Sunio: April 3 is ‘Punish a Muslim’ Day

SICK anonymous letters have been circulated in communities in England about the ‘Punish a Muslim’ Day on April 3. The sender described it as a way to take initiative to fight off the pain and fear that the Muslims have caused.Will fighting like such really solve the problems they stated on the letter – or is it just another excuse to lash out their violent tendencies?

The sender described what seems to be a game that offers a vague point system: You get 10 points if you verbally abuse a Muslim, 25 points for pulling off a Muslima’s veil, 50 points for throwing acid on the face of a Muslim, 100 for beating up one, and higher points for doing more violent actions such as murder and bombing a Mosque.

The letter has caused fear and distress among Muslim communities in England. Members have already planned out safety routes and actions incase people would ‘participate in the game’.

The alarm has already prompted investigations by the counterterrorism police.

By introducing the event, they have undervalued the lives of other people just because of their religious affiliation, making them no more than targets in a shooting game or carnival that need to be taken downin order to earn a prize.Pokémon Go as a game could have been better than this tasteless game. At least it teaches you to take care of a creature.

Until the vile culprit is found, there is restlessness in the Muslim communities in the country. If you were in their shoes, how would you feel that you are about to be hunted down in a vile game of revenge and violence?

For years, Islamophobia has not only costed damages to property and injuries, many lives of innocent Muslims have already been on the line – or have been completely lost.

According to a report by the New York Times, citing Home Office Statistics, the number of reported hate crimes in England and Wales alone is 80,393 in 2016 to 2017. Some of the actions include arsons attacks in Muslim Mosques and schools with casualties. Since recording, the hate crimes have increased by 29 percent since 2011.

I would not blame them for feeling wrathful about shooting incidents orattacks by terrorist groups. But just because the reports also disclosed the perpetrators’ religion or nationality doesn’t mean that the whole Muslim population should also incur the same rage. They do not deserve anyone’s revenge just because they are Muslims.These people have no participation or contribution to whatever catastrophe the extremists have caused.

Just because some Muslim extremists did the crime doesn’t mean that you start hating the entire population – or overgeneralize andmake the religion itself liable.

You do not blame a whole community or race for the mistake of a few persons.

You think they’ve hurt you – and now you also want to hurt them in return. Because the reports scared you doesn’t mean that the whole population that, by chance, had the same religion or nationality as the culprit, deserve to be terrified as well. Nor do they deserve a share of violence.

It’s just like any other stories of revolution in history: The more you inflict pain to others – even if you self-righteously think they deserve it – the more you push them to their tipping point to act vengefully. You then contribute to the recurrence the cycle of violence, hurt, and hate.

By continually feeding the culture of hate and violence towards Muslims, you push the extremists you were supposed to fear to further execute plans against the majority.Your actions might even instigate more people to turn into extremists for being tired of all the violence and hate that they were not supposed to duly receive, but still did.

Islamophobia is a dire problem – and an infectious one. So is the culture of peace. If you want to stop the discord caused by ‘Muslim terrorists’, violence and hating them further will not cut it. The culture of peace and respect, which should start with you, will do it better.

*****

rizsunio@gmail.com

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