Skip to main content

Terrorism: They are terrorists, no two ways about it

IN any part of the world, if there is a terrorist attack, suspicion always falls on Muslims first.

And if the terrorists are from another country, the media would label the countries from where the terrorists originate as pro-terrorist regimes.

Two atrocities -- one in Oklahoma City, the United States, in 1995 and the other in Oslo, Norway, last week -- should change these perceptions. These incidents show that one should not rush to label all Muslims as terrorists.


The definition of terrorist is different, depending on which point of view one holds. For the Palestinian people, terrorists mean freedom fighters.

But Timothy McVeigh, the man who carried out the Oaklahoma bombing, and Anders Behring Breivik, the man who killed at least 76 people in Norway, are regarded as mass murderers. They should be treated as terrorists.

Some analysts have been quoted by the foreign media as saying that these two could not be categorised as terrorists because they were locals who killed their own people. Isn't that a double standard?


A terrorist is a terrorist. Forget the fact that he is an outsider or that he belongs to some religious group.

The West should look at those who are right-leaning. Young people in Europe and the US are being influenced by those in the far-right.

Behring Breivik's 1,500-page manifesto indicates the seriousness of the matter and the West needs to give it serious consideration. The advancement of far-right thinking will hamper the advocacy of rule of law and human rights.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

India-Malaysia ties and the future

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is on his first official visit to India. The main aim of this visit is to seek support for Malaysia’s application to join Brics and to fortify bilateral ties, as the country is keen to improve its connections with one of the rapidly expanding economies in Asia. In light of the increasing crumbling of the global order, particularly stemming from trade disputes between the United States and China, as well as the proxy conflict involving the United States and Russia, Malaysia is encouraged to reassess its foreign policy to uphold its neutral stance. Given India’s status as the largest democracy and the fifth-largest economy globally, along with its notable advancements in indigenous space and defence technologies, it is proposed that India emerge as Malaysia’s key partner in the years ahead. Why India is important for Malaysia The historical ties between India and Malaysia extend back several centuries, with significant Indian cultural, religious, and administ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Constitution of Malaysia: An Introduction Part 5

7 (1) No person shall be punished for an act or omission which was not punishable by law when it was done or made, and no person shall suffer greater punishment for an offence than was prescribed by law at the time it was committed. (2) A person who has been acquitted or convicted of an offence shall not be tried again for the same offence except where the conviction or acquittal has been quashed and a retrial ordered by a court superior to that by which he was acquitted or convicted.
Post a Comment
Read more

The by-election in Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) and the Indian electorate

  I was born in Malaysia, belonging to the Indian ethnic group, which constitutes approximately 7% of the country's total population. My durable credence is that I am Malaysian first and foremost, and only then do I identify myself as Indian. Regrettably, it saddens me to witness and hear about the actions of certain politicians who question my loyalty to Malaysia. What is even more disheartening is that some Malaysians have been influenced by the manipulative rhetoric of these self-serving politicians. Recently, I have observed numerous discussions on both mainstream and online news platforms regarding the recognition and inclusion of Indians by ruling parties. Surprisingly, even the opposition has displayed a significant interest in the welfare of Indians. Upon contemplating the reasons behind this sudden surge in attention towards Indians, it becomes evident that it is primarily driven by the upcoming Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) by-election. It is noteworthy that such ...
Post a Comment
Read more