ARE ALL MUSLIMS TO BLAME FOR THESE ATTACKS?

CHARLIE HEBDO’S attack is a heinous act, so heinous I don’t have words to describe the events of today in Paris. 12 people were killed today by hoodlums who attacked CHARLIE HEBDO’S headquarters. Police says one of the attackers carried a rocket launcher.

CHARLIE HEBDO is a well-known controversial magazine outlet known for their harsh criticism of virtually every aspect of human life. They criticize religion, politics, and any other major happenings around the world including ISIL. CHARLIE HEBDO is an ideal figure of freedom of speech, one that uses satire to drive home their message.

In 2011 they made a cartoon of prophet Mohammad which caused outraged in different Islamic states. Many Muslim took this personal with riots and protests all over the world. Don’t rush to make a decision. CHARLEI HEBDO spared no organized religion in their bid to show the world the truths, not even Christianity is spared.

CHARLIE HEBDO’s like is strongly needed in Nigeria, a news outlet which will not fear the government when enlightening the masses. Now the election for presidency in Nigeria is only six weeks away and yet the masses know little of the aspirants. Such news outlet with no fear will certainly dig up past lives of these men and present them to the masses in comic style, a style which will tell more than the biased news mediums in the country.

CHARLIE HEBDO’s attack by Muslim extremist is evil and I and many with me in Sparrowlite condemn this attack. For our Muslim brothers out there, don’t get so headfilled with your religion. There is no religion when there is no love or peace. Again I state my respect for Islam. I also support CHARLIE HEBDO and their work.

Many calls for Muslims to be expelled from Western countries but will these solve the problem of Islamic extremism? There are millions of good Muslims all over the world, Muslims who share the same ideal believe of me and others, Muslims who fear the gun, Muslims who know pity, respect and love for their fellow men. I have been told today by one who is nearer to the heinous act of today than I am that Muslims are cancers in the world. I disagreed with him, am not a Muslim but I have met good and nice Muslims, Muslims who are ready to lay down their life for me. One of them is my girlfriend during my high school days, she is a good and homely lady better than many non Muslims I have met.

Islam is not a cancer and will never be. These attacks are based on individualism and the choice to take beliefs to the extreme. I am begging and calling Muslims out there to step away from extremism and allow God to fight his wars. There is no gain even with the dead editors today, CHARLIE HEBDO still lives on. There is no stopping them, there is no stopping free speech. Guns and knives, bombs and rockets bring shame to any religion.

The deaths in Paris will affect nice Muslims in other part of the world. I am an advocate of the influx of Syrian refuges into Europe for refuge. What face will I have to continue advocating for those seeking refuge? Am ashamed and sad people who are in need will suffer the consequences of today because they are Muslims. The protest in Germany against the influx of Muslims into Germany will now get more supporters. Supporters who fears Islam.

Islam phobia is real and it was brought upon many by extremists who fail to see the indirect consequence it bears on their fellow Muslims. Free speech is not a sin and will never be a sin. SAY NO TO EXTREMISM, CHARLIE HEBDO IS AN IDEAL EXAMPLE OF FEARLESS FREE SPEECH AGENCY. WE THE STAFF OF SPARROWLITE CO-OPERATION SENDS OUR CONDOLENCE TO THE FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED TODAY.

IS THE WEST A MAJOR PLAYER IN MIDDLE EAST?

    

The issue of the two ruthless Islamic organizations grips all well-meaning citizens of developing countries. It leaves all of us pondering on what went amiss, “are they really fighting a religious war? Or is more to it” we keep asking.

I was privileged to watch a series about Muslim youths in Germany who missed joining ISIL by an inch. One of the journalists from Dustche Welle engaged one of these youths in a lengthy discussion. In one of the questions the journalist asked, he implored the boy to tell him what he thought of ISIL. The answer encouraged me to write this piece. “At first” He said, we thought the idea of joining ISIL is the right way to redeem ourselves. The people who met us brought pictures of children and women dying in the hands of Syrian government, if only we join the fight to better the life of our fellow Muslims.

This answer struck me so hard I couldn’t help thinking. Maybe in Nigeria the Bokoharam group is using the same technique in luring young Muslim men to their door. Are these groups really protecting their fellow Muslims? The abduction of the school children in North of Nigeria, bombing of mosque, wiping out a whole Muslim village seem not to fulfill this quest. In fact in the interview the boy said he was lucky to figure out this before the appointed time to leave for Syria.

Most of the problems of Middle East are because of the west direct or indirect involvement in their government. They seem to be partial in dealing with issues that concerns developing countries. Earlier this year Israel attacked Gaza for the most stupid reason I can think of, leaving thousands of civilians dead. What did the west do? They channeled their energy towards ISIL leaving the population of Gaza to suffer.

There are issues diplomacy will solve and not violence. In developing countries, when such issues arises America and its allies ventures into arms carrying to solve these issues. Look at Ukraine, the American Allies kept a distance instead taking up diplomacy as an effective tool. Yes there were sanctions here and there but the big question is; WHY NOT SEND YOUR PLANES OVER UKRAINE? Even the shooting down of an airliner carrying mostly Europeans didn’t necessitate such act. Afghanistan will do more well if US troops leaves their soil completely and a diplomatic agreement between the government there and the Taliban takes place. This seems impossible but it is not, the fact a faction of their populace (present government) still seeks support from Western countries undermines any progress diplomatic talk will make. A talk looks impossible because the western countries are big players in Afghan and the Middle East. Their influences on other regional powers in the Middle East are also causing drifts between each country there.

ISIL is not following the right approach in dealing with their needs. No need masking their actions, they are not following the tenets of Islam. Any religion which fails to recognize human rights and will is not a religion. My high school days had a good number of my association with Muslims, in fact once I had a pretty Muslim girlfriend. She was the best and still remains the best friend of the opposite gender I have ever had. The truth is the wish of a sovereign state in the part of these two organizations.

Again diplomacy should have been used than arms. Diplomacy without the involvement of any western nation, should be countries involved with these groups. It is not late to drop arms on both sides. In fact this means is easier in Iraq and Syria than Nigeria. Nigeria needs to take the bull by the horn, a division of the country will definitely help restore parity in the two regions. Some will say am not being patriotic, but loosing lives each day is neither patriotic. Bokoharam is more political in the sense Nigerian leaders being greedy to the teeth. Nigerian leaders both the opposition and the ruling party (including the senate) are to blame for whatever we are passing through here. Divide Nigeria and we will have peace.

America and her Allies should remove themselves from the conflict of the Middle East, like the days of the Othman empire, Middle East will become great. The west fears this; the warring sides should understand their position and lay down their arms for diplomacy.

 

VIVA MIDDLE EAST, VIVA AFRICA, VIVA ALL DEVELOPING COUNTRIES