Media need to draw distinction between Islam and extremists

THE Claremont Main Road Mosque on January 8 joined the global chorus of condemnation of the deadly attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris that killed 12 French citizens.

The following day in response to the reprinting of the offensive cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad ( pbuh) by certain media outlets, we issued a second statement once again unequivocally condemning the killings and calling on the Muslim community not to react to these acts of provocation but rather to ignore them (Weekend Argus, January 9).

We issued these statements because our faith commitment compels us to consistently defend and uphold the sanctity of all human life, more especially when this core principle of Islamic ethics is violated by extremist Muslim groups who purport to act in the name of Islam.

It is therefore deeply painful but necessary for us to once again raise our voices in condemning the horrendous massacre by Boko Haram, of reportedly up to 2 000 defenceless citizens of Baga and Boko Haram’s ongoing terrorising of the citizens of Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

An Amnesty International report has called Boko Haram’s recent attacks in Baga possibly the “deadliest massacre” in the history of this violent group.

Why do we feel compelled to consistently condemn acts of terror perpetrated by extremist groups claiming to act in the name of Islam and why do we keep stating unequivocally that the sanctity of human life is a supreme value in Islam and nothing is worth the cost of a human life?

We feel it is our responsibility as conscientious Muslims, who strive to uphold the key Islamic tenets of social justice and dignity for all, to never tire from asserting that the heinous acts of murder and violence by Boko Haram, Islamic State and their ilk are dishonourable and betray any expression of faith in Islam.

Their claim to act in the name of Islam is an aberration of our faith and we therefore unswervingly proclaim loudly and unequivocally “not in our name”.

We also raise our voices in condemnation because it is an unfortunate reality that many ordinary citizens, fuelled by sensationalist media coverage of global events, equate extremist groups like Boko Haram, Islamic State, al- Qaeda and the Taliban with Islam.

We are aware that despite our consistent condemnation of Muslim extremist groups and their violent tactics, and our attempts at exposing their profane distortion of our religious symbols, they yield almost no change in the attitude of blameworthiness from those small but powerful groups who frame the public discourse. Islam and all Muslims continue to be deemed culpable in acts of violence by Muslim extremist groups.

Until such time as the mainstream media take it upon themselves to shift the hegemonic public discourse in a way that clearly differentiates between the vast majority of peace and justice loving Muslims from the Muslim extremist fringe groups, we will continue to feel obliged to raise our voices in condemnation of any act by Muslim extremist groups that violates the sanctity and sacredness of human life.

We encourage our fellow citizens who are curious about Islam and its adherents to speak to their Muslim co-workers, neighbours, janitors, doctors and fellow citizens and find out about their values and their concerns firsthand – it will come as no surprise that they want many of the same things you do – to live peaceful and prosperous lives with dignity and respect for all.

We call on our media to highlight the distinction between the actions of Muslim extremists and Islam so that condemnation and denunciations of Muslim extremist groups and their actions are not conflated with condemnation of Islam or all Muslims.

Given the propensity for politicians and religious bigots to use religious differences for their own nefarious political agendas we appeal to all peace-loving citizens not to allow the actions of misguided extremists such as Boko Haram to sow hatred and discord within our communities.

At this difficult time we should stand united in showing even greater interreligious solidarity in the face of such malevolence.

We call on the Nigerian government and the international community to use all lawful means at their disposal to counter the threat that Boko Haram poses to the civilian population in Nigeria and in neighbouring countries. Our thoughts and prayers are with the many families who have suffered the loss of loved ones and the thousands of Nigerian refugees who have been forcibly displaced from their homes.

● Galant is the secretary at the Claremont Main Road Mosque.