I read with interest the article “Civil society against terror” (Aug. 2) by Dominique Moisi. The French response to the recent terror attacks is likely to work in favor of the radicals. The terrorist organization, Daesh, is on the back foot in Syria and Iraq.
Daesh knows the usual response of western governments in the wake of terror attacks — scrutiny of Muslims, increased vigilantism and a new wave of Islamophobia. This scenario works for radical outfits, as they find it easy to brainwash young Muslims, who are not well-versed with the teachings of Islam, into joining their ranks.
All of us need to take effective measures against Daesh. The western powers should understand that Muslims are the prime targets of terrorist organizations because the majority of Muslims don’t support their nefarious agenda.
Instead of taking harsh measures that might hurt French Muslims, the French authorities should organize a conference inviting leading religious figures from the Muslim world who could educate the French people about Islam. I believe that the military option against radicalism may not prove to be very effective. We need to launch an intellectual battle to root out this menace, which is threatening global peace.
Daesh’s trap
