Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a former Huffington Post Muslim journalist, said it places “an unfair burden on Islam” when moderates are asked to condemn Islamic terrorism, claiming those who do are “bigoted.”
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a former Huffington Post Muslim journalist, said it places “an unfair burden on Islam” when moderates are asked to condemn Islamic terrorism, claiming those who do are “bigoted.” He went on to blame FOX News for what is a significant platform of the Obama administration’s policy toward radical Islam.
Speaking on CNN, Shihab-Eldin said those calling on Muslims to condemn terrorism, which includes President Obama’s own State Department, are “not aware of Google; or not paying attention; or perhaps, watching too much Fox News, where hosts constantly are…driving this point home – this us versus them…this point home that Muslims aren’t speaking out….I think it’s regrettable, and I think, arguably, bigoted.”
There is widespread consensus among western intelligence agencies, truly moderate Muslim activist groups, and both the State and Defense Departments that the only way to truly defeat radical Islam is by doing exactly what Shihab-Eldin calls “bigoted.” In fact, there is an equally strong consensus among those groups that the West is not doing enough to support moderate Muslims in that effort, or even coerce them to do so.
Shihab-Eldin predictably cited the one headline-grabbing terror attack perpetrated by a Christian in recent memory since Timothy McVeigh detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995.
“In Norway, for example, when we see – you know, terrorists – a Christian terrorist – you know, kill however many people; or, you know, even in Israel when you see – you know, extremist Jewish settlers kill people, you would immediately say it would be prejudiced to expect all Jews or all Christians to speak out against this,” Shihab-Eldin said. “And so, I think – you know, people who make those calls – I think it’s regrettable, and I think, arguably, bigoted.”
Except, Anders Behring Breivik, the man responsible for the attack in Norway, referred to himself as a “cultural Christian,” condemned then-Pope Benedict XVI, and frequently attack Protestantism and condemned their churches. The Lord’s Resistance Army, a group associated with Breivik, doesn’t even claim to hold the common Christian banner.
Further, the outpouring of condemnation from Christian leaders across the West was immediate and overwhelming, something not seen in the Muslim community due to fear, at least in the best-case scenario. Further, while it is clear that Christianity is not significantly represented by extremists, and certainly is not responsible for regular acts of terror, the same cannot be said of Islam.
