Media portrays Muslims as religious extremists

I, AS a Muslim, am deeply offended by the article, “Bay also on extremist map” (September 9). I am offended but not surprised that the media always portrays Muslims as religious extremists who kill and maim in the name of religion.

Your article is misleading and factually inaccurate in many ways. As a Muslim who lives and worships in the affected areas, I have a better understanding than your reporter of the issues.

I also take issue with being labelled a “religious extremist” if I take my religion seriously. Why is this label given to Muslims exclusively?

If a Catholic priest were to preach to his congregants to follow the commandments of Catholicism then nobody would say he is a religious extremist.

The media has on many occasions referred to a paramilitary training camp on the outskirts of Port Elizabeth. I, as a legal firearm owner, have on occasion attended a shooting range with fellow Muslims where we practised our shooting skills.

I have never come across anyone preaching at these sessions, let alone recruiting for armed conflict. These claims are baseless and devoid of truth.

What is wrong with the fact that responsible and legal firearm owners get together to practise with their firearms? Shooting clubs from various communities exist in Port Elizabeth and nobody says anything about that.

Your story’s references to Padav are factually inaccurate as well. Yes, Padav did exist as any person living in the northern areas would be able to tell you.

It did consist of Muslims, but there were Christian people involved as well. I am sure that the SAPS would be able to tell you that Padav was a group that focussed on gangsterism and drugs, and it never had a religious agenda.

The statement that the CIA linked the Muslim cleric who was arrested in Bangladesh many years ago to Padav is laughable. The very cleric who you referred to has on many occasions condemned Padav and Pagad alike.

Any Muslim living in the northern areas would be able to confirm this. I am sure that a call to the local crime intelligence office of the SAPS would also have confirmed same.

I will not dispute that there can and will be individuals within the community who will support groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State, but that does not mean that Muslims and Islam support such groups. A few months ago prominent ulama (Muslim theologians) and ulama councils issued statements wherein they condemned such groups as having no basis in Islam.

It has become the norm for the US to issue alerts at this time of the year as the anniversary of 9/11 approaches. Most, if not all, of these alerts have proven to be nothing.

I appeal to the media to find a level of objectivity when reporting on matters affecting Muslims in South Africa. We have always co-existed peacefully in this country, so let’s not allow a foreign nation to destroy that peace.

Report on matters of public interest but get a response from the other side as well.