Originally published in The Boston Globe
MY HEART sank as I received dreadful news that three innocent Muslim students had been murdered by Craig Hicks, a vocal anti-theist. Being a Muslim, I suddenly began to question my safety from such a hate crime.
Although the motive of the culprit is still unknown, it goes without saying that there is a rise in anti-Islam rhetoric in the US. For example, Duke University recently rescinded an initial decision to allow the Muslim call to prayer after threats of financial boycotts from Christian evangelist Franklin Graham.
America, and especially its media, must focus on how one of the victims, Deah Barakat, practiced true Islam by raising money to visit Turkey to offer free dental care to Syrian refugees. If this does not show love and affection for humanity, then what does?
