Global Injustices Lead To Reactive Violence - Academician

PETALING JAYA (Selangor, Malaysia), Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Global injustices are causing Muslims worldwide to react with violence, which eventually lead to acts of extremism and terrorism, claimed an academician. International Institute of Advance Islamic Studies Malaysia Deputy Chief Executive Officer Associate Professor Dr Mohamed Azam Mohamed Adil opined that radicalism among the Muslims was indeed bred by political and societal grievances. "Extremists are provoked by injustices committed by the west and their governments and armies in Muslim countries," he alleged during a roundtable discussion on "Extremism, Terrorism and Islam: Toward A Better Understanding of Issues" here, recently. He said too often, Islam was potrayed negatively and monolithically as a growing threat to world peace despite the fact that most Muslims condemned extremism and violence. ESCALATING EXTREMISM AND VIOLENCE Mohamed Azam felt that the consideration of public welfare and public interest as well as protection of the rights of all citizens and human dignity may help in resolving the issue of extremism in the Muslim world. Thus, he added, the concept of wasatiyyah or moderation has acquired renewed significance in the pluralist societies of our times, especially in the light of the unprecedented spread of extremism and violence by individuals and countries in many parts of the world. International Movement for Just World (JUST) President Dr Chandra Muzaffar opined that not only Syria but other countries including those in the Arab world and even Malaysia, used religious issues to fight against the secular regimes. He said the reaction of some groups, which claimed to represent Islam, did not always reflect the religion's true image, but was more of a manipulation by certain quarters which had funded the groups concerned to tarnish the name of Islam. Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya's Department of International and Strategic Studies lecturer Prof Mohamad Abu Bakar questioned the validity of linking extremism and terrorism with Islam. "Islam is being portrayed as (harbouring) terrorism by the west... the question is how sure are they (the west) that all these terrorists are Muslims? Or other people claiming to be Muslims?" he asked. PRACTICE MODERATION The Embassy of Jordan's Charge D'Affairs Dr Maen Moh'd Sodki Salem Masadeh said while all religions have their own extremists, they prohibit their followers from killing innocent people. "If we look at Boko Haram (a militant group in Nigeria), Taliban and IS, they do not represent Islam. Islam is not about killing people...," he said. He called on the Muslim community around the world to practice moderation to show the true teachings of Islam. Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association President Dr Mustapha Ma echoed Maen Moh'd views, saying that the terminology "Islamic extremism" should never have been used. "The religion is perfect, but imperfect are (some of) the followers," he added. -- BERNAMA