Another attack tarnishes Islam’s reputation: #tellusatoday

Letter to the editor:

Yet another terrorist attack in France sends shock waves across the globe. The fact that this individual has acted in a criminal and inhumane way is unquestionable. We, the Muslims of the Ahmadiyya community, are truly saddened by the devastating Bastille Day attack in Nice. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their loved ones.

To our utter dismay, the truck driver involved in the attack bears the same name as the holy founder of Islam, Mohammed. However, his action neither bears any connection to Islam nor to prophet Mohammed. The Quran emphatically and unambigiously declares that the one who kills an innocent human being is as if he has killed all of humanity.

The problem? It’s important to understand that due to a lack of spiritual leadership, Muslim youth undergo sporadic and discontinuous reformation, which creates a void in their understanding of religion. This void is subsequently exploited by terrorists to forward their distorted narrative.

The solution? As a counter-narrative, Ahmadi Muslims have launched a nationwide campaign of True Islam And The Extremists. The objective of this campaign is to give the correct and peaceful meaning of Islam to achieve everlasting peace.

Nayyar Ahmed, Ph.D.; Pittsburgh

Facebook comments are edited for clarity, length and grammar:

Whether the Islamic State terrorist group was actually responsible doesn’t matter at this time. The idea that it would approve of the actions of what this horrible person did is further proof of how horrible ISIL is.

— Jim Reid

This doesn’t actually sound like it had anything to do with ISIL, except that it “inspired” the attacks, and even that is not clear. How was he inspired? By just watching ISIL on TV?

— Ron Galinato

This attack perhaps had no ties to any terrorist organization. The attacker was no doubt inspired by ISIL.

ISIL waits to see if these attacks are successful, then claims responsibility for credibility.

— Fred Clemens

ISIL needs to show evidence that ties this guy to its cause or it doesn’t get credit for it. The news media are so enamored with terrorism that even some degranged, depressed and self-motivated killer is linked automatically to a terror group.

— Mickey Mc

Our followers shared their thoughts on the recent attack in Nice, France. Twitter comments are edited for clarity, length and grammar:

Islamic extremists kill all ethnicities equally. Just ask Muslim victims in Iraq, Syria, Africa, etc.

— @UriBlago

God has true followers in every religion. So do the evil powers. We pray for the wisdom to discern who is who.

— @maewertz

Very sad. Heinous act of violence. Praying for all those who lost their lives and their loved ones.

— @MozAquamarine

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