Editor: We must not only condemn the Paris murderers, but also consider the context. Given that the assassins shouted “Allah” and proclaimed that “The prophet is now avenged,” it is clear that while terrorism was the method, extremist Islam was the motivation.
Democratic peoples now need to ask this question: “How widespread is Muslim support for such extremist action?”
Let’s hope it’s limited, and that there’s widespread denunciation by leaders of the 57 countries in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and strong denunciation by Muslim leaders in democracies.
Unfortunately, I’m not very optimistic. In almost all of the 57 OIC countries, freedom of religion and the press are severely curtailed or non-existent. Twenty-three make apostasy a crime, mainly with a death penalty. Most of the other 34 don’t tolerate religious freedom.
Also, recent European data is startling: “35 per cent of all Muslims in France believe suicide bombings are justified.” “38.6 per cent of Muslims believe 9/11 attacks were justified.” “One-third of British Muslims support killing for Islam.” “78 per cent of British Muslims support punishing the publishers of Muhammad cartoons.” “68 per cent of British Muslims support the arrest and prosecution of anyone who insults Islam.”
All of these poll results can be found at www.thereligionofpeace.com/pages/opinion-polls.htm.
Are we dealing with a tiny, deviant minority?
John H. Redekop,
Abbotsford