New York terror attack: Why not just terrorism, Muslim-bashing is equally condemnable

Once again the ugly head of Muslim-bashing rose in the wake of New York terror attack on Tuesday.

New York, Nov 1: Terror definitely has no place in a civilised world. But it seems there is a licence to vilify Muslims and Islam, mostly on social media.

As the news of New York terror attack spread like a wildfire across the world, once again Muslim-bashing made its comeback on Twitter.

On Tuesday, a terrorist in a pickup truck plowed through a bike path in New York, United States, leaving eight dead and several injured.

The ghastly episode called an "act of terror" by Mayor Bill de Blasio brought back the memories of September 11, 2001 terror attacks which killed at least 3,000 people in New York and other parts of the US

The alleged perpetrator is Sayfullo Saipov, 29, of Tampa, Florida, a law enforcement official told The Daily Beast. Saipov reportedly immigrated to the US from Uzbekistan in 2010.

A law enforcement official told The Daily Beast a witness saw Saipov exit the truck and shout "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great" in Arabic. Law enforcement recovered a note near the truck "that indicated allegiance to ISIS," the New York Times reported. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said "there is no evidence to suggest a wider plot or a wider scheme."

As the details about the barbaric act came to light about the involvement of a Muslim man, who reportedly chanted Allahu Akbar after killing and injuring so many people, and his allegiance to ISIS, several Twitter users instead of condemning the terrorist and his organisation, decided to target Muslims and Islam.

The whole phenomenon of Muslim-bashing is not new. It becomes more active and toxic every time a terror attack takes place anywhere in the world. It is the same Islamophobia from which American President Donald Trump also suffers from because of which he wants to "ban" entry of Muslims into the country.

Immediately after the terror attack in New York, Trump once again spoke about his vetting programme for foreign nationals.

I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

Trump, who has long advocated tougher screening of immigrants and other policies designed to prevent terrorism in the US, did not specify which vetting program he was referring to or how it would change under his latest order.

On a day when terror revisited America, Trump's tweet on vetting programme is likely to create confusion and panic among the Muslim community in the country which has been targeted on several occasions by the President and his administration.

Trump is probably the most high-profile proponent of the theory of Islamophobia. According to experts, "Islamophobia is defined as an intense dislike or fear of Islam, especially as a political force; hostility or prejudice towards Muslims".

Visit any social media site and you will get to meet hundreds of clones of Trump.
So, on Tuesday the likes of Trump stormed Twitter like a swarm of bees to target and tarnish Muslims. All they said is that Islam is a religion of terror and violence and all Muslims are terrorists.

Sample these outrageous tweets, which the social media giant actually needs to scrutinise to check if they are inciting violence by communalising terrorism:

Stop snatching away our Right to live u Goddamn Muslims.
Wake up World Leaders.We need ruthless actions & not condemnation#ManhattanAttack

— 🇮🇳 श्वेता सिंह (@swetasinghsinha) November 1, 2017

RETWEET If you're in favor of a strict Muslim ban! And you want the Democrats and CNN to stop helping terrorists!#ManhattanAttack pic.twitter.com/LS3Lt5BHUp

— 🚨Josh Cornett🚨 (@therealcornett) November 1, 2017

If he styles his beard like this he is either a terrorist now or he's a terrorist in waiting

This is a TERRORIST Beard! #ManhattanAttack pic.twitter.com/yp7zY42YuJ

— Peter McConeghy (@petersthoughts) November 1, 2017

The hatred against Islam has spread so much that now people have started associating a certain kind of beard with terrorists.

Islamophobia has swept the entire world and these tweets are a tragic testimony to it.
As Sharmeen Ziauddin, a blogger-journalist, wrote that it is "incredible that Islam and Muslims are interrogated and harassed on a daily basis over social media."

"It just doesn't happen to people of other faiths. There are people who have Twitter accounts for the main purpose of vilifying and insulting Islam. There are hundreds whose profiles reflect this," Ziauddin added.

Is it that only Muslims are killing people, others not? People from other religions have got nothing to do with any crime, be it murder, rape or burglary?

If no, then condemn all religions, or else stop associating Islam with terrorism.

OneIndia News