The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Don't blame religion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 13, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Don't blame religion

The article "Blame politics, not Islam" (July 12) clearly illustrates that it is not Islam but fundamentalist sects that propagate violence and hatred. Post-9/11 Islam has been branded as inherently violent, while nearly all religions have fundamentalists. The teachings of Sayyid Qutb constitute only a minor school of thought in the Muslim world. Nations and individuals should refrain from giving such overarching labels to any religion because it fosters division and hatred.

Krishna Murali,
Chennai

* * *

When jihad takes the form of terrorism, it amounts to the abuse of Islam. If Islam continues to be represented by terrorists like Osama bin Laden, and Muslims fail to present to the modern world their true image, theirs will become the most isolated community.

Omar Luther King,
New Delhi

* * *

As Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, it is appropriate for the Islamic clergy and religious authorities in all countries to issue a fatwa to the followers against indulging in any act of terrorism.

K.P.G. Menon,
Ottapalam, Kerala

* * *

It is a paradox that the West expects the rest of the world to see terrorism through its eyes. The carpet-bombing of Kabul and Baghdad was justified as a necessary step to crush evil forces and the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq is called a legitimate act of `war on terror'. Are these not forms of terror?

S. Sultan Mohiddin,
Cuddapah, A.P.

* * *

It has become customary to blame a community, religion or nationality for notorious activities, which is unfortunate. Can the Hindu community be faulted because the Kanchi Sankaracharyas were arrested on a murder charge?

R. Srinivasan,
Chennai

* * *

As rightly pointed out, the IRA bombings are never referred to as `Catholic' terrorism. Also, there is a tendency to refer only to bombings as acts of terror. The Gujarat riots are not referred to as terrorism, let alone being attributed to a religion.

S. Haja Mohideen,
Chennai

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