Originally published in The Press Enterprise The horrific killing of at least 132 schoolchildren and nine adults by the Taliban in Pakistan saddens me tremendously as a parent, a Muslim and a son of Pakistani immigrants. There is no place for this senseless violence. It must be condemned in the strongest terms. The Pakistani government must come down hard on these cowards who are an embarrassment...
Originally published on Syraquse.com With the holidays around the corner, how must one feel when one moment they’re happily purchasing gourmet chocolate for their families, and the next they’re taken hostage and forced to hold up what is believed to be an ISIS flag. Because of such militant groups, there is an ongoing trend towards radicalization of youth around the world. As members...
Originally published in the Baltimore Sun I am appalled by the disclosures of the CIA’s torture report on the treatment of suspected terrorist detainees (“Report condemns CIA over torture,” Dec. 10). Not only does the treatment defy the Geneva Conventions to which we subscribe, they undermine our moral standing as a nation. I thought that such actions were beneath our dignity...
Originally publish in the New Haven Register Halloween was over a month ago — a day to revel over ghoulish characters and hideous images. And now we are supposed to be in a season of merry. These days, though, it seems like scenes reminiscent of Halloween continue to haunt us. The latest dread is the report released last Tuesday by the Senate Intelligence Committee about the CIA’s use of torture...
Originally published on InsideNova This letter is in response to a story on InsideNoVa.com entitled “Possible ISIS leaflets found in town of Quantico.” Over the past year, there are many examples of youth being attracted by extremists such as ISIS. As a member of Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), it is clear that we need to offer Islamic solution to this problem of...
Originally published in Faith Street I remember having to explain to my then three-year-old why the Taliban shot Malala. It was a difficult conversation because he loves Malala, but it was easy to explain why killing is wrong and that the Taliban is evil. The world condemned the Taliban and, thankfully, Malala survived. So when my now-five-year-old asked me why “they” killed Eric Garner, and why...
Originally published in Foreign Affairs Last week’s massacre of 132 schoolchildren in Peshawar by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was horrific. It sparked a wave of sympathy—world leaders expressed their solidarity with the country—and also criticism—for years, Pakistan has given safe haven to terrorist groups. TTP’s ghastly attack in Peshawar was hardly surprising. In the spring of 2010...
Originally published in The Tulsa World Each time I see a news headline with a link between Islam and terrorism my heart sinks. These past few hours as I watch and read about the hostage situation in Sydney I have had the same sinking feeling as I see yet another shocking story of possible terrorism. These acts of terrorism are becoming more and more prevalent with many of the perpetrators...
Originally published in The Huffignton Post The ISIS menace, the atrocities of Syria, the chronic violence between Palestine and Israel, and the current siege on Gaza are a sign of spiritual entropy and political immorality. The political immorality is clear from ongoing civilian casualties. ISIS is killing innocent Christians, 700 Syrians have died in just the past few days, and some 75 percent...
Originally published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer In response to the Boston Tea Party, King George III ordered a blockade of Boston Harbor. Concerned by the anticipated economic strain, our Founding Fathers turned, not to arms or protest, but to God. In the summer of 1774, Thomas Jefferson drafted a “Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer” resolution. And so, on June 1, 1774, among...