, assimilating into Western society does not mean one should have to sacrifice their Muslim identity; however, not every Muslim holds the same set of beliefs and actions. Ultimately, the goal of radicals is confusing the two concepts of conventional Islamic teachings compared to extreme and misguided teachings. The aim for us is to modernize flawed societies that do oppress under the name of Islam and narrate Muslims in an enlightening and legitimate manner.

“Creeping Sharia”: A Myth?

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by Amina Khan

The term “Sharia law” ignites heated arguments as non-Muslims attempt to define it through tenuous sources. However, concurrently, radical Muslims also disseminate false translations of Sharia for the benefit of their own religious extremism and political gain.

So then, what is Sharia and is it something Americans should fear?

History and Origin

Sharia sprouted following the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 AD. It derives its essence from the Qur’an and Hadith; yet, conflictions develop as the credibility of Hadith is scrutinized between Muslim scholars. The reliability of a Hadith may have faltered through the “chain of transmission” down the years. If a Hadith contradicts another Hadith or the Qur’an, it cannot be true. Unfortunately, Hadith have been abused under degrading rhetoric and is always undergoing analysis between scholars.

Sharia translates to “the direct path to water”, as it is wholly a practiced way of life for Muslims.

Trying to ban Sharia is denying Muslims their religious freedom. But, Sharia is not a set of laws that are to be forced on anyone against their will as it is stated in the Qur’an that “no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion” (2:256) is allowed. Furthermore, Sharia is not even a set of laws, but rather a philosophical concept of guidelines that root from the concepts learned in the Qur’an and Hadith. It molds with the society that a Muslim currently resides in; however, it is strictly only for Muslims and is not something that is trying to spread or be forced onto the Western world.

Five Parts of Sharia + Fiqh

The five branches of Sharia are Adab (behavior, morals and manners), ibadah (ritual worship), i’tiqadat (beliefs), mu’amalat (transactions and contracts) and ‘uqubat (punishments). However, it should be noted that these rulings apply to a willing person, not through forced government implementation.

Fiqh means “understanding” and is taught through four different schools (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali) with the common conception that these scholars are not speaking for God. Fiqh is essentially stories of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), Qur’an and Hadith. Unfortunately, the Western view of Sharia and Fiqh is based on how Middle East countries make use of the Islamic laws.

Countries like Saudi Arabia, abuse the nature of Islam to weaken the disposition of Muslims for their own political gain. These countries eradicate the concept of justice that is essential to Sharia, simply to gain power and fuel their extremist views. An honest example of Sharia law is prevalent in America, as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of thought are promoted. The Islamic part of Sharia is fully a Muslim’s own spiritual relationship with God in directing themselves to be a better person.

Violence and Punishment in Qur’an + Concept of Hudud

“Whoever kills a person who has a truce with the Muslims will never smell the fragrance of Paradise.” – Saheeh Muslim

It is narrated that Muhammad (SAW) said, “To free someone criminal mistakenly is better than to punish someone innocent mistakenly.” ‘A’isha (ra) narrated, “Ward off punishments as much as you can. If you find any way out for a Muslim then set him free. If the Imam makes a mistake in granting forgiveness it is better for him than that he should commit a mistake in imposing punishment.”

“Avert the Hudud (legal punishments) from being inflicted as much as you can, and whenever you find a way for a release [of a defendant] go through it, since it is better for one who rules to make a mistake in acquitting, than to make it in punishment of the innocent.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi no. 1424. Classified authentic [sahih] by al-Hakim)

Hudud means the “limits of God”, Jonathan Brown from Yaqeen Institute states, but nowhere does the phrase appear in the clear context of labeling certain crimes (see Quran, 2:229, 4:14, 58:4, 65:1, though 4:14 is followed by a discussion of sexual impropriety). As punishments in Islamic law are formatted by human reason and not by the verses in the Qur’an, there is ample room for error. There are only four undeniable Hudud penalties specified by the Qur’an: 1) Theft; 2) Armed robbery; 3) Illicit sexual intercourse; 4) Slander.

The Qur’an does not command the death penalty for major sins, even murder. The family of the victim of a murder is given the option to forgive a murderer, be given compensation for the murder, or have the murderer killed (2:178). Stoning someone to death is never mentioned in the Qur’an, but is a common practice in some countries who are clearly not following the book accurately.

However, it is important to note that the concept of Hudud is not meant to be implemented into society today, rather it is there to sustain Quranic maqasid of justice/compassion in the specific context of Meccan society at the time.

In a typical book of fiqh, less than 2% of the book is devoted to the Hudud crimes and their punishments.

