Originally published in The Baltimore Sun Recently, three Muslim youth were murdered in North Carolina by an extremist atheist (“Police investigate hate crime theory after 3 slain in N.C.,” Feb. 12). But I won’t ever read about this in the mainstream media due to a troubling double standard. Whenever a Muslim murders someone, the media immediately associates his faith, and all...
Originally published in Duluth News Tribune We interrupt this transmission for breaking news. America has been struck by another terrorist attack, this time in Chapel Hill, N.C. A Muslim gunman shot dead three innocent students near the University of North Carolina campus. FBI and local law enforcement authorities are looking into this terrorist activity. The FBI is conducting a door-to-door...
Originally published in Houston Chronicle Regarding “Police hunt gunman who killed 12 at weekly” (Page A4, Thursday), as a Muslim-American, I condemn the reprehensible atrocities and extend my profound condolences to the families of these victims. While the perpetrators felt that the Charlie Hebdo newspaper had desecrated the image of the Prophet Muhammad, they responded by...
Originally published in Providence Journal We have just witnessed a horrific and inexcusable act of terror take place in Paris. Having close friends and family living in Paris, I am shaken to the core by the heinous attack by gunmen at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. As a Muslim, I unequivocally condemn this barbaric act that has nothing to do with the Islam I know and love. These terrorists...
Originally published in Onfaith Wednesday’s brazen attack in the offices of French magazine Charlie Hebdo has left many people the world over shocked, saddened, and even infuriated. As the smoke cleared and we learned that 12 people were killed at the hands of three individuals wearing commando uniforms who brandished automatic weapons that were fired indiscriminately at the office, we...
Originally published in Onfaith woke today to texts, emails, tweets, and Facebook messages of the horrific attack on Charlie Hebdo. The stabbing pain of innocent life lost resonated through my heart. These are volatile times, and this volatile situation only adds to the fire. As one of some 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide, the additional inescapable thought crossed my mind: “Please don’t let...
Originally Published in The Baltimore Sun The First Amendment guarantees the right of peaceful assembly for the redress of grievances. But what is peaceful about the destruction of homes and the burning of buildings across Baltimore? (“Baltimore descends into chaos, violence, looting,” April 28.) The protests have been anything but peaceful and have spurred violent...
Originally published in the Tulsa World My Sept. 19 morning started off most joyfully as my wife was granted citizenship in a beautiful ceremony at the U.S. District Court in Muskogee. I hardly had a chance to appreciate this great privilege, when I saw the disturbing headline about a man in Moore, said to have been a Muslim convert, committing a most horrific act. My heart aches on hearing the...
Originally published in NewsOK Regarding “Both sides due criticism in Oklahoma-Islam flap” (Your Views, Sept. 21): State Rep. John Bennett’s wholesale condemnation of Islam paints a negative picture of Oklahoma. That’s why I appreciated that The Oklahoman repudiated Bennett’s remarks. But I must take exception to one statement in the editorial: “CAIR and other Islamic groups should be more...
Originally published in the Allen American Instead of benefiting from the last days of the holy month of Ramadan, a mob ransacked, looted, and set fire to 8 Ahmadi homes in Gujranwala, Pakistan on July 27. A grandmother and her granddaughters, a 7 year-old and 8 month-old girl, died of suffocation, a 7 month pregnant female suffered a miscarriage, and 8 others are being treated for injuries and...