"Hate is going on in this world and it has to stop. Hate causes a lifetime of pain. Even though I lay here I am still at peace."
-Mark Stroman
(In his final statement before execution of death penalty)
Think! Another paradise is lost from this world. This time it is Norway. In travel guides, Norway is often described as the most beautiful place on the planet, a tiny nation of 4.8 million with enormous natural beauty, icy mountains and deep, dark fjords, northern lights and the midnight sun. Norway, a good patronizer of multiculturalism with the least corruption rate and best human development score and most successful peace negotiating records in the world, is now reeling from successive bomb blasts and horrific shooting, leaving around hundred people dead. So far, exceptionally, no Islamic militant link has been unearthed behind this heinous attack. This time a conservative right wing Christian believer admitted his involvement. 32-year-old Anders Breivik executed the carnage alone as claimed by media. Calling himself a crusader against a tide of Islam in a rambling 1,500-page online manifesto, he deemed the plot was 'atrocious but necessary'. Now retrospect nine years back. Another incident took place in Texas a few days later of 11 September, 2001. Mark Stroman, appearing with a lethal weapon, killed two Arabs, as they were the same national of 9/11 perpetrators. An unfortunate Bangladeshi received a bullet in his eye but managed to survive. During the year Stroman received death penalty from Texas court and the court order was executed on 2oth July with a lethal injection penetrating into her blood. Rais Bhuiyan, the survived Bangladeshi, opposed court's order placing his argument against the futility of death penalty. Bhuiyan said "His execution will not eradicate hate crimes from this world. We will just simply lose another human life." Bhuiyan waved the flag of humanity in the age of hatred! I could easily mention the rampage of 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh, which was more similar to that of Oslo. But here I am specifying the discussion within these two incidences considering the 9/11 in 2001 as the causal event, which embarked on 'war against terrorism'.
Many names with single aim
The both incidences, which I have mentioned are the symbols of anti-Muslim hatred. Breivik and Stroman expressed abhorrence, agony from their utmost levels. The abhorrence they have against Islam and Muslim is not less on any consideration. Stroman lost his sister in 9/11. But Breivik probably doesn't have such black memory. Norwegian police described him as a conservative, right-wing extremist and a Christian fundamentalist. Breivik appears to be an adherent of the right-wing conspiracy theories about 'Eurabia', the idea that Muslims are infiltrating European society with the goal of domination. Breivik was too occupied to see the real tattered face of Muslim people in Europe and America. Is there any significant differences among Stroman, Breivik and Daood Gilani, Masood Azhar and Hafeez Muhammad Sayeed to name a few of Mumbai 2008 plotters, 9/11 executors Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and many others? They are different by their names, religions and appearances but similar with goals, ways of thinking and actions. Among them some are fundamental Christians and others are fundamental Muslims. They devote their lives in the name of religion. Terrorists do not and cannot belong to a specific religion or country. But many European people and leaders are sometimes blind to consider it other than Islamic militancy. They find 'Islam' synonymous to 'terrorism'.
Depiction of Western media
After the terrorist attack in Oslo the global media, especially western media were waiting to hear from an Islamic militant group to proclaim their own involvement in this incident. But this time they had to return with empty hands! Long after the rumors had been disproved, and the culprit emerged as a white, right-wing Christian from Norway, many newspapers still wanted the conversation to be about Islam and Al Qaeda. Western media is a good follower of people's sentiment. It wants to produce news like making a hamburger and feed to its hungry customers. If Breivik had an Al Qaeda link the Oslo bombing news could have been more delicious news. They want to utilize people's sentiment with the measure of Islamophobia. Media's representation of terrorism is very much dangerous. It can make bolt from the blue. After Oslo bombing many Muslim bloggers and independent thinkers over internet expressing their grievances against Western medias for their anti-Islamic, biased and opportunist attitudes. These medias are aggregating the misery of Muslims more and more in the world.
Rethink 'war on terror'
'War on terrorism' from its very beginning was biased, ill-intentioned. The ideology of war on terror needs revision. The 'militancy' is so much intermingled with the term 'Islam' that none can imagine Christian militancy or Hindu militancy. Therefore, after Oslo attack the media was in frantic search to link it with Al Qaeda. More importantly 'war' can't be a solution for 'terrorism'. The western leaders have to think beyond war. They need to work on people's psychology. They have to find out the root causes that why those people kill others and kill themselves in the name of religion. Remarks of Stroman and Bhuiyan gave us insights. 'War on terrorism' did nothing but spread hatred among religions. We need 'preach against terrorism' in stead of 'war against terrorism.'