“Those who commit unlawful sexual intercourse of your women – bring against them four [witnesses] from among you. And if they testify, confine the guilty women to houses until death takes them or Allah ordains for them [another] way. (4:15) But if they repent and correct themselves, leave them alone. Indeed, Allah is ever Accepting of repentance and Merciful (4:16).

“And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses – lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient, Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful” (read 24:4-9).

Forgiveness is a prime factor in Islam, and punishment is only given if there is substantial evidence of a sin, which is extremely rare. These punishments are scarcely ever used and if they are, it’s used in an extreme and unfitting manner. Also, the Qur’an was revealed 1400 years ago in a time where punishment like prison did not exist. In fact, in the entirety of the Quran of 114 chapters, only three punishments are written: prescribed punishments, retribution, and discretionary punishments. Also, in modern societies, where the vast majority of crimes cannot be examined on the basis of eyewitness evidence and where all kinds of forensic data enabled by scientific advancements have become critical to investigating and prosecuting crimes: there is no need for Hudud to be used.

“And the retribution for an evil act is an evil one like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation – his reward is [due] from Allah . Indeed, He does not like wrongdoers”(42:40).

“And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient” (16:126).

Scholars argue that the verse on theft giving the punishment of cutting off one’s hand is mistranslated. You shall “eqta’u” the thief’s hands as a punishment for their deeds, and to serve as a deterrent from God. The word “eqta’u” is normally used along the lines of ‘marking’ or ‘leaving a scar’ where as “batara” would mean to “cut off”. In Qur’an 108:3, “Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off” (abtar – a derivative from batara).

This can be further argued in the story of Joseph:

“So when she heard of their scheming, she sent for them and prepared for them a banquet and gave each one of them a knife and said [to Joseph], ‘Come out before them.’ And when they saw him, they greatly admired him and cut their hands and said, ‘Perfect is Allah ! This is not a man; this is none but a noble angel.’” (12:31). “Eqta’u is also used in 5:38.

As for other violent verses of war, are only written in the Qur’an as explanations for wars that happened at that time, like the Battle of Badr. However, people of ISIS and Taliban take these verses and use it to cowardly support their own horrendous actions of war and savagery.

In a hadith of an underpaid child who stole fruit from his employer was brought to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by the employer who demanded the child’s hand be cut. Upon seeing that the child suffered from hunger, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) rebuked the employer for underpayment and made it obligatory on him to educate the child and provide proper food to him until he grows up. This hadith makes up several of examples of Prophet Muhammad’s way of promoting justice where it is necessary. Among forgiveness in Islam, a good deed can also wipe away sin, as narrated in a hadith of a prostitute whose sins were forgiven simply because she gave water to a thirsty dog.

Hiraba

The harshest punishment written in the Qur’an is 5:33. Majority of Muslim scholars deem this verse was revealed after men had blinded, maimed and murdered a shepherd while also stealing his camels. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) ordered the killers to be punished in the same manner. However, some scholars argue that these reports are skeptical. Nevertheless, it is stressed that the ruler or state has the preference in deciding the proper punishment for Hiraba.

Terrorism is classified as Hiraba, which is punishable by death, as Hiraba means “waging war against a society”. Therefore, Islam heavily supports the notion that groups like ISIS are to be punished.

Misconceptions of Jihad

Opposite of Hiraba is Jihad. The term Jihad has been abused to hold a negative connotation juxtaposing its true meaning in Islam. People who do abuse the term are disregarding Islam’s immaculate history of consistency to the standards of law and justice in affairs of state. Jihad in Arabic means to “strive for some objective”. Countries who use Jihad for unwarranted violence and propaganda have been misguided and are neglecting Islamic conditions. It has become a norm for cultural society to define Jihad as rebellions against authority, which stressfully denounce Islamic principles.

Spiritual Jihad’s goal is to diminish demeaning characteristics by practicing dhikr, the Remembrance of God.

Jihad essentially means to “struggle” and is overall an internal and external way to be a good Muslim. The only reference of Jihad to violence is when Prophet Muhammad (SAW) mentioned to his followers on the way back from military campaign that a transition was made from armed battle to the peaceful battle, enforcing the idea of a “just war” and terms of defensive battles.

Islam’s Tolerance of Other Religions

“After Muhammad’s death, Jews and Christians were never required to convert to Islam but were allowed to practice their religions freely in the Islamic empire. Later Zoroastrians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Sikhs were also counted among the People of the Book. It has never been a problem for Muslims to coexist with people of other religions. The Islamic empire was able to play host to Christians and Jews for centuries, but Western Europe has found it almost impossible to tolerate Muslims and Jews in Christian territory.” – Karen Armstrong

“Beware!  Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, or curtails their rights, or burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment.” – Abu Dawud

“You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah , and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant” (5:82).

