The terrorist attack in Boston was certainly cruel and horrifying. For me it was also painfully disturbing because the main suspects are Muslims. The two Chechen brothers who were captured by the Boston police — one dead, the other battling for his life — seem to fit into the typical “militant Islamist” category.
After leading relatively secular and modern life in the US, the older one, Tamerlan, at least, had probably undergone a “radicalization” process back in the Caucasus.
Of course, nothing is clear yet. It is not even clear whether these two young men are really the culprits. Yet the unfolding of the events has been enough for the media to conclude that this is yet another case of terrorism in the name of Islam. A recent piece in the Wall Street Journal says: “Make no mistake, it was jihad.”
Therefore, unless a big surprise comes up — contrary to what is being reported now — during the course of the investigation that is under way, the Boston attacks will go down in the record as something related with Islam. And it will make lives of Muslims in the West much more difficult.
Of course, no extremist can ever represent a whole community, let alone the Muslims of the whole world. That is why we call them extremists. Yet, it is inevitable that the crimes of the few, especially since they are committed in the name of Islam, will raise questions about the attitudes of all Muslims.
Therefore, it is imperative that Muslims, especially Western Muslims, speak out on this issue. They should try to convince their respective societies that these attacks have nothing to do with Islam in a reasonable and compelling way.
This rarely happens, though. Hence the West keeps asking, “Why do moderate Muslims not speak out?” In fact, this is sometimes an unfair question, because the Muslims who do speak out are hardly highlighted by the Western media. The media, after all, believes “whatever bleeds leads,” and whoever is radical and disturbing should make the news. — Samaoen Osman, Cape Town, South Africa
Boston Marathon bombings
