The world has turned into a collage of hot spots. It is indeed changing as the political landscape in different countries takes different shades. Bombings in civilian centres around the world make one painfully aware that criminals come in all forms and disguises. Whether they hide behind the cloak of honourable members of the medical profession who have no healing intent in mind, or clerics whose angry rhetoric set of time bombs in the deep crevices of minds, such people use a multitude of means to put into action their deviate ideas.
Al Qaida, Jewish Defence League, Daesh (the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) or the Red Brigade, they are one and the same in a shared philosophy. A philosophy of rejecting the rights of many and denying others the right to live. In that they are criminals, there is no question. Their message is to perpetuate an act of violence against innocent people. And that has a zero tolerable value among a civilised community of nations.
The authorities must deal with them swiftly and firmly. And we the public must be supportive of counter-terrorism agencies as well, for indiscriminate violence touches each one of us. While terrorism is being exercised often on a large scale against innocent people through state-sponsored mandates such as in Israel which bombs and kills Palestinian civilians indiscriminately, there is no excuse for those fringe elements who have decided to give light to their grievances through the bodily harm of innocent people who had no part to play in the twisted minds of these violence-prone nuts.
The regional violence that is being perpetuated today on a daily basis may have contributed to the rise in this perverted way of thinking. It is transforming minds into a hate-filled psyche, phenomena with dangerous consequences. We have seen some of that on our own soil, where extremism and fanaticism had led to some very hostile acts against innocent people. The bombing of mosques on our own soil has caused many to sit up and wonder how deep the rot of divisions has sunk in, divisions that could sink a society.
A line is being drawn where friends and enemies are being grouped. It is the ‘us against them’ syndrome that is disturbing. Who are these ‘we’ or ‘they’, I wonder? Are we not all humans? And should we not address our injustices through legal forums rather than band together and hatch plots to harm others indiscriminately? Are we not aware that such peaceful precedents were used in our historical past with remarkable results?
In recent history, Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela battled grave injustices and persecution, but they did it not through violence, which would have in turn beget more violence. They did not tarnish their struggle with false claims of a religious or cultural fervour. Instead, they mobilised their resistance through peaceful means. And they shall remain etched in time as icons of a civilised world.
Those today that chose to promote their terrorist activities behind the guise of spiritual or nationalistic cloaks are nothing less than criminals, ailing with perverse logic of revenge or a greed for power. Theirs is not a cause for freedom or justice or misplaced rights. It is about spreading mayhem and death. In that they resort to target civilians areas displays the cowardice behind these bands of thugs.
They should not expect any sympathies from those of us who are simply appalled at the extent these criminals are willing to go to spread their message of terror. There is no end justifying their means, except perhaps a one-way ticket to the gallows. And there will be no reprieve in the hereafter. No religion condones the indiscriminate killing of the innocent. It is time for the rest of us take a more aggressive policy to denounce and reject the message these fanatics are attempting to spread through their despicable activities. Let us expose them from under whatever rock they dwell.
There can be no tolerance of terrorism in any form. We will not accept groups with their twisted ideologies in spreading their message of destruction, whoever they may be. Intolerance of other peoples, other faiths and other cultures is nothing short of abhorrent, and we can overcome such obstacles through improved education and communication.
Let the message reach those who seek to spread violence and terror loud and clear. We do not condone the means they have employed, regardless of their grievances. Being a terrorist is not cool! Today’s citizens are citizens of the world. Whatever religion we worship, and whatever faith we follow, they all speak of peace and love. If we fail in our efforts to push for peace and harmony now through civilised means, then we have all failed as citizens of this planet.
Tariq A. Al Maeena is a Saudi socio-political commentator. He lives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