Several Quranic verses denounce the ostracization of any religion besides Islam. Misconfigurations of verses stating the murder of non-Believers repudiate the understanding of historical context at that time. Meccan “Pagans” had waged war against the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his community, while they violently oppressed and tortured Muhammad and his followers. Eventually, after several assassination attempts on Muhammad, various hostile Arab tribes joined in the fight against the Muslims, cultivating the Battle of the Trench, when 10,000 soldiers from many Arab tribes gathered to take out the entirety of the Muslim community. Muslims survived this war and went onto civilization.

As mentioned in the Huffington Post, the verses that come immediately before 9:5 state, “Those with whom you have treaties are immune from attack.” It further states, “Fulfill your treaties with them to the end of their term, for God loves the conscientious.” Now, in its proper context, verse 9:5 can be accurately understood.

“Creeping Sharia” is a non-existent movement. Sharia is not here to “take over” the world and convert everyone to Islam as Allah (SWT) “guides whomever He wills”. The violence that is so prevalent in the Middle East has no relation to religion, rather it capitalizes globalization and colonialism. Muslims are victims under those who use the name of Islam for their own political agenda to obtain power and sustain greed. Sharia has no intention to be violent, unless drastic sins like those ISIS is committing, then punishment is deemed to be fitting. Above all, forgiveness is dramatically portrayed in Islam, punishment is not something that should easily be given. It is important to understand the correct principles of Islam, and digest the violent terms in the Qur’an as verses that befitted society at that time and era.

World Leaders Condemn Mogadishu Bombings

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by Rehan Qamar

World leaders from all regions including the United States, United Kingdom, Turkey, Canada and France have condemned the weekend truck bombing in the Somali capital, Mogadishu.

The explosion has been named the worst single explosion in the East African country’s history. Occurring at busy Zoobe junction, the blast impacted an area of the city filled with many shops, hotels and offices leaving more than 300 dead.

In a statement released on Sunday, Washington condemned the bombing “in the strongest terms”. The US “will continue to stand with the Somali government, its people, and our international allies to combat terrorism and support their efforts to achieve peace, security, and prosperity,” the statement released by the Department of State said.

Boris Johnson, UK’s foreign secretary, said London “condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly attacks in Mogadishu, which have claimed so many innocent lives”.

The Eiffel Tower has turned off its lights in solidarity with the victims of the attack.

French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted, ”Solidarity with Somalia. Support to the African Union against Islamist terrorist groups. France stands by your side.”

Turkey has assisted several severely injured victims and plans on continuing so. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Ankara was sending planes “with medical supplies”, adding that the wounded would be flown to Turkey and treated there.

My condolences to the government and the people of Somalia. We stand by Somalia in the fight against terror and will tirelessly continue to help it recover from such atrocious attacks,” Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister said.

In Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also condemned the attacks in a tweet stating, “The attacks in Somalia are horrifying and Canada condemns them strongly. We mourn with the Canadian Somali community today.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged all Somalis “to unite in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism and work together in building a functional and inclusive federal state”.

“Sickened by attacks in Mogadishu. I send condolences to the victims and urge unity in the face of terrorism and violent extremism,” Guterres said in a tweet.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairman of the African Union Commission, asked the Somali government “to show renewed unity at this critical time and overcome divisions, to rebuild cohesion at all levels of the federal institutions.” The African Union has vowed to continue its support to the Somali government and people in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security.

We could only hope the international community continues to unite and empower one another over such tragedies.

Mogadishu Bombing: Deadliest Attack in Decades

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by Rehan Qamar

“Aamin ambulance service was established in 2008 and we have never seen such devastation. Not even in our dreams,” Abdulkadir Abdirahman, director of Mogadishu’s ambulance service, told Al Jazeera.

At least 300 people were killed with hundreds seriously injured in an attack being blamed on the extremist group al-Shabaab.

The bombing which hit the center of Mogadishu on Saturday Oct. 14 is being called Somalia’s worst terrorist attack. It has also been deemed one of the most lethal terrorist attacks in the world.

The attack occurred when several hundred kilograms of homemade and military explosives exploded on a busy street. The bomb is thought to have been targeted towards Somalia’s foreign ministry, which was concealed in a truck near a hotel, destroyed several buildings, leaving many in ruins.

Photo Credit: AFP/Getty Images

According to reports, the Somali government said that the truck had been stopped at a checkpoint and to avoid being searched the driver suddenly accelerated, crashing into a barrier which then exploded. This ignited a fuel tanker parked nearby and resulted in the explosion.

Earlier this week, Somalia’s information minister announced that 276 people had died in the attack with at least 300 people injured. However, within hours Abdirahman told reporters his service had confirmed at least 300 people died in the blast.

