The international community should act swiftly to rescue the Nigerian girls abducted by Boko Haram. Everybody is condemning the act but what we need now is action against this terrorist organization and to eliminate this menace once and for all. It needs concerted efforts from the world. We must not let Nigeria slip into the hands of Boko Haram. These terrorist organizations should be dealt with an iron fist. It is unfortunate that such groups start their activities in the name of Islam and also succeed in finding followers. We should study the reason behind this phenomenon to better combat such groups. Be it Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda or the Tehreek-e-Taleban Pakistan (TTP), none of them represent Muslims or Islam. The international media should stop referring to them as Islamist jihadists. Muslims around the world take offense to such references. These groups are not acting on the teachings of Islam and we Muslims don’t consider this jihad or “holy war.”

As a matter of fact, we oppose their ideology tooth and nail and wish to extirpate this ideology from the face of the world. These people are nothing but power hungry elements who are using the name of Islam.

Rashid Khan

Alkhobar