Paying the price twice

Words can’t describe the magnitude of the horrific tragedy that unfolded in Manchester, UK, where 22 people lost their lives, including innocent children. It shows the barbaric nature of that evil act where even children are not excluded. Don’t the evil perpetrators also have children of their own?

Nothing can justify this horrific act. No religion or ideology can condone it no matter what. Sadly though, when these events take place and the suspect is perceived to be an irrational Muslim, all the switches of reasoning are turned off. Emotion takes over. No questions are asked.

While Muslims are themselves the target of terrorism, in addition, they are also perceived as the culprits. They pay the price twice. I have noticed a similar pattern in almost all these tragedies. The person of interest is usually known to the police and is under surveillance. If so, why did the authorities loosen the leash on him until he managed to undertake such a catastrophic mission that required efforts, planning, time and resources?

We, irrespective of religion and ideology, have to overcome the media’s sensationalism and use our intellect to ask questions. Why are we not allowed to discuss the root causes of these tragedies? Why does someone else get to speak on our behalf as if they were our representatives? The scenarios go like this: The alleged culprits talk on behalf of Muslims in claiming responsibility and then the media brings the so-called experts to talk on behalf of everyone else.

My deep and sincere condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. They must be going through agony, mental anguish and sadness after losing a loved one. I apologise on behalf of those misguided Muslims who might have deliberately masterminded this tragedy. They don’t represent the vast majority of my fellow believers who are peace loving people, whose faith stipulates the killing of a person unjustly is the same as killing the entirety of humanity. I am sorry for their loss. What has happened to their families can’t be justified.

We, as humans, bear the responsibility. Whether we are politicians who have been involved in actions that are fuelling this madness or whether we as people haven’t done enough to reach out to our human nature to tackle extremism, injustices, invasions of other countries or simply not speaking up against corruption, whether at home or abroad.

The madness we are witnessing is an unhealthy phenomenon, which has affected all humanity irrespective of creed and colour. Humanity has lost its human touch. May we all be guided to find common terms to work together for the betterment of humanity and its surroundings.

- The reader is a freeland writer based in Toronto, Canada.