“The death toll will still be higher because some people are still missing,” Abdirahman told Reuters.”

“Big buildings were completely destroyed. Buildings crumbled. Vehicles were burned and upside down. The tarmac was covered in flesh, blood and pieces of clothes. Our country has never seen anything even close to this.”

The death toll is rising as more and more victims are being dug up from the rebel spread across the city.

While Al-Shabaab, affiliated to al-Qaida since 2011, has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack many believe the group is to blame. Earlier this year, the group vowed to increase its attacks after President Trump and Somalia’s recently elected president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed announced new military efforts against the group.

The US mission to Somalia made a statement that said, “Such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism.”

Witnesses said the attack became worse as many cars were stuck on the road where one of the bombs exploded. Families were described as wandering amongst the rubble and broken vehicles  looking for relatives.

“There’s nothing I can say. We have lost everything,” Zainab Sharif, a mother of four who lost her husband in the attack, told reporters.

Somali President Mohamed has declared three days of national mourning and encouraged people to come forward and donate blood.

Various actors in the international community have condemned the attack and offered their aid. According to reports, a Turkish air ambulance landed at Mogadishu airport earlier this week to airlift 50 severely injured people.

Investigators are working on finding out where the military grade explosives originated from. It has been speculated that they were stolen Amisom, an African Union peacekeeping mission, which has about 20,000 troops in the country.

“Every home in Mogadishu has lost someone or know someone that was killed in the explosion. The city is in mourning,” Abdirahman told Al Jazeera.

Muslims aren’t the problem. Yet why are they the only “terrorists”?

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by Tina Lapsia

First came President Trump’s ‘Muslim’ travel ban, issued with a statement “We don’t want ‘em [Muslims] here.” Nine months later, a white man unleashed havoc in Las Vegas, Nevada, killing 58 innocent concert-goers and wounding hundreds of others, in what has been declared as the worst mass shooting in American history.

Stephen Paddock, the suspect in the Las Vegas shooting. (Source: Medium)

Since Trump took office, some of the worst attacks, including the one in Las Vegas, have occurred on American soil. These include:

  • August 2017: A 20-year-old white Nazi sympathizer from Ohio sped his car into a crowd of anti-racist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing a woman and injuring at least 19 others.
  • June 2017: A 66-year-old white man from Illinois shot at Republican Congress members during an early morning baseball practice, severely wounding several people including House Majority Whip Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana.
  • June 2017: A 52-year-old white man from Kansas shot one Indian man and killed another as he told them to “get out of [his] country.”
  • March 2017: A 28-year-old white man from Baltimore traveled to New York City with the explicit aim of killing black men. He stabbed 66-year-old Timothy Caughman to death.
  • May 2017: A 35-year-old white man from Oregon began harassing Muslim teenagers on a train in Portland, telling them “We need Americans here!” Two men interceded; the perpetrator then stabbed and killed them both.

After the attacks of September 11, Muslims have been automatically associated with the radical Islamic terrorists responsible for that horrific tragedy. However, the bigger threat to Americans have been those who “blend right in” – those who are not affiliated with any specific religion or extremist group.

In fact, according to a new study by the think tank New America, more Americans were killed by “native” right-wing extremists between 2001-2015 than by Islamic terrorists.

Despite Trump’s travel ban to protect Americans from such terrorists, the country home to the biggest number of terrorists who have carried out successful attacks inside the US is the US itself.

But such individuals who commit acts of mass murders are, in many instances, not labeled as terrorists – such was the case with the suspect in the Las Vegas shooting, Stephen Paddock.

Why? Terrorism seems to be a label reserved for foreigners, for Muslims. Whites have the privilege of being the “lone wolf” shooters.

When the definition of terrorism cannot even be agreed upon by the FBI, US Department of Defense, Congress and the US Department of Homeland Security, terrorism becomes a term defined by society and the media.

When a white perpetrator carries out an act of terrorism, public discourse is confined to “thoughts and prayers,” while Congress and the public rally for policy change and legislation in the wake of an attack by a Muslim.

A Muslim attacker has never been referred to as an American, a local of the community he attacks. Rather, despite his country of citizenship, he (or she) is considered to be a foreigner or an external threat by the Western press.

It is no surprise that this worldview and perception has lead to anti-Muslim discrimination in America. It has lead to racial profiling, torturing Muslim suspects in Guantanamo Bay and instating a Muslim ban.

Terrorism has no race, no color, no gender and no religion. We must change this narrative that Muslims are the only face of it.

