When the 2005 London bombings took place, I was on my way to the school bus as I heard what had just happened. I couldn’t believe it was true until I got home and saw all the pictures on the news. This time the pictures, notifications and reports flooded in from everywhere and so did the heroic brave stories of those who tried to help the victims and the police who put themselves in between the danger and the public - ready to sacrifice their lives. This time I didn’t care if it was a Muslim or not because it didn’t matter and never does since all terrorists share the same ideology - that of hate. I cared how we’d react. Jo Cox’s murder is always in the back of my mind because I still don’t believe our nation as a whole woke up that day to the toxic effects of divisive speech, suspicion and hate. This time, while I was shaken, shocked, and terribly aghast at the vile nature of the attack, my heart felt a sense of pride at our nation’s response to such reprehensible deeds. Columnist Simon Jenkins made a sagacious point, one which the Muslim leader, Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has also made in the past. The Caliph said: “Publicity is the oxygen sustaining most terrorist or extremist groups." Mr. Jenkins said: “The terrorists’ aim is not just to kill a few but to terrify a multitude. For politicians and media to overreact would play into their hands.” That is, publicity is the oxygen which extremists thrive on and rather than overreact and publicise terror acts, giving them notoriety, we should focus on the great work of the public and emergency services. Many were inspired by the brave attempts of Bournemouth MP, Tobias Ellwood who desperately tried to save PC Keith Palmer by administering CPR. Politicians showed solidarity and resolve as they were locked in the Commons Chambers tweeting how they had heard gunshots and had little idea of what happened. The Prime Minister likewise rightly condemned the ‘sick and depraved’ attack. They didn’t cower or express fear but remained calm and composed as you’d hope your leaders would in such times as these. It gives hope our country is still run by talented, professional and sincere individuals. Perhaps even more inspiring were the emergency services who we just never appreciate enough. Doctors and nurses literally ran from nearby St. Thomas’s Hospital to the scene at Westminster bridge where passers-by were helping the injured. This is how our nation comes together and good overcomes evil. The police were mobilised within minutes and videos emerged of policeman at Westminster evacuating the area, trying to save the public, shouting for them to get under cover. Extra patrols were deployed across the country overnight to protect citizens and armed officers stood guard everywhere. Likewise our intelligence and security services’ work made this the exception, not the rule. Fifty attacks have been averted by counter-terrorism police since 7/7 but this was one they didn’t see coming. Investigators will continue to make raids and arrests and capture anyone else linked to the attacker and their quiet work behind the scenes keeps us safe in the long run. Brendon Cox has become the voice of reason since his wife’s murder in trying to build bridges and continue his wife’s work in that regard. He expressed heartening thoughts saying the ‘sense of public support’ and ‘thousand of acts of kindness’ helped him in the aftermath. Messages of hope have been drawn on the floor at Trafalgar Square and last night a vigil took place where members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community stood alongside all others with large banners saying ‘love for all, hatred for none’, wearing t-shirts with the words ‘I am a Muslim’ so everyone knows how Islam stands for loyalty and unity. They reiterated the point that the Qur’an teaches whosoever kills an innocent person, it’s as if they’ve killed all mankind, and whosoever saves a life, it’s as if they’ve saved all mankind. With the efforts of the public and emergency services, humanity was saved more times than it was killed when the crazed man drove across Westminster bridge. Masood was criminal turned terrorist. He can never be a reason to divide us or a reason to think his actions were inspired by any religious motive. He had previous convictions and was involved with petty crime at a young age - like others who turn out as killers.
Brendon Cox was again the one to respond with the wisest of words: “We have to remember that the person who did this is no more representative of British Muslims than the person who killed Jo is representative of people that are from Yorkshire." Normal services resumed the day after and Parliament was in session as usual. Even though this tube sign which went viral turned out to be fake, it perfectly summed up the British response: ‘All terrorists are politely reminded that THIS IS LONDON and whatever you do to us, we will drink tea and jolly well carry on.’ Even if one tube message was fake, at least this one was real: ‘The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of them all.’ Never have more pertinent words been written. After this attack, the greatness of our nation reveals itself even more. Now more than ever, it’s vital to not only appreciate the great things about this wonderful nation, but also to respond with that much more love, trust and unity towards every single person who lives alongside us in modern Britain.
