The outlaws have been given enough time to turn themselves in and were allowed every opportunity to engage in dialogue. Despite all these gestures they have refused to come to their senses. Instead they see the offer as a sign of weakness.
Now that the terrorists have refused to listen to reason and turn themselves in, there should be no more talk with these murderers, robbers and criminals. We have in the past refused to engage in talks with lesser criminals. The terrorists are bent on killing, destroying and terrorizing and don’t know how to engage in dialogue. Their criminal record and the psychological disturbances they suffer have made them exploitable by those with their own agenda.
The state and society would have preferred a peaceful approach. Those of them who agree to give themselves up were guaranteed personal safety and will be tried according to the Islamic law. Scholars have been explaining to them the gravity of their acts, telling them they have deviated from the right path. But all this has fallen on deaf ears and the outlaws went on listening to their own religious leaders.
Many argue that the best way to address this phenomenon is an intellectual approach. This is true, but it has to be remembered that an intellectual or ideological solution takes a long time. We don’t have that time.
More importantly, these people have proved that they are impervious to argument. Their minds and souls are so rotten they are incurable, and the only effective treatment is killing them. However, argument could work with some of the young whose mind and souls are not yet contaminated beyond repair. By the young I mean those under 22 years of age. A reasoned approach does not mean negotiating with them but rather explaining to them their treacherous acts and how they contradict Islamic teachings.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has told us that we will encounter outlaws until the day of judgment. He ordered us to kill them whenever we find them.
All calls for a dialogue with these individuals should stop immediately. There must be no more excuses — that they are misled, that they are good people who have strayed from the right path. They are too deaf and blind to heed any call for dialogue or see a peaceful way.
