Extremism is biggest challenge for Humanity

Yes, I am Muslim. Christians kill me in Iraq, Buddhist kill me in Myanmar, Jews kill me in Palestine, Hindus kill me in Kashmir, Atheists kill me in Communist states, yet, I am still labeled as “terrorist”.

*A German Muslim scholar when he was asked about TERRORISM and Islam. He said. "Who started the first world war? Not Muslims!! Who started the Second World War? Not Muslims!! Who killed 6 million Jews in the Holocaust? Not Muslims. Who killed about 20 millions of Aborigines in Australia? Not Muslims!! Who sent the nuclear bombs of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Not Muslims!! Who killed more than 100 million of Indians in North America? Not Muslims!! Who killed more than 50 million of Indians in South America? Not Muslims!! Who took about 180 millions of African people as slaves and 88% of them died and were thrown overboard into Atlantic Ocean? Not Muslims!! No, NOT Muslims!! First of all, you will have to define terrorism properly. If a non-Muslim does something bad. It is crime. But if a Muslim commits the same. He is a Terrorist. So first remove this double standards. Then come to the point. I am proud to be a MUSLIM!!

After 9/11, incident in 2001, Muslims were blamed to be behind the incidents. Although, various conflicting reports were presented in the media, and all of them were presented in manner that, none of them were very difficult to reject. One version of such reports termed it “Engineered” to find a lame excuse to occupy “Oil Wealth” of Middle-East. However, just after the incident within hours, without having a thorough investigation and collecting reliable evidences, US announced the beginning of crusade and held Muslims responsible. Since them, US spent 6 trillion US Dollars to wage an ongoing war in Middle-East. Starting from Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and Syria, killed around two million Muslims, and forced around 6 million Muslims to leave homes. Some of them travelled to other countries to keep in refugee camps and some of them were internally displaced to safer places in their own countries. Muslims are the victim of terrorism, not terrorists.

Gunmen kill at least 49 people during Friday prayers at two mosques in Christchurch in New Zealand on 15 March 2019. New Zealand is quite peaceful country and there was no track record of violent in the society. Muslims, Christians and other religions were living together in complete harmony for ages. Immigrants from all over the world, includes Chinese, Arabs, Asians, African and also from Europe. Immigrants were contributing in national economy and social development. Generally speaking, the immigrants were working very hard, and less demanding. They were essential part of work-force in the country for socio-economic development.

At least 49 people have been killed and more than 40 others wounded in shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, after a gunman opened indiscriminate fire at Muslim worshippers. The mosques targeted in Friday's attack, the worst mass shooting in the country's history, were the Masjid Al Noor in central Christchurch and another place of worship in the suburb of Linwood. Women and children were among those killed.

A 28-year-old Australian man, was charged with murder. Two other men and one woman were arrested in connection with the attack, two of whom remain in custody.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the assault on the mosques appeared to be a well-planned "terrorist attack". "This is, and will be, one of New Zealand's darkest days," an ashen-faced Ardern told a press conference.

"A gunman - dressed in black with a helmet carrying a machine gun - came into the back of the mosque and started firing into the people praying there," Reported by media.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the suspect charged with murder was an Australian citizen and described him as "an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist".

It was a very serious incident and alarming situation. In fact, it is all due to extremism and intolerance. I believe, the real enemy of humanity is “Extremism, and Intolerance”. Criminals can be a Muslim, Christian, Jew, Atheist or any other religion, but not limited to Islam only. Due to few Muslims, may be they are terrorists, cannot label all Muslims as Terrorists. Muslims are the victim for almost two decades. Muslims constitutes almost 20% population of the world, there are 57 Muslim countries which is second largest organization known as “OIC” after UN. Muslims possesses more than half of natural resources, especially Oil and Gas. Although, currently, Muslims are politically divided and not united, but possess all due potential to contribute for “Peace and Prosperity” of the whole world.

I appeal to all civilized nations and individuals to join hands to fight against “Extremism and Intolerance” and promote Harmony, Understanding, Tolerance and Brotherhood among all religions. Being a human being, we all have responsibility to make our tomorrow better than our yesterday. We have a moral obligation to hand-over a better world to our next generations.

Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomate), Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan.