Are Muslims to blame for their own bad press?

Question

I mean no disrespect to Muslims, in fact, I would like to encourage them to speak out more frequently and clearly about their beliefs, because some have claimed it to be a "religion of peace". So if it is, then why do we never hear the condemnation from the general Muslim communities whenever people claiming to be from their religion kill and maim people in terrorist type insurgencies and attacks? I pay attention to the news and I sincerely almost never hear Muslim leaders speaking out on a daily basis against violence in the form of terrorism. It seems that if Muslims want to be taken seriously and accepted as a religion of peace, they should be the LOUDEST in speaking out after every single act of violence committed in the name of Islam. Please, once again, accept this as my opinion and not an attack.

Just to be fair, people, including myself read news from all over the world, not just American news, and I still have not seen the outrage that would be so crucial in easing tensions and prejudices against Islam. So in my opinion, although I will agree with people that there is definite bias in ALL news, not just American, the "America doesn't want you to know..." argument doesn't work.

And as well, some of you are certainly right. All religions have had people do horrific things in their names, but, and again, this is just my opinion and what it seems to me, there is usually some voice of outrage heard when those things happen in other religions. But I just don't hear it enough, in my opinion, from the Muslim community. So if you have any suggestions or more websites where I can find or hear these opinions, I would love to hear and read about it. Thank you and I promise I will do NO more detail edits because they are annoying :)

Answer 1

The Muslim religion is in fact a religion of peace, both doctrinally and historically. With that said, people of all religious claims are capable of and have perpetrated horrific acts. I was raised Christian. That does not take away the fact that the Christian Crusades were a terrifying time in world history. We must continue to judge people based on their individual actions. I feel that the Muslim community is quite vigilant in there efforts to promote peace. The question we need ponder is whether individuals who practice violence are in fact Muslim in practice, or simply in voice.

I do not mean this an an argumentative way. I completely respect the question you asked, as well as your point of view. I just want to give another option for how we could look at the same issue.

Thank you.

Answer 2

Hello,

This is a common question *rhetoric* that people have.

The Question is who do you want to hear condemning the horrific acts of terrorism.

I can give you numerous examples of Muslim Organizations, Leaders from Muslim countries and Muslim Scholars, condemning the terrorist acts.
(this is what I found on google for you)
http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php

If you want to hear if the common people (Muslims) condem the terrorists, then go talk to them and ask them.

I am a Muslim, and I condem the Acts of the Terrorists.
Having said that .. if you ask me to stand everyday on the corner of the street and say this .. then I will say go and ......
Similarly, if there is an event like the 9/11 there have been numerous Muslims organizations/scholars and leader who have condemed the terrorist acts. They don't do that every day.

Its like asking the priests to stand up every day and condem the molestations some of them are doing to their own people.

So, Please people before riding the band wagon check and see if the statements are true. Talk to a Muslim and see what their thoughts are.
Read about the many muslims who lost their lives in the same terrorist acts.


May Allah grant us all peace.

Answer 3

I spent over 2 years living in Saudi Arabia, I have been around many Muslims and they will never speak ill of people within their religion. Islam is a religion of peace but they believe as part of their religion that Islam is the only true religion and there is no room within Islam for the existence of any other religion. Within Islam if you are not Islam you are a non-believer. So even if you believe in GOD in any way except Islam you are still a non-believer. Within Islam non-believers are not acceptable.

Answer 4

Think about it: which is more appealing to the general public:
a. some religious people talking about peace, tolerance and interfaith dialogue
b. wild riots, car bombs and exploding bodies

Idealistically people would be more drawn to what the majority of Muslims have to say, but realistically it's a different story. Blood, gore, sin, insanity and dirty laundry are what draws in the ratings (just look at the cinema lineups), so that's how the media decides what to show the world.

Have you ever seen any of this on t.v.? In a newspaper? Yahoo news?
http://www.m-a-t.org/
http://www.freemuslims.org/
http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/muslim_voices_against_extremism_and_terrorism_2/
http://www.muhajabah.com/otherscondemn.php
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8740980
http://www.beliefnet.com/gallery/terrorist.html
http://www.mvp-us.org/
http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060902/NEWS/609020314/-1/State
http://www.cair.com/AmericanMuslims/AntiTerrorism/FatwaAgainstTerrorism.aspx
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2005&m=July&x=20050721173921xbtterrets0.2144586&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=AM0109-335
http://www.muslimsforamerica.us/about/index.html
http://www.islamfortoday.com/america05.htm
http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/040430/muslim.shtml
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61654-2004May27.html
http://seenonslash.com/node/92
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8569164/
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-28-us-muslim-terror_x.htm?csp=34
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/5111092.stm
http://www.islamawareness.net/Terrorism/
http://muslimsforasafeamerica.org/?p=36

Answer 5

Good, kind, reasonable, intelligent people do not make interesting news. This is true for any religion. That is why we always see the fanatics from opposite extremes
"representing" religions. Moderate voices aren't going to make the news... ever. We may have the most voices but no one is interested in putting a microphone up to our mouth and actually turning on a tape.

Answer 6

I know what you mean. In Britain after the 7/7 tube bombings, everyone waited for the moderate muslims to speak up but it did not happen. Yet they managed to quickly organise rallies and marches protesting over the Danish cartoons.

It would just be nice if they could be as vocal in denouncing terrorism, that's all.

Answer 7

Yeah, why are Muslims so silent about extremists and violence? With their silence, it's implied that they secretly support the work of fundamentalists. And this is what I truly believe. Or could it be that, they don't need to defend their religion b/c they do not need validation from others?

Answer 8

Absolutely not. Like you said, it is a religion of peace. But like in any religion, you have extremists. The press always publishes stories about violence, but never attempts at peace. Just because it isn't in the news does not mean that there aren't Muslims out there speaking up against the extremists.

Answer 9

Do not group an entire group of those who follow a religion based entirely on the actions of radical extremists. That is half the problem.

Muslim leaders most likely don't bother speaking out, because the only people who actually believe all Muslims are that way are the ones who believe everything they see on TV, and are more ignorant than a doorknob.

Answer 10

You took the words right out of my fingertips :-) Until we start to hear from the majority of Muslims who are, one hopes, good, decent human beings, they will continue to be visible only through their more-vocal radical members, who, by definition, would not seem to be a valid or appropriate voice for mainstream Islam.