0 Comments
Muslim leader and Hiroshima survivor to warn of nuclear war and urge for peace after London terror3/23/2017 This month, Hiroshima survivor Ms. Setsuko Thurlow will give a speech in London as she claims the 2017 ‘Advancement of Peace’ Prize presented by the Caliph of the oldest Muslim organisation in Britain. It’s for her anti-nuclear activism describing the horrors of living through nuclear devastation in what she calls ‘hell on earth’. We must listen to what she has to say, especially in light of repeated warnings a nuclear war is on the horizon. She was 13 when the bombs fell in her homeland and now campaigns for nuclear disarmament. In a politically tense and nuclear-filled world, hearing what the survivor of an atomic bomb has to say will be the most sagacious approach to preventing a repeat of a tragedy that could conceivably hit any city in the world - such are the wide-ranging nuclear capabilities of nations today. Nine countries possess more than 15,000 nuclear weapons. Modern day conflicts and violence could easily lead to the conclusion that man has forgotten the death and carnage caused by former generations. Centuries of human violence, bloodshed and wars see no end with only 10 countries considered free from conflict according to the Global Peace Index. The seemingly great strides in unity, pluralism and civility after World War 2 face ruin with populism, terrorism and war ripping through any endeavour of peace today. Forecasts of a third global war are increasingly being made with some suggesting the stage is already set, while others believe it has already begun. For example, in the buildup to World War 2, far-right nationalist parties gained ground, the League of Nations proved ineffective and economic recession had hit the markets hard. It just sounds ever too familiar. Today we have a UN ineffective at dealing with the conflicts, poverty and war widely prevalent, creeping far-right movements in Europe and America and erratic global financial markets. The similitudes are deafening. Echos of the Cold War reverberate almost daily and the great powers are already at war, albeit a proxy war with Syria the biggest victim of the power struggle. The outlook seems bleak in the grand scheme of things but there can still be found glimmers of light and hope. The keynote speaker at the event who will present the peace prize, His Holiness Caliph Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has long been warning of the devastating effects of nuclear war. He said at a previous conference: “The weapons available today are so destructive that they could lead to generation after generation of children being born with severe genetic or physical defects. Drinking water, food and vegetation will be all contaminated by radiation. We can only imagine what type of diseases such contamination will lead to. It is my ardent wish and hope that the leaders of all major nations come to understand this dreadful reality. And so instead of adopting aggressive policies and utilising force to achieve their aims and objectives, they should strive to adopt policies that promote and secure justice.” Meanwhile, NGOs, charities and activists like Ms. Setsuko Thurlow continue in their efforts to disarm nations of destructive weapons. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is advocating a ban on nuclear weapons in the same category as chemical and biological weapons. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is joined by 191 states including 5 of the nine possessing nuclear armaments. Only India, Israel and Pakistan are the nuclear powers who haven’t signed up. Ms.Thurlow says the excuse of a deterrent is nonsense. “We have been lucky the past 71 years but we can’t keep pushing our luck. As long as those weapons exist, we keep competing and are leading ourselves to catastrophe. She frequently tells her story of experiencing the bombs as a schoolgirl in Japan, urging for the complete abolition of the catastrophic weapons. Both her and the Caliph are expected to speak on the issue when she’s presented with the accolade for her efforts. The peace prize is awarded by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community at the annual Peace Symposium in the UK’s biggest Mosque, based in Morden. Previous winners include Lord Eric Avebury and Abdul Sattar Edhi. It will take place on the 25th of March and I for one will be eager to hear what both have to say. |
AuthorAtif Rashid writes about faith, extremism & mental health. Categories
All
Archives
August 2021
|