London Attacks
Question Our Humanity
By Muqtedar Khan
Washington, DC
The nightmare that began on
9/11 continues. Another major terrorist attack
in the West and the style clearly indicates that
the attackers are mimicking or emulating the al
Qaeda signature of coordinated, multiple, simultaneous
attacks.
Along with other Americans, my heart reaches out
for Londoners who have lost friends and relatives
in this horrible attack. Along with other American
Muslims and people of all faith communities, I
pray for peace and fortitude for those who have
suffered today. This madness must stop before
the world is caught in a spiral of violence that
will not only tear asunder the very moral fiber
of our civilization, but also jeopardize the possibility
of any reconciliation between civilizations.
A snapshot of the world we live in today is gruesome.
Even as bombs were exploding in London, an instantaneous
war on a peaceful day, terrorists were also killing
Ihab al-Sherif, an Egyptian diplomat in Iraq.
This killing of the Egyptian ambassador with the
explosions in London for background is symbolic
of the war on diplomacy, peace and possible reconciliation
that some barbarians have unleashed. In killing
al-Sherif for apostasy, they have shown that they
themselves are apostates from Islam, how else
can one understand the systematic and gruesome
killings and bombings of civilians without regard
to women, children or the aged.
Islam was sent as mercy to humanity, yet some
merciless barbarians insist on sullying its teachings
by unleashing the evil that corrodes their own
souls.
There is a message in this for all of us. In the
pursuit of political and ideological goals we
are forgetting the sacred value of life itself.
Since 9/11 thousands of innocent civilians have
died, in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Spain, in Turkey,
in Indonesia, and now in London.
Can we find a way to deal with these tragedies
in such a way that it does not lead to more deaths,
more violence, more anger, and more hatred?
Our reality today questions our humanity, can
we reassure ourselves that we indeed constitute
a civilization?
By Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Westridge, Rawalpindi
Thursday July 7 would certainly
go as one of the darkest days in the history of
London. Killing of the innocent and injuring hundreds
can never be justified by any cannons of conduct.
We, in Pakistan condemn the heinous attack in
the most severe terms. It must not have had happened.
Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families
and prayers for the departed souls to rest in
peace ever, amen. If it was a barbarous act of
Al-Qaida, as suspected, our message to them is
that they are doing no service to Islam –
the religion of peace. In fact they are bringing
Islam into disrepute and causing more harm to
the Muslims the world over. Killing cannot t be
condoned, be it in Londonor anywhere else.
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