No to atrocities committed in religion’s name – ‘Terrorists follow religion of hate’
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KUWAIT CITY, Nov 25: In this week’s Arab Times online poll, readers weighed in on the possible fallouts of the recent Paris attacks and the Russian airliner crash in Egypt, most voters felt that there is no place for killings in the name of religion.
Throughout history, there have been many wars and cruel inhumanities carried out in the name of religious ideologies. 40% of voters felt that atrocities committed in the name of religion should not be a reality in this day and age. “No religion preaches or condones the killing of innocent life. Killing in the name of God is abhorrent. I find the acts of suicide bombers and other terrorists horrifying and incomprehensible. The only religion they follow is one of hate”, a reader shared.
29% of voters feared that retaliation by France and Russia would lead to the loss of more innocent civilian lives. “I am afraid that the retaliatory air strikes targeted towards the ISIS would also hurt civilians. Escalating military involvement is the last thing the Syrian people need right now”, another reader commented.
9% of respondents felt that there would be a boost in security to counter loop holes. The French Parliament voted to extend the state of emergency for three more months and according to news reports, the police have been breaking down doors, conducting searches without warrants, aggressively questioning residents, hauling suspects to police stations and putting others under house arrest.
8% of voters believed that the aftermath of such attacks forges more unity and patriotism within the country. “I think that people feel a renewed sense of patriotism when a tragedy strikes. We usually tend to focus us on what unites us as people rather than what divides us when we have an external common enemy”, a voter shared.
“While we come together as communities and nations in the time of conflict, we should not let our feelings be manipulated by political powers to further their own agendas. A crisis shouldn’t give our leaders latitude to carry out policies that we would otherwise oppose”, another reader warned.
6% of readers believed that a negative effect of the attack would be mistrust towards minorities and religious communities. “A terror attack perpetrated by one member of a community sadly has repercussions for other members of that community. It brings to surface our latent hostilities.”
“Acts of hate and racism against the Muslim community, people of Arab descent and even those of Southeast Asian countries becomes more pronounced. We are very quick to go to into ‘us and them’ mode”, a respondent opined.
Another 7% felt a crackdown on social media was imminent, with profiles and accounts being closely monitored.
By Cinatra Fernandes
Arab Times Staff
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