Muslims Against Terror

The Globe and Mail, 03/20/04
by Sheema Khan

(Sheema Khan is the Chair of CAIR-CAN)

The Todd Bertuzzi "hit" evoked much soul-searching across the land -- confirming the integral role of hockey in our national identity.

Outside Canada, editorials pilloried our game. While the brutal attack was universally condemned, there was disagreement about the lesson from this incident. Some saw it as an unfortunate manifestation of unwritten lines being crossed. Threats by Vancouver players, overlooked as trash talk, were carried through.


Most, however, saw this as an escalation in a series of violent incidents, combined with an ever-increasing level of acceptable violence. For them, the game has become unhinged -- transformed from a thing of beauty, speed and skill to an ugly parade of clutching, stick work and fisticuffs. Often, the most outspoken critics of the "Cherryfication" of hockey are the game's most ardent supporters. They will not stand by silently and watch the sport they cherish degenerate into thuggery.

Then our intense navel-gazing was jolted to another, far more dangerous reality: the mass murder of commuters in Madrid. The authorities point once again to al-Qaeda or its offshoots. Whether in Manhattan, Bali, Istanbul, Mombassa, Riyadh or, now, Madrid, the perpetrators are the same: cowardly animals deluded to believe they are fulfilling some grotesque religious duty by mowing down defenceless civilians.

Payback time, they argue, for the innocent civilians killed in Palestine, Kashmir, Chechnya, Iraq. The trash talk of the past has now turned into deadly reality. And with the accessibility of biological and nuclear weapons, future threats become unthinkable.

A certain amount of responsibility lies with those religious leaders who have blurred the line between armed combatants and unarmed civilians. From day one, Prophet Mohammed made a clear distinction between the two. Today, however, proponents of violence use dishonest logic to claim the absence of an "innocent" civilian.

Ordinary citizens -- by virtue of belonging to the state -- assume responsibility for its crimes. Collective guilt therefore implies collective punishment. Lest we forget, this policy has been used by successive Israeli administrations against the Palestinians, along with Middle East dictators, to silence opponents.

The perverse logic further categorizes Muslim casualties as "collateral damage," a necessary evil, for the greater cause of inflicting damage on the "enemy." This slippery slope has now led to a freefall of mayhem directed at anyone and everyone -- Shia pilgrims in Iraq; worshippers in Pakistan; commuters in Spain.

For Muslims, news of each such attack cuts like a knife. The emotional burden is threefold. First, there is the sheer horror of witnessing the carnage of terror. Second is the knowledge that the perpetrators are Muslim. Third is the fact that in spite of arduous condemnations, they remain a community under suspicion.

Muslims know deep down inside that Islam nurtures mercy while encouraging its adherents to the highest standards of morality. If only they could disown the lunatic fringe who use it as an instrument of fear.

Then there is the issue of social participation, which for a community as young as ours, can be quite challenging.

While institutions have unanimously condemned terrorism, their statements have largely been unreported by the media. Activists often suffer burnout, due to the maintenance of a defensive posture in the face of constant negative media coverage about Islam. Some have become exasperated by the lack of credulity accorded to their sincere denunciations of religious extremism. Yet others are tired of having to always apologize for the actions of a few.

Giving up, however, is not an option. And so, a young, fragmented community continues to reiterate its abhorrence of mass murder.

Mosque sermons, religion study circles and community lectures are used as platforms to reaffirm the sanctity of life as central to Islamic teachings. Even Arab satellite channels broadcast 30-second spots reminding Muslims of this central tenet.

There are also individuals who stand out for integrity at times of difficulty. One such example is Laura Zajchowski, a PhD candidate in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at the University of Calgary.

A Muslim community activist who has written and spoken out against terrorism, she concedes that "at times, it feels like an exercise in futility. No matter how many times you speak out, there is an assumption of guilt by association." Nonetheless Laura is certain of the long-term benefit for each action -- no matter how small -- taken to condemn terror.

She believes that it is the substantive hard work at the grassroots level that will actually constructively guard against terrorism. This work, which largely occurs beneath the radar of the media, is something far more precious than media public relations. These are the individuals who spend their time and money supporting mosque open houses and tours, speaking to interfaith groups, companies and community associations, liaising with the police and civic institutions, or simply speaking with their colleagues, neighbours and friends. Much of this dialogue is directed at getting out the message that Muslims and Islam do not support terrorism.

Laura has given considerable thought to development from within, pointing to many who are working to establish morally and intellectually viable institutions, aiming to work with youth, or working to establish social services to help families and communities. She adds: "All of this work is as important as any other when it comes to fighting terrorism in all of its forms by vaccinating against ignorance, lack of spirituality, lack of morality and ethics, and the abusive environments that make our youth vulnerable to extreme ideologies of all stripes. Such initiatives also aim to encourage them to become responsible individuals, active servants of God striving to improve Canadian society." Such diversity of action reflects the spontaneity and dynamism of ordinary people to do what they can to reverse a deteriorating situation.

Nonetheless, Laura -- along with others -- recognizes the need to raise the volume. "And even if it's not fair, we do have to condemn these things over and over again, and be very vocal due to the situation we are placed in," she says. But how best to get the message across to the wider Canadian public that Muslims stand in solidarity with humanity everywhere against such evil? In addition to the grassroots initiatives, there have been suggestions to hold a large-scale peaceful demonstration by all Canadians -- including Muslims -- against terrorism. A coalition of the peaceful.

Laura's reaction? "I would love to see and be a part of such a powerful expression." Knowing the grassroots dynamism across this land, good things are indeed possible.

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