Police officers stand at the scene where a truck drove into a large crowd on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, January 1, 2025, in this screengrab taken from a video - Reuters

 

Terror: Talking & Thinking Points

By Imam Malik Mujahid
Chicago, IL

Here we go again. 

The mainstream media is once again blaming a Muslim convert’s violence on their faith, instead of any other factor.

The New York Times reports that the alleged New Orleans terrorist “had been acting erratically, “being all crazy, cutting his hair” after converting to Islam. 

Contrast this reporting with any of the 488 mass shootings that took place in the United States in 2024. How many shooters were blamed for their acts because of their faith or lack of it? Why did the New York Times not connect Brad Spafford of Virginia to his faith? The FBI arrested this white man earlier with 150 explosive devices. He was engaged in target practice with President Joe Biden’s photo. 

President-elect Donald Trump, referring to the New Orleans attacker, said, “Criminals come in,” whereas the alleged criminal is not an immigrant. He is an army veteran of the Afghan war from Texas who was honorably discharged. The Las Vegas attacker was an active-duty army soldier, Matthew Livelsberger.

We are being told that the Texas veteran recorded videos. What does he say in those videos? Perhaps we will never know. Just like other terrorist acts in the US, there is no open judicial process for us to know more authentically. Was he talking about the ongoing genocide in Palestine? Why did both army veterans choose January 1, 2025, to attack?

Action Items:

• Tell the New York Times that their story is Islamophobic and that it inspires hate toward Islam and Muslims. No wonder scholars have noted that the  New York Times reports on Islam as worse than cancer  or cocaine. Tweet them at @nytimes to stop Islamophobic reporting. Here is the  problematic  article.
• Although condemning terrorism has become almost a sixth pillar of Islam among Muslims in America, we advise the community that if they have not issued any statements when 488 mass shootings took place in the US last year, there is no need for them to issue another statement. Muslim communities are no more guilty than white Americans for terrorist acts committed by those of the same race or religion.  
• We invite you to  volunteer to engage the media . 

Thinking Points & Talking Points

• The terrorist attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas on January 1, 2025, are likely to increase Islamophobia
• Such legislated Islamphobia will come as American Muslims and their Jewish and other allies are hurting deeply because of the ongoing genocide in Palestine. 
• White supremacists will further push the vicious anti-immigration agenda - this is despite the fact that the alleged attacker was not an immigrant, but a US-born American citizen.
• The crackdown on Muslim and Latino communities, specifically, will weaken civil rights and civil liberties for all. Since 9/11, the erosion of rights and the expansion of surveillance, starting with the 2001 Patriot Act, has seeped into American culture and life. Historically, minority communities are the guinea pigs for such government overreach. Ultimately, everyone pays the price. 
• America is today more  polarized and divided  than ever - even more so than following the 9/11 attacks. It will pit American against American when we desperately need the kind of unity that can stand against threats, both physical and psychological, that were unimaginable even a decade ago. 

War-terror-Islamophobia reinforce each other. This nexus has resulted in tremendous loss of lives around the world. Here are some casualties of this carnage: 

• According to Brown University’s research, the total death toll of this vicious cycle is  at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
• More than  7.6 million  children under five in post-9/11 war zones are suffering from acute malnutrition.
• Palestine has seen 45,000 death certificates issued while physicians believe the death toll is close to 300,000.

Impact on American Muslims:

• Stopbullying.gov reports that  48% of Muslim families  reported an incident of religious-based bullying. 
• A CAIR-CA survey says that 40–50% of Muslim students have consistently reported being bullied.  
• It has become difficult to build a mosque.
• Muslim Americans are  more likely to be poor in America  than any other community -   

What Imams and Khateebs Can Do :

We don’t know yet what the alleged New Orleans terrorist’s motive was or that of the one in Las Vegas. However, we do know that the post-9/11 “war on terror” gave rise to more terror. 

We request our imams, khateebs and leaders to consider the following:

• Devote khutbas and talks to help people manage their anger. 
• Share our   6 things every Muslim can do  for a successful 2025.
• Encourage them to  adopt the 3 Cs of the Prophet’s Success Strategies .
• Encourage them to develop a personal plan for positive action (Amal Saleh) like protests, boycotts, political empowerment, media engagement, education, fighting Islamophobia, etc. It is also important to show how these methods not only work, but were used by our Prophet Muhammad, God’s peace and blessings be upon him. Here are some  tips to develop a personal plan .
• Keep making Dua for Palestine, Kashmir, Rohingyas, Uyghurs and Indian Muslims. At least once a week we must continue extended Duas to include all oppressed people at home and abroad. Submitting to Allah with Sabr and Salat (patience and prayer) as He says helps. (Qur’an 2:45)
• Remember that we don’t control the world, Allah the Almighty does. Our responsibility is limited. Even the Prophet, peace be upon him, was told that his duty is limited, he could not force people to accept God’s Message (Qur’an 88:21-26).
• Remember that Allah’s timing is different from our timing: “Do not suppose that God is unaware of what the Dhalimeen (oppressors) do: He only gives them respite until a Day when their eyes will stare in terror” (Qur’an 14:42). Occupation, apartheid, and genocide are the highest forms of oppression. 

How ISIS Hurts Islam:

God Almighty has declared taking one life is like taking the life of the whole of humanity. ISIS’ theology is, however, the street theology of anger. They think an “eye for an eye” can be applied as an innocent eye for another innocent eye.

ISIS is a product of the war on terror. It reinforces the vicious cycle of war-terror-Islamophobia in the World.  ISIS does not  follow Islamic rules of war and almost always hurts Islam and Muslims. That is why Sound Vision had launched a  major campaign against ISIS  a few years ago.

Muslims are More Peaceful Than Their Neighbors :

Although the media would have you believe otherwise, Muslims are the most peaceful people on earth despite being subjected to a lot of Dhulm (oppression). They are striving for freedom, justice, and Islam. It is an honorable struggle. Some Muslims, however, have resorted to violence against innocent people, which is condemned by almost all Muslim leaders. 

• The  FBI interviewed 700,000 American Muslims  after the 9/11 attacks and found this community to be very peaceful.
• Big data analysis of the Bible and the Qur’an  proves Islamic teachings emphasize mercy.
• Here is an article that shows how  Muslims are more peaceful than their neighbors .

May Allah protect our country and our people. May God give Sabr (patience) to the oppressed and guide the oppressors. May Allah bless us with Amal Saleh (positive action) and good deeds.

(https://www.soundvision.com/article/terror-talking-thinking-points)