The Worst Act of Domestic Terrorism in US History

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by Dr. Aslam Abdullah

It was a peaceful night in Las Vegas. The strip- the mile long road that has the most casinos and hotels- was as busy as ever and Sunday traffic to Arizona, California and Utah was running smoothly. But the arena around Mandalay Bay was unusually busy, thousands had assembled there to attend a Country Music concert. Many had come from not only the three neighboring states but as far as from Florida, New York, Texas and even Canada.

Little did the people know that in the  next few hours their lives would change and the city known for its Casinos and huge conventions would now be known as the city with the deadliest mass shooting in the US. 

In less than 15 minutes, 58 people were killed and 400 injured- when ‘a lone wolf’ Nevada resident open fired on a crowd from the 32nd floor of the hotel, he had checked into Thursday.

How did 64-year-old Stephan Paddock bring guns and ammunition in his room, when usually the security is very tight on residential floors?

Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department described Paddock as a ‘lone wolf’, with intentions that had gone unnoticed by staff personal.

“I can’t get into the mind of a psychopath at this point,” Sheriff Lombardo told reporters.

How did he choose a room that would give him access to the jubilant crowd assembled on the fateful Sunday night? The police has yet to describe the motive behind the shooting.

But what is clear is that the shooter born in a city of 18,000 people, knew what he was going to do on October 1, 2017. He had purchased guns from his state and the state of Southern California. He had purchased enough ammunition and he knew where the crowd would be most vulnerable.

The police believe Paddock killed himself before police entered the room.

In ordinary situation a tragedy of this magnitude would quickly be called an act of terrorism, a term which neither the state governor, nor city mayor, police chief and even the President have used.

Despite the fact that the motive was to kill, terrorize a city and its people, alongside hurting its economy and booming business- no one is willing to call it an act of terrorism. Perhaps this is a term that officials and media in general have reserved for Muslims.

Initially, some in the media even tried to give it a Muslim twist. From as far as India, a Tweet came from The Hindustan Times (HT) account stating that Las Vegas was under attack from a Muslim shooter.

The Tweet came some eight hours after the incident. Reuters, news agency, also carried a news item quoting an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL) saying that the attack was carried out by their soldier-who had accepted Islam a few moths ago. This claim has been refuted by the (Federal Bureau of Investigation) FBI and Paddock’s brother who described him as non-religious.

However, had the perpetrator of this terror act been a Muslim, experts, public officials and the media by now might have concluded that Islam was responsible for the violence and claim that the country is being destroyed by sleeper cells trying to impose sharia through stealth.

But no one asked who radicalized Paddock? Which books was he reading? What pastors he was speaking with? What news media he was watching? What were his views on people who were from his culture and race? Were any militia groups involved in his brain washing? Did he ever support the Confederate Flag?

What happened is very tragic, but why it happened is even more tragic. If a person with no criminal record, no violation, no apparent public and political involvement can commit such an act of heinous terrorism, then the question must be asked.

How safe are average citizens?

America has long ignored this issue by refusing to label it terror.

In 2017 the U.S. has witnessed 273 such acts of terror, that are often described as mass shooting. Experts define mass shooting an incident that causes the death of four or more people in a single attack, excluding the shooter.

Some of the well known acts of terrorism described as mass shooting are:

  • Las Vegas, 2017: 50+ killed
  • Orlando, 2016: 50 killed
  • Virginia Tech, 2007: 32 killed
  • Sandy Hook, 2012: 27 killed
  • San Ysirdo, 1984: 21 killed
  • San Bernadino, 2015: 14 killed
  • Edmond, 1986: 14 killed
  • Fort Hood, 2009: 13 killed
  • Columbine, 1999: 13 killed

In 2017 some 11,600 deaths have been linked to violence, which is equivalent to four 9/11 deaths. 

In 2016 more than 15,000 were killed by gun violence with 383 mass shootings.

The refusal to acknowledge such mass shooting as acts of terrorism is preventing the country from developing a meaningful policy to combat it.

While huge resources are being devoted to combat terrorism and extremism abroad in the nation of preserving national security- mass shooting related deaths are considered a part of everyday life with no threats to the security of the country, thus resources are scantily available to deal with the situation.

The interfaith community has responded in a well organized manner and within hours after the incident announced several peace vigils in the city. Muslim doctors and medical staff were in the forefront of leading efforts to provide care to the victims being brought there throughout the night. Several Muslim doctors rushed to their hospitals after the news of the tragedy broke out- some 500 people are on the injured list.

Marvin Gawryn, Executive Director of the Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada, issued the following statement.

