Faith and fear: Challenging terrorism’s misrepresentation of Islam

By N.S. Venkataraman*

The terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which mercilessly claimed the lives of 26 innocent tourists, highlights the heartlessness of such acts. Reports suggest that the terrorists asked each tourist to identify their religion and executed those identified as Hindus. This demonstrates the extreme cruelty and warped mindset of these perpetrators. While the Pahalgam attack has sent shockwaves across India and the world, with several global leaders condemning the act, the harsh reality is that such attacks are not isolated incidents. Terrorism has plagued various parts of the world repeatedly.

The September 11, 2001, attack on the Twin Towers in New York, the November 26, 2008, attack in Mumbai, the April 21, 2019, Easter Day attack in Sri Lanka, and numerous other terrorist incidents in Europe and elsewhere underscore the global failure to effectively combat terrorism. These events reveal that terrorists continue to strike at will, exposing the inadequacy of the global fight against terrorism, which often remains confined to rhetoric.

Investigations into the backgrounds of terrorists frequently reveal their allegiance to Islam. This is deeply unfortunate, as the Holy Quran, which outlines the principles of Islam, advocates love, compassion, charity, and adherence to a moral code that leads to spiritual fulfillment. A small faction of individuals has either misunderstood or deliberately of morality. Their actions have led to the widespread use of the term "Islamic terrorists" in global discourse.

The pressing question is: how can terrorism be eradicated? Recently, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the Hamas militant group to surrender their arms to the Palestinian Authority. Speaking in Ramallah, he criticized the Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, stating that it provided Israel with a pretext to devastate Gaza. This stance by the Palestinian President, denouncing terrorism, should resonate with militants worldwide.

Following the Hamas attack, Israel launched a counteroffensive, devastating much of Gaza and causing the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. Despite the severity of Israel's actions, global criticism has been muted, as many view Israel's response as a fight against terrorism. This raises a critical question: is counterattacking terrorists, even at the cost of innocent lives, the only solution? Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, responding to the Pahalgam attack, vowed to pursue and eliminate terrorists wherever they may be. This approach seems to align with the prevailing global sentiment.

A closer examination of terrorism reveals that many groups operate with bases in specific countries, often receiving tacit support from governments. These nations, which harbor terrorists to settle scores with other countries, must recognize that such groups pose a threat to their own security as well. Terrorists, emboldened by the hospitality of these nations, can commit atrocities both domestically and internationally.

While this article refrains from naming specific countries that harbor terrorists, it urges these nations to reevaluate their strategies, heed global condemnation, and adopt corrective measures.

Finally, as many terrorists claim allegiance to Islam, peace-loving and devout Muslims must actively participate in the global movement against terrorism. Islam is a great religion, and its followers must ensure that extremists do not tarnish its image. While the world continues its fight against terrorism, Muslims worldwide bear a unique responsibility, as these attacks are often carried out in the name of their faith.

---

*Trustee, Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Chennai

Comments

US-China truce temporary, larger trade war between two economies to continue

By Prabir Purkayastha The Trump-Xi meeting in Busan, South Korea on 30 October 2025 may have brought about a temporary relief in the US-China trade war. But unless we see the fine print of the agreement, it is difficult to assess whether this is a temporary truce or the beginning of a real rapprochement between the two nations. The jury is still out on that one and we will wait for a better understanding of what has really been achieved in Busan.

When growth shrinks people: Capitalism and the biological decline of the U.S. population

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* Critically acclaimed Hungarian-American economic historian and distinguished scholar of economic anthropometric history, Prof. John Komlos (Professor Emeritus, University of Munich), who pioneered the study of the history of human height and weight, has published an article titled “The Decline in the Physical Stature of the U.S. Population Parallels the Diminution in the Rate of Increase in Life Expectancy” on October 31, 2025, in the forthcoming issue of Social Science & Medicine (SSM) – Population Health, Volume 32, December 2025. The findings of the article present a damning critique of the barbaric nature of capitalism and its detrimental impact on human health, highlighting that the average height of Americans began to decline during the era of free-market capitalism. The study draws on an analysis of 17 surveys from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (...

Justice for Zubeen Garg: Fans persist as investigations continue in India and Singapore

By Nava Thakuria* Even a month after the death of Assam’s cultural icon Zubeen Garg in Singapore under mysterious circumstances, thousands of his fans and admirers across eastern India continue their campaign for “ JusticeForZubeenGarg .” A large digital campaign has gained momentum, with over two million social media users from around the world demanding legal action against those allegedly responsible. Although the Assam government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has arrested seven people, and a judicial commission headed by Justice Soumitra Saikia of the Gauhati High Court to oversee the probe, public pressure for justice remains strong.

Gujarat civil society to move Supreme Court against controversial electoral roll revision

By Rajiv Shah A recent, well-attended meeting of Gujarat civil society activists in Ahmedabad , held to discuss the impact of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, has decided to file a petition in the Supreme Court against the controversial exercise initiated by the Election Commission of India (ECI) across the country. Announcing this, senior High Court advocate Anand Yagnik , who heads the Gujarat chapter of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), said that a committee has already been formed to examine the pros and cons of SIR. “While the SIR exercise began in Gujarat on November 4 and is scheduled to continue for a month, we will file a supporting petition in the case against SIR in the Gujarat High Court or the Supreme Court after observing how it proceeds in the state,” he said. Yagnik’s announcement followed senior advocate Shahrukh Alam —who is arguing the SIR case in the Supreme Court—urging Gujarat’s civil society to also file ...

Mergers and privatisation: The Finance Minister’s misguided banking agenda

By Thomas Franco The Finance Minister has once again revived talk of merging two or three large public sector banks to make them globally competitive. Reports also suggest that the government is considering appointing Managing Directors in public sector banks from the private sector. Both moves would strike at the heart of India’s public banking system . Privatisation undermines the constitutional vision of social and economic justice, and such steps could lead to irreversible damage.

Why PESA, a Birsa Munda legacy, remains India’s unfulfilled commitment to its tribal peoples

By Raj Kumar Sinha* Nearly three decades ago, the Indian Parliament enacted a landmark law for tribal regions — the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, better known as PESA. This legislation sought to restore the traditional autonomy of tribal societies and empower them to use local resources according to their customs and needs. However, such decentralization never sat well with today’s developmental politicians, capitalists, and bureaucrats. The question therefore arises — what makes PESA so important?

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Trump escalates threats of war against Venezuela, as millions in US set to lose essential benefits

By Manolo De Los Santos The United States government is in the grips of one of its longest-running funding gaps in history. The ongoing government shutdown has already stretched beyond 30 days and now, the food security of millions of Americans is at risk as the funding to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is drying up and Trump officials have refused to tap into contingency funds . Approximately 42 million individuals per month rely on SNAP benefits and are set to lose them beginning on November 1.

Is vaccine the Voldemort of modern medicine to be left undiscussed, unscrutinised?

By Deepika* Sridhar Vembu of Zoho stirred up an internet storm by tweeting about the possible link of autism to the growing number of vaccines given to children in India . He had only asked the parents to analyse the connection but doctors, so called public health experts vehemently started opposing Vembu's claims, labeling them "dangerous misinformation" that could erode “vaccine trust”!

Search This Blog