-Mark Stroman
(In his final statement before execution of death penalty)
Think! Another paradise is lost from this world. This time it is Norway. In travel guides, Norway is often described as the most beautiful place on the planet, a tiny nation of 4.8 million with enormous natural beauty, icy mountains and deep, dark fjords, northern lights and the midnight sun. Norway, a good patronizer of multiculturalism with the least corruption rate and best human development score and most successful peace negotiating records in the world, is now reeling from successive bomb blasts and horrific shooting, leaving around hundred people dead. So far, exceptionally, no Islamic militant link has been unearthed behind this heinous attack. This time a conservative right wing Christian believer admitted his involvement. 32-year-old Anders Breivik executed the carnage alone as claimed by media. Calling himself a crusader against a tide of Islam in a rambling 1,500-page online manifesto, he deemed the plot was 'atrocious but necessary'. Now retrospect nine years back. Another incident took place in Texas a few days later of 11 September, 2001. Mark Stroman, appearing with a lethal weapon, killed two Arabs, as they were the same national of 9/11 perpetrators. An unfortunate Bangladeshi received a bullet in his eye but managed to survive. During the year Stroman received death penalty from Texas court and the court order was executed on 2oth July with a lethal injection penetrating into her blood. Rais Bhuiyan, the survived Bangladeshi, opposed court's order placing his argument against the futility of death penalty. Bhuiyan said "His execution will not eradicate hate crimes from this world. We will just simply lose another human life." Bhuiyan waved the flag of humanity in the age of hatred! I could easily mention the rampage of 1995 Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh, which was more similar to that of Oslo. But here I am specifying the discussion within these two incidences considering the 9/11 in 2001 as the causal event, which embarked on 'war against terrorism'.
Many names with single aim
The both incidences, which I have mentioned are the symbols of anti-Muslim hatred. Breivik and Stroman expressed abhorrence, agony from their utmost levels. The abhorrence they have against Islam and Muslim is not less on any consideration. Stroman lost his sister in 9/11. But Breivik probably doesn't have such black memory. Norwegian police described him as a conservative, right-wing extremist and a Christian fundamentalist. Breivik appears to be an adherent of the right-wing conspiracy theories about 'Eurabia', the idea that Muslims are infiltrating European society with the goal of domination. Breivik was too occupied to see the real tattered face of Muslim people in Europe and America. Is there any significant differences among Stroman, Breivik and Daood Gilani, Masood Azhar and Hafeez Muhammad Sayeed to name a few of Mumbai 2008 plotters, 9/11 executors Sheikh Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and many others? They are different by their names, religions and appearances but similar with goals, ways of thinking and actions. Among them some are fundamental Christians and others are fundamental Muslims. They devote their lives in the name of religion. Terrorists do not and cannot belong to a specific religion or country. But many European people and leaders are sometimes blind to consider it other than Islamic militancy. They find 'Islam' synonymous to 'terrorism'.
Depiction of Western media
After the terrorist attack in Oslo the global media, especially western media were waiting to hear from an Islamic militant group to proclaim their own involvement in this incident. But this time they had to return with empty hands! Long after the rumors had been disproved, and the culprit emerged as a white, right-wing Christian from Norway, many newspapers still wanted the conversation to be about Islam and Al Qaeda. Western media is a good follower of people's sentiment. It wants to produce news like making a hamburger and feed to its hungry customers. If Breivik had an Al Qaeda link the Oslo bombing news could have been more delicious news. They want to utilize people's sentiment with the measure of Islamophobia. Media's representation of terrorism is very much dangerous. It can make bolt from the blue. After Oslo bombing many Muslim bloggers and independent thinkers over internet expressing their grievances against Western medias for their anti-Islamic, biased and opportunist attitudes. These medias are aggregating the misery of Muslims more and more in the world.
Rethink 'war on terror'
'War on terrorism' from its very beginning was biased, ill-intentioned. The ideology of war on terror needs revision. The 'militancy' is so much intermingled with the term 'Islam' that none can imagine Christian militancy or Hindu militancy. Therefore, after Oslo attack the media was in frantic search to link it with Al Qaeda. More importantly 'war' can't be a solution for 'terrorism'. The western leaders have to think beyond war. They need to work on people's psychology. They have to find out the root causes that why those people kill others and kill themselves in the name of religion. Remarks of Stroman and Bhuiyan gave us insights. 'War on terrorism' did nothing but spread hatred among religions. We need 'preach against terrorism' in stead of 'war against terrorism.'
This article was appeared first in the Daily Star on 6th August, 2011.
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