“Today, we weep. We weep for the lives lost, for those who have lost loved ones, for those who will deal with this trauma for the rest of their lives… for the fact that human beings inflict violence on other human beings. And, we will work. As members of the Las Vegas Interfaith community have done for years, we will continue to work for peace. We will continue to provide safe places for healing. We will continue to be guided by our religious, spiritual lives to speak love and compassion in response to hate.  And we will continue to grow the larger human family that transcends all boundaries.” 

New Strategy for Afghanistan Calls for More Troops

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by Aysha Qamar

“My original instinct was to pull out, and historically I like to follow my instincts,” President Donald Trump said in a speech outlining his plan for the 16-year US war in Afghanistan, at the Fort Myer military base in Arlington, Va. “I heard that decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk of the Oval Office.”

Referring to US support as “not a blank check,” Trump announced his new strategy for Afghanistan that calls for a troop increase and Pakistan to do more to stop terrorists, in a speech Monday night.

“Our commitment is not unlimited, and our support is not a blank check,” Trump said. “The government of Afghanistan must carry their share of the military, political, and economic burden.”

According to the Washington Post, he acknowledged that this “approach is a departure from his campaign rhetoric, and said he would prioritize American security over attempting to ‘dictate’ the Afghan people how to live”.

He has pledged that US troops would have a clear definition of victory in Afghanistan, but did not provide any details on what that would mean.

“The men and women who serve our nation in combat deserve a plan for victory,” Trump said. “They deserve the tools they need, and the trust they have earned, to fight and to win.”

In his address, Trump avoided various details stating he would not repeat the Obama administration’s mistake of signaling plans to US enemies.

“We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities,” Trump said. “Conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables, will guide our strategy from now on. America’s enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out.”

While Trump has not specified how long for and how many more troops will be sent to Afghanistan, congressional officials have stated an estimate of about 4,000 more than the current 8,400 troops.

“US Marines from India company march as they prepare to depart the American military compound at Kandahar airport, Afghanistan”
Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

The extra deployment has been delayed by the Pentagon pending agreement on an Afghan strategy. The additional troops are to serve in two roles: counterterrorism missions and training the Afghan forces.

He also stated that he would give military commanders the authority to act in real time and expand the authorities for US armed forces to target terrorists and criminal networks in Afghanistan.

“These killers need to know they have nowhere to hide, that no place is beyond the reach of American might and American arms,” Trump said. “Retribution will be fast and powerful.”

“America’s enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out,” he added. “I will not say when we are going to attack, but attack we will.”

Trump also emphasized Pakistan’s role in his plan. The President has threatened to cut off US aid to Pakistan, in order to persuade them to help fight terrorism in Afghanistan- stating they have much to gain from partnering with the effort in Afghanistan and much to lose “by continuing to harbor criminals and terrorists.”

“We can no longer be silent about Pakistan’s safe havens for terrorist organizations, the Taliban and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond,” he said.

While Trump stated that Pakistan has been a valued partner, he also reiterated his beliefs that the country has sheltered ‘terrorists’ that “try every single day to kill our people. We have been paying Pakistan billions and billions of dollars at the same time they are housing the very terrorists we are fighting,” Trump said. “But that will have to change, and that will change immediately.”

Afghanistan’s ambassador to Washington, Hamdullah Mohib said Trump’s words were “exactly what we wanted” because it “takes into account our country’s needs and constraints. We did not want it to be about troop numbers or time lines, but to conditions on the ground,” he said while visiting Kabul. “We welcome this strategy that integrates American military power into achieving our shared goals.”

According to Reuters, “a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban condemned Trump’s announcement that he will keep American troops in Afghanistan with no set timetable for withdrawal.”

“Instead of continuing war in Afghanistan, Americans should have thought about withdrawing their soldiers from Afghanistan,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement issued hours after Trump’s televised speech.

“As long as there is even one American soldier in our country,” the Islamist insurgents would “continue our jihad,” Mujahid said.

Authorities Shoot and Kill Suspect of Barcelona Attack

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by Rehan Qamar

Tragedy hit as a car plowed through a crowd in Barcelona, Spain last week. 13 people were killed, with more than 100 injured, in the terrorist attack that occurred on one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist streets.

Spanish authorities have confirmed, on Twitter, that the suspect they shot and killed during an operation 30 miles west of Barcelona was 22-year-old Younes Abouyaaqoub, who had been the subject of an extensive international search since last Thursday’s attack.

According to the police, Abouyaaqoub shouted “Allahu Akbar” just before he was shot outside Subirats, shortly after being spotted by locals.

He appeared to be wearing an explosive vest during the confrontation, alarming police to alert a bomb squad and use a robot to check his body. While the explosive turned out to be fake, the police have announced that they believe Abouyaaqoub had stolen a vehicle and killed its driver while fleeing the scene after the attack on Las Ramblas.

Five other members of the cell – including Abouyaaqoub’s brother Houssaine – wearing fake suicide vests were also shot dead by police in Cambrils last Friday, the Guardian reported.

Photo By Nicolas Carvalho Ochoa/AFP/Getty Images

Authorities are investigating a link between three similar attacks, that they believe have been perpetrated by members of the same extremist cell including: the attack in Cambrils, Las Ramblas and a house explosion in the Spanish coastal town of Alcanar.

According to authorities, an investigation into the cell’s possible international links will stay open.

The self-described Islamic Stated has claimed responsibility for the car attacks in Spain. These attacks have risen as the deadliest attacks in Spain since the 2004 Madrid train bombings.

Over the last few years, terror groups have increasingly used vehicle in violent and extremist attacks within Europe.

According to the Huffington Post, “such attacks have killed over 100 people in major cities across Europe since 2015.”

Victims of the two attacks included citizens from at least 34 different countries- with the youngest victim being 3-years-old, according to Catalan Emergency Services.

Muslims around the world are condemning these attacks. Over 1,000 Muslims have marched down Las Ramblas with the slogan “Muslims against terrorism,” according to news reports.

‘Improvised Explosive Device’ Damages Minnesota Mosque

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by Aysha Qamar

Tragedy took place when a neo-Nazi entered a Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wis. fatally shooting six worshippers and wounding many others, including a police officer on Aug. 5, 2012. Five years after this tragedy, a firebomb was thrown into a Minnesota mosque, while worshippers gathered inside for morning prayers.

According to the Star Tribune, a local newspaper, there were between 15 and 20 people inside the building at the time. The attack resulted in no injuries at the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington, but police say the imam’s office has been damaged.

Worshippers managed to extinguish the fire before firefighters arrived, according to a statement from the Muslim American Society of Minnesota.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an investigation into the attack caused by an “improvised explosive device, around 5 a.m. local time.

David Joles/Star Tribune

Richard Thorton, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Minneapolis Division, said that the investigation will determine whether the incident was a hate crime and who may have been behind it.

In a statement, Thornton said the investigation was the agency’s “top priority”, with his office adding on Twitter that “all hands [are] on deck”

The FBI has not announced any arrests or publicly identified any suspects.

A witness reported seeing something being thrown at the imam’s office window from a van or truck before the blast, Asad Zaman, the society’s director, told reporters.

Prior to the attack, the predominantly Somali mosque, has received threatening calls and emails, Mohamed Omar, the mosque’s executive director told local media.

“It was 5am. The whole neighborhood was calm. People were supposed to be sleeping, that how peaceful this should be,” he said. “I was shocked to learn this happened”.

Unfortunately, the mosque was unable to afford security cameras that could have captured the attack.

The local chapter’s civil rights director, Amir Malik, said that “if a bias motive is proven, this attack would represent another in a long list of hate incidents targeting Islamic institutions nationwide in recent months”.

The number of anti-Muslim hate groups in the US has nearly tripled since Donald Trump launched his presidential campaign in 2015, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. It reported that the number of organizations opposing Muslims “leaped” from 34 in 2015 to 101 this past year.

The President has not yet spoken about the attack, with many angered at his lack of acknowledgment.

Minnesota state Governor Mark Dayton has called the bombing a “criminal act of terrorism” after visiting the site.

A GoFundMe page has been created “to garner support to rebuild this community center and mosque damaged after an Islamophobic attack,” the page reads.

David Joles/Star Tribune

Many have called for justice and supported members of the community, with the fundraising page raising more than 69,000, at this time.

Although the incident has been described as unimaginable and horrific, the support has strengthened the community.

“Good people came out, and they outnumber that one bad guy, and we are so pleased and so happy to see this community coming together in our support,” Omar said.

If you’d like to donate to rebuild the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center, visit their fundraising page here.

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Republicans Discuss Extremism, but Only the Islamic Kind

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by  Saadia Faruqi

On June 11, 2017, the Senate Committee on National Security held an extraordinary hearing. It was a roomful of Republicans discussing the safety of our nation, but the only thing discussed was what they like to term radical Islamic terrorism. Titled “Ideology and Terror: Understanding the Tool, Tactics, and Techniques of Violent Extremism”, the hearing aimed “to enhance the economic and national security of America.”

The group then proceeded to talk about terrorism only through the lens of Muslims in the United States and abroad and finally invited Islamophobic “experts” like Ayan Ali Hirsi to spew hateful rhetoric.

Here are five reasons why such meetings not only miss the point but actually do great harm to our country in terms of safety and security.

