Thank Allah that the horrific terrorist attacks in Mumbai have finally come to an end. Reports say over 190 people have been murdered and hundreds injured, and a country has been left reeling. Of course it’s important that those behind these attacks are bought to justice.
Nothing can justify their actions, yet surely it is imperative to ask the difficult questions of who and why? Who was really behind these attacks and what may have led these men – and others who helped them execute their murderous plans – to do what they did? Is it not also necessary to urge for calm, and nip in the bud any attempts to criminalise the whole Muslim community locally in India, as well as internationally?
On the last point, I have been increasingly getting the impression that certain commentators, with a specific political and ideological leaning have been waiting (impatiently) to continue their vile attacks on Islam with even more fervour, and these attacks present them the perfect opportunity. Just look at some of the headlines, allegations that there may be a British link, that there are some 4000 odd British Muslims who have been to terrorist camps and are global Jihadist sleeper cells, that Al-Qaida is responsible, that Pakistan is complicit, that Islam is by its very nature a violent and aggressive ideology, hell bent on killing infidels – think Mad Mel and her ilk!
As to the who question, it appears quite clear to many that Islamist militants are responsible. But, and at the risk of sounding like a Muslim in denial, the ‘conspiracy theorist’ in me is not so sure. 9/11 is blamed on Al-Qaida but even Robert Fisk questions the truth about 9/11. While less than a week before the attacks in Mumbai, India was in a state of shock after learning from official sources that its first Hindu terror cell may have carried out a series of deadly bombings that were initially blamed on militant Muslims. The bombings killed 68 people and among the alleged members of the cell are a serving army officer and a Hindu monk.
The why question can only be answered when we have answers to the who question. If proven that Muslim terrorists were behind these deplorable actions, then it would be absolutely naïve to rule out the injustices being played out in Kashmir as a motivating reason. The people of Kashmir have legitimate grievances, and when these grievances are not addressed, people have at times taken things into their own hands – with traggic consequences for both sides.
In 1947 Kashmir should have gone to Pakistan but it didn’t. Successive Indian Prime Ministers have promised a referendum (as demanded by UN Security Council Resolution 34) but failed to honour their commitments and all the while the Indian army make matters worse by the ill treatment of the people of Kashmir. Half a million Indian soldiers are in Kashmir, 3 wars with over 700,000 dead, mass arrests and violence against civilians – all this has endeared many Kashmiris towards Islamic resistance movements, some of whom are more radical than others.
A fair and just resolution to the Kashmiri question is more needed now than ever before.
An excellent read! I too was annoyed at how hard some UK journalist were trying to creat a British link to these attacks. The truth is that it has less to do with a global jihadist agenda and more about local and regional hostilities. A good piece on this can be read on commentisfree by Misha Glenny (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/01/comment-and-debate-misha-glenny); i qoute:
“The Mumbai attacks were not about global jihad. The attacks on foreign tourists at the Taj and the Oberoi, and on the Lubavitch centre, were designed to secure maximum publicity – a strategy that worked splendidly. Yet the roots of this nightmarish event are to be found elsewhere: in the deterioration in relations between Hindus and Muslims in Mumbai and India since the late 1980s, and in regional relations between India and Pakistan.”
Assalamuálaikum, This is a very informative piece of writing, one that needs to be received by the mass both Muslims and Non. The unfortunate issue remains that the mass media continues to pollute the minds of Muslims and Non. It is sad that many Muslims even consider Muslims to have executed 9/11 and akthough the fact remains to tell the truth, those at fault are those who continue to harm the Muslim community by demonising the faith and its followers.
Let’s pray that ignorance becomes a thing of the past and human beings can spend some time learning about Islam and other faiths and come to conclusion based upon truth and not falsehood whether Muslim or Not.
Kashmir is a case that needs awareness and this political move in Mumbai is just another plot to create more policies and legislations for Muslims, is it not the case that many Muslims are held without evidence and facts in Guantanomo Bay and other prisons internationally including Britain? Of course, time tells us now and will continue to unveil the truth.
Would it be extreme to say this is no different to 911 and the relatialion of US by its invasion of Iraq (in comparison to Kashmir) , would you call this Radical having been informed by the US that it took the lives of 1 million iraqi just to take 1 man Saddam out of power?
The oppression muslim suffere that ive seen in my short life I would rule out that if my brothers were doing any forms of retaliation for whatever the reason, and whether they are right or wrong, I would take a step down and say well.. if they are Muslims they are my brothers. Ive seen one too many of my mothers and sisters suffer, that I dont care anymore.
A good timing too, look how they are being humiliated in Gaza, like they (women and children) didnt live a single day without worry.
It was the British that created Israel, and It is the US that funds these terrorist acts.
Asalaamualaikum, Why do Muslims find it strange that Muslims would do such crazy things. Allah (S.W.A) guides and misguides. There are people who devote there time to learning about Islam who can quote hadith and Quran better than Muslims. These people do not embrace Islam they spend their lives trying to create Fitna. So is it any surprise when some shaven faced men with apparently little knowledge of Islam other than what some village Imam has taught them attack people indiscriminately in the name of Islam? It shouldn’t! We should spend less time concerned with conspiracy theories and more time educating the youth about true Islamic scholarship. Instead the rapidly expanding Pseudo-Salafi’s are spreading a Pick up your Quran translation and Sahih Muslim and you can issue your own fatwa mentality. With Muslims themselves preaching against Islamic Scholarship and authentic Ijaza is it any surprise these things happen. Oh well let’s all sit down and watch peace TV, Mufti Zakir Naik can tell us what to do.