SAMIRA JAMIL is a Libyan woman who has lived in Malta for a long time.In the light of what is happening around the world and the misconceptions about Muslims and the Islamic religion , she wanted to share her thoughts:

“In the aftermath of the Paris massacres, as I read the condemnations from Muslims all over the world, and there have been many, two thoughts cross my mind. Firstly, I wonder if these condemnations will ever be good enough or loud enough for many who feel that Muslims should all take responsibility for such atrocities? Secondly, I wonder if calls for such condemnations from Muslims will serve to further entrench the stereotype that Muslims are inextricably linked to violence?

In the space of two weeks hundreds of precious lives have been lost at the hands of terrorists claiming to represent Islam; 224 onboard the Russian jet, 42 in Beirut, 127 in Paris and counting, not to mention the many migrants who have lost their lives fleeing countries in the grip of IS.

I am mourning on many levels. My heart aches for all humanity. I mourn fellow humans who have lost their lives at the hands of these fanatics. I mourn the Islam that I, and the majority of the 1.6 billion Muslims were brought up with and live by, qualities including compassion, forgiveness, charity, humility, honesty, an Islam which has been tainted by a minority of extremists through their warped misinterpretations.

These disillusioned fanatics do not represent me nor do they represent the majority of peace loving Muslims. It seems that it is much easier to tarnish all Muslims with the same tainted brush rather than to keep an open mind. We should never judge the majority by the actions of a minority. We do not hate all Germans for what the Nazis did to the Jews nor, by the same token, do we hate all Christians for what the crusaders have done.

“Are we encouraging our youth to question those imams who spew hatred at their sermons and incite these impressionable youngsters into committing such acts of terror..?”

As Muslims, we have to do some real soul searching and take stock of what is happening around us and why it’s happening. And there’s no better starting point than from within the confines of our own homes. Are we instilling strong values and morals in our children? Are we providing them with the right education to empower them to discuss, debate, not to follow blindly and to resist being fertile ground for brainwashing? Are we teaching them tolerance and acceptance of others who may not share our beliefs and culture? Are we teaching our children to feel superior to non-Muslims? The Quran teaches us that there is no lawful basis of one man’s superiority over the other except on the basis of moral excellence. Are we encouraging our youth to question those imams who spew hatred at their sermons and incite these impressionable youngsters into committing such acts of terror instead of providing guidance on the texts and advocating an interpretation of Islam to fit into today’s changing world and not a world long past?

Although it is difficult for Muslims to see the light when the darkness is so thick around us, I believe we must let it shine through us.
While Facebook urges us to change our profile pictures to support the people of Paris, how about honouring all the other nationalities whose lives have been lost?

Each life lost is one life too many and deserves our respect, grief and compassion.”