Muslims need not be apologetic

Muslims make up roughly one quarter of the world's population. Just because one out of almost 1.5 billion ran amok, leaving 13 dead and 23 wounded, does not mean the entire Muslim nation is responsible. When Sergeant John M. Russell opened fire on his comrades at Camp Liberty in Baghdad, last May, killing five, the media did not even mention his religion. Instead, papers reported that the young man, who "had been broken by the army" was suicidal and in debt.

When National Guard soldier Joshua Cartwright shot and killed two Florida deputies in April he was characterised as "severely disturbed". No one investigated his spiritual beliefs. The media, likewise, took a soft approach, last year, when Dustin Thorson, an Air Force sergeant, shot his wife and son at Tinker Airbase and, in 1995, when Sergeant William Kreutzer killed one and injured 18 at Fort Bragg. But when an American-born major with the name Nidal Malek Hassan commits a similar crime he is judged in the court of public opinion based on his ethnicity and religion.

Bill O'Reilly of Fair and Balanced on Fox News has already decided that Hassan is either a "Muslim terrorist" or "crazy". Fox's Brian Kilmeade has made up his mind too. He asked a guest: "Do you think it is time for the military to have special debriefings of Muslim Army Officers …?" or "anyone enlisted"?

There are 3,572 Muslims in the US military and it seems that Kilmeade wants all of them to fall under suspicion. Never mind that many have served their commander-in chief loyally in Afghanistan and Iraq!

Needless to say, right-wing and Islamophobe bloggers are having a field day over this tragic incident with many posts too racist and disgusting to re-publish in a family newspaper. But it isn't only the hate-filled usual suspects who have jumped to knee-jerk conclusions before the true facts have come to light.

When Fox News host Shepherd Smith spoke to Texas Senator Bailey Hutchison about the tragedy, he said: "The name tells us a lot does it not, Senator?" "It does, it does, Shepherd," came the quickfire response. It's little wonder that the Obama team does not consider Fox News as a legitimate news organisation! It has a transparent divisive agenda and, in this case, its anchors are delighting in pouring fuel on an already volatile situation.

In reality, 39-year-old Major Nidal fits the psychological profile of someone who is vulnerable to snapping out of control. An unhappy, unmarried loner with a calm outward exterior, he was angry on several accounts. He was apparently subjected to harassment on base. A relative said Hasan was discriminated against as a Muslim committed to his prayers. He did not support the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and he did not want to be deployed to either theatre. Prior to his rampage, he had attempted to get his upcoming deployment to Iraq cancelled and had unsuccessfully tried to quit the army before his contract was up. Neither his family nor friends nor fellow worshippers in a mosque he regularly attended perceived any signs that Major Nidal harboured extremist tendencies. On the contrary, several of his comrades described him as a committed soldier who loved his country.

Major Nidal, who is currently in a coma after being shot four times, has instigated a terrible tragedy which is likely to make life more difficult for his fellow Muslim soldiers and may even reignite anti-Muslim sentiment within the US. If he regains consciousness, perhaps he will explain why he did it. In the meantime, responsible media outlets should refrain from unsubstantiated speculation. Currently, there is no suggestion that he belonged to any extremist group or had ties with terrorists, so any terrorist label is premature.

It is, therefore, shameful that Lt. Col. Allen West (Ret), a Republican candidate for Congress, is hysterically warning that "terrorists are infiltrating the military" and brainwashing "our soldiers". Major Nidal has been a soldier for 15 years and joined up right out of high school against the wishes of his parents. The idea that he had been planning his attack since childhood is as far-fetched as it gets.

Major Nidal may be mentally ill or he may have been out for revenge when he ruthlessly gunned down innocent unsuspecting people. Whatever the motivation, he's a one-off. Yet, American Muslims are under pressure to condemn the attack, which Christians and Jews are never required to do when one of their co-religionists turn to violence. I don't recall Irish Catholics having to dissociate themselves from Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh, for instance.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council, The Islamic Society of North America and The Council on American-Islamic Relations have all deplored Major Nidal's actions and have offered condolences to the bereaved. I'm sure that all decent human beings, irrespective of race, colour or religion, will share their sentiments.

Linda S. Heard is a specialist writer on Middle East affairs. She can be contacted at lheard@gulfnews.com. Some comments may be considered for publication.