  1. Terrorism must not be defined only in terms of Muslims. Many think tanks consider white supremacists to be the greatest threat to security. At the same time, one agency has estimated that your chances of being killed by a foreign born terrorist is one in 3.6 million.
  2. Discussions like these lead to further otherizing of the Muslim community and an increase in Islamophobic sentiments. Research shows a tremendous increase in hate crimes against Muslims in the last couple of years, with numbers reaching post 9/11 levels in 2015.
  3. Resource allocation for national security must be equal among all groups. If the various law enforcement agencies continue to fund anti-terrorism efforts towards the Muslim communities alone, there will be serious repercussions. Firstly, Muslims will continue to bear the brunt of political and community hatred. Secondly, and more importantly, the real causes of extremism will not be identified or rooted out if law enforcement fails to see other non-Muslim groups as part of the problem.
  4. Experts on this issue of Islamic radicals must be unbiased. Islamophobes like Ayan Ali Hirsi who term Islam in the most negative of terms and make millions in the Islamophobia industry should not be allowed to sway opinions by peddling hatred and inaccuracy. For those unfamiliar with the Islamophobia industry, resources like this and this are important reminders of how religious intolerance is a big money maker.
  5. Muslims can do much to fight extremism in their communities if they have the trust of their communities. Although the repeated question of “what are moderate Muslims doing to combat terrorism?” echoes after every terrorist attack, the fact is that Muslims are already doing a lot. In London, Manchester and Paris terrorists had already been reported by their mosque imams or family members to the police, with little attention. And many Muslim imams are now working hard to increase youth participation, discuss the problems within their congregations and otherwise help reduce radicalization.

So the Senate Committee on National Security should take notice. Improving relationships between various groups, halting distrust against any one group, and understanding the true threats to our nation’s security are all crucial.

sweden

Sweden Peace Shattered with Violence and What it Could Mean for Immigration to Europe

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by Saadia Faruqi

On Apr. 7, 2017, a truck rammed into shoppers in Stockholm, Sweden, killing four and injuring many more. Muslims everywhere held their breath as the news of an Uzbek ISIS sympathizer arrested for the attack continued to unfold. These attacks are getting more and more common in Europe, leading to worries that European nations will soon begin to take a hard line look at immigrants.

To a Muslim, the conundrum is obvious. Islam means peace, yet only violent representations of the Islamic faith are capturing the media spotlight. Whether ISIS or simply its sympathizers, whether native born or immigrant, the fact remains that if you are a Muslim living in a western country today your intentions are suspect. Why? Because you may align yourself with radical groups or may share certain characteristics with them, such as land or origin or dress or language. Muslims watching the news on their television screens have no doubt spent hours of worried reflection of what yet another terrorist attack will mean for all innocent, peace loving Muslims everywhere.

Of course, the real argument is whether this particular attack was terrorism at all. ISIS has not claimed responsibility so far, but they are known for jumping at the opportunity to spread fear. Thus even a claim of responsibility after the fact is no proof that they are indeed behind the truck attack. The suspect, an Uzbek asylum seeker whose residency permit had expired and not renewed by Swedish authorities, may simply be a desperate man with a mental illness. Or he may be a common criminal who was taking advantage of the current hateful political rhetoric making the rounds in Europe. To paint every criminal act conducted by a Muslim as terrorism leads to a stereotypical media narrative that feeds into the same fears that begin the process in the first place, thereby giving rise to a vicious cycle.

Another point to remember is that the effects of such acts, whether terrorism or not, end up hurting innocent immigrants the most. Muslims bear the brunt of this consequence, but so do other groups. Europe has welcomed refugees from the Middle East, Africa and Asia for a long time, but now sentiments among their citizens may be changing. Beleaguered by the rising tide of Syrian refugees, and a resulting shift in demographics from white to brown, Christian to Muslim, and the like, European governments are rethinking their welcoming stance. We saw this in Brexit and perhaps also in the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, who ran on a platform of hatred and division.

Sweden has always led the charge in refugee resettlement, usually allowing large numbers of refugees and other categories of immigrants to settle there. But after this attack, Swedish politicians may have to reconsider. The same has occurred in other European countries including France. With Syrians and other refugees desperately seeking safe havens, the violent acts of madmen such as the Swedish attacker do immeasurable harm. Perhaps that is the goal of ISIS, which proves how much against the teaching of Islam they really are.

The good news is that media organizations are increasingly looking at Muslims to shed light on events such as the Swedish one, and Muslims can thereby be a part of the conversation in a way that was not possible in years past. Using social media and public events, Muslims are now able to become involved in this media representation and allow the world to see their total abhorrence of groups like ISIS, or those who may use their ideology for their personal gains.

Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani-American author of the short story collection “Brick Walls: Tales of Hope & Courage from Pakistan.” She lives in Houston, TX with her family.