Charlie Hebdo attack fuels discussions regarding the ‘source’ of violence
by Sinan Öztürk
ISTANBULJan 10, 2015 - 12:00 am GMT+3
by Sinan Öztürk
Jan 10, 2015 12:00 am
Attacks on Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine and hostage crisis that claimed 20 lives have sparked debates regarding terrorism and its source. The deadly incidents which shook the world and brought life in Paris nearly to a halt became a matter of discussions across the world.
While many political leaders, academicians and journalists denounced the idea of connecting these attacks to Islam and Muslims, a considerable number of people were willing to portray this violence as being affiliated with Islam and its principles. In the meantime, the location and the victims of this violence brought the subject to the headlines, while worse violence is being committed every day in Middle East or Africa, which usually go unnoticed or are underestimated as they are part of their ordinary lives.
Gülay Göktürk, a columnist for Turkish daily Akşam, covered this debate within her Saturday's article. She states that "violence and barbarism has always been as frightening in distant locations, unknown cities and towns."
The civil war in Syria which has entered its fourth year can be given as an example to the violence that claimed many lives in the region. Iraq likewise, has been in turmoil since the First Gulf War. Also in many other locations, people not only lost their lives, but were forced to live, often in fear, despair, and poverty and with the pain of their losses. Göktürk argues that the same fear is now being experienced in Europe.
A limited dose of fear is thought be a good thing, as it alerts one against dangers. It accelerates our reflexes and our decision making. Göktürk questions whether this recent fear will lead Western public opinion into thinking about the source of violence and the solution to end it. She counts Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Israel's atrocities, Algerian Civil War, U.S. invasion of Iraq, lack of support for popular movements in Arab Spring, Western support for Sisi's military regime in Egypt as some of the tragedies that led masses to despair and being engaged in violence. She urges "Western thinking" to see that the problem arises from the rage against inequality rather than the religion itself, adding that the fear following September 11 attacks or bombing of Boston Marathon failed to create such an effect.
Göktürk states that societies practice their religions through their history, culture, sociology and economy, rather than being committed to holy books' doctrines.
She concludes by suggesting developing empathy between Islam and Christianity, or a swap of roles. She underscores the existence of double standards saying Christians would not be portrayed as Muslims if they too were radicalized.
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