In the wake of militancy in the Middle East, and a large number of youngsters going the Daesh way, there has been an increase in hate attacks against the Muslims.
Published: Thu 28 Apr 2016, 12:00 AM
Updated: Thu 28 Apr 2016, 2:00 AM
The cold-blooded murder of a Muslim couple in San Jose, California, could be an act of Islamophobia. Ghulam Rabbi (59) and his wife Shamima (57) were shot dead inside their home, and their bodies were recovered by police as friends and relatives reported that they haven't heard from them for days. But a grisly message found near their bodies has raised alarms. The piece of paper found at the crime scene said: "Sorry, my first kill was clumsy." The couple had emigrated to the US from Bangladesh and lived a low-profile life. The plot thickens as one of the two sons of the deceased is missing. Local media reported that a 'diatribe' was found written on the wall claiming that Shamima begged for life as she was being killed. This makes it a case of hate-crime with vested interests bent upon fanning communal strife in the country.
Islamophobia is not new to the US. In the wake of militancy in the Middle East, and a large number of youngsters going the Daesh way, there has been an increase in hate attacks against the Muslims. Terrorist attacks in Paris, Brussels and San Bernardino have crippled the coexistence equation between Muslims and other communities of Europe and America. President Barack Obama, taking cognizance of the situation, had called for tolerance and slammed the sentiments of otherness in the society. The new wave of discriminatory acts against Muslims is unprecedented, and it necessitates not only confidence building measures but also a new social contract. It is a fallacy to equate terrorism with any religion or community, and this is what people across the board should understand. Muslims are as patriot as any other communities in their respective societies. Hate and homicide attacks are serving no purpose other than pushing the Muslims to the edges.