New Zealand Mosque Shootings: Time to Confront Islamophobia

The massacre at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques highlighted the ugly reality of Islamophobia.

On the fateful day of 15 March, 2019, fifty people were killed and many more wounded at Masjid Al Noor and Linwood mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, due to maniacal and frenzied shooting by a 28-year-old Australian terrorist who mowed down on the worshippers; men, women, and children alike.

Islamophobia has become a Serious Threat!

Islamophobia (the unfounded fear and hatred of Muslims and Islam) is real and Islamophobic attacks have been rising at an alarming rate in every corner of the world. Just a few days after the New Zealand attacks; four mosques in the English city of Birmingham were vandalised overnight on 21 March, 2019 with a man shattering the windows with a sledgehammer.  

We cannot delude ourselves. The horrible attacks against Muslims in two mosques in Christchurch cannot be swept under the carpet by claiming that the shooter was some insane, disturbed person. The bloody massacre at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques highlighted the ugly reality of the evil called Islamophobia.

Anders Behring Breivik and his Islamophobic ideology

The first of the recent Islamophobic attacks in Europe can be traced back to the year 2011 when Norway suffered a gruesome outrage.

On 22 July 2011, Anders Behring Breivik, a far-right terrorist and a rabid Islamophobe, killed eight people by detonating a van bomb in Oslo, then shot dead 69 participants (mostly teenagers) at the Labour Party Youth Camp on the island of Utøya. Among the 69 victims, many were Norwegian Muslims.

It is worthwhile to inquire into the mind-set of an Islamophobe such as Anders Behring that was built gradually over the years.

Anders Breivik's militant ideology and murderous rage was not simply the result of a deranged mind. But rather it was fuelled by the Islamophobic discourses on Islam, the anti-Muslim rhetoric in politics and a general loathing of Muslims.  

The Anders Behring Breivik case and the recent New Zealand attack are painful symptoms of religious and racist bigotry that has become so widespread in our societies and spawned hatred against Muslims.

What the Holy Quran Teaches

We should learn from how the Holy Prophet (PBUH) dealt with the hostility towards Muslims when He was in Mecca (Makkah). Muslims were being staunchly opposed, tortured and persecuted in Mecca by the Quraysh leaders. The verses in the Holy Quran (Surah Al-An'am) showed how to deal with hostility.

“We know that you, [O Muhammad], are saddened by what they say. And indeed, they do not call you untruthful, but it is the verses of Allah that the wrongdoers reject. And certainly were messengers denied before you, but they were patient over [the effects of] denial, and they were harmed until Our victory came to them. And none can alter the words of Allah. And there has certainly come to you some information about the [previous] messengers.” ~ Surah Al-An'am (6:33-34)

It’s human to feel hurt when your faith is being misunderstood. In those times, let us remember the Quranic wisdom.

The verses in the Holy Quran show how to deal with hostility.

"And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend." ~ Surah Fussilat 41:34

Time to Confront Islamophobia

It was endearing to watch how one week after the mosque attack, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and other New Zealanders listened to the Azaan (Islamic call to prayer) so honourably at Hagley Park, adjacent to the Al Noor Mosque, in Christchurch in memory of the victims of mosque terrorist attacks. The Azaan was broadcasted nationwide and was followed by two minutes of silence.

Jacinda Ardern quoted the Hadith eloquently honouring the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as a merciful and compassionate leader who cared for unity and humanity.

The Holy Prophet said: “The parable of the believers in their affection, mercy, and compassion for each other is that of a body. When any limb aches, the whole body reacts with sleeplessness and fever.” ~ Sahih al-Bukhari 5665

The believers are but brothers, so make reconciliation between your brothers.

Demonization and negative stereotyping of Islam and Muslims have become common; thanks to hate mongers and irresponsible leaders. More often than not, media particularly in the west has equated terms like "violence", "terrorism", “extremism” and "radical" with Islam and Muslims.

Every time we underestimate the extent of Islamophobia or deny the threat of religious bigotry; we let those fanatics flourish who rant against Muslims.

We must confront Islamophobia and growing hatred in our midst with all the seriousness and commitment; lest the New Zealand attack is repeated elsewhere in the world!