Sir, – According to Dermot Cooper (November 17th) "media, politicians, celebrities and academia in the West" are "unable to acknowledge" the "numerous quotes" in "Islamic texts. . . . which justify the actions of the attackers" in Paris.
The reality, however, is that justification for such actions can be found in the scriptures of all major religions by those who seek them; it is only in the case of Islam that adherents are felt obliged collectively to condemn them as antithetical to their religion.
Yet the vast majority of Muslims do condemn terrorism; in doing so, they reflect the scholarly consensus among even most conservative Islamic clerics. Indeed, a 2011 Gallup poll found that “Muslim Americans are more likely than Christians or Jews to believe that targeting and killing civilians is never justified, whether it is done by the military or an individual”. It is also worth noting that a traditional religious education is a negative predictor of terrorism. Is this consistent with the notion of Islam as a violent religion?
Any serious attempt to tackle the dangers of Islamic terrorism must seek to understand what motivates those who are drawn to it: both the grievances that are exploited to create feelings of persecution among Muslims, and the allure of a cause that promises self-esteem, significance and glory to the marginalised.
Far from helping to mitigate the threat, attacks on the religion of Islam are likely to exacerbate it. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN PATTERSON,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – Eamon McCann tells us that "the evil of Islamic State is rooted in religion" and he quotes Moses to back up his claim ("Islamic State's actions are rooted in religion", Opinion & Analysis, November 20th). But Moses is also claimed to have given us the 10 commandments, the basis of which preaches love of neighbour.
The religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have love of neighbour as their core commandment. The fact that the love of neighbour ideal is not always preached or practised does not, however, render it invalid. – Yours, etc,
A LEAVY,
Sutton,
Dublin 13.
Sir, – The killing of “infidels” and the destruction of “infidel-created” antiquities appears to be the stock-in-trade of Isis. In this it is at least being consistent. On the other hand, however, Isis has chosen to use weapons and ammunition, rockets and explosives, mechanically propelled vehicles, the internet and smartphones, sunglasses, wristwatches, clothing and footwear all created and constructed by the “infidel”.
Is Isis not displaying a serious level of inconsistency in its embrace of such “infidel” creations?
But then were Isis to be fully consistent and repudiate all infidels and their creations, the result would be an Isis fighting with daggers and swords, travelling on camels, wearing blankets, sleeping in tents and communicating by means of “the call to prayer”. Not a very attractive option for a disaffected believer from inner-city London or Paris.
Reality determines, however, that all the people of this little world, regardless of what we believe, are interdependent on one another. Isis, in its ambition to destroy the “infidel”, should be a little more cognisant of that reality and, in advancing its ideology, be more careful of what it wishes for. – Yours, etc,
MICK O’BRIEN,
Springmount,
Kilkenny.
Sir, – To announce “war” against Isis in the wake of the Paris atrocities, while an understandable emotional reaction, will only serve to repeat the mistakes made before against al-Qaeda. Isis is not just the enemy, it is a diffuse loose amalgamation of terrorists fuelled by an ideology, and as such will not be effectively neutralised by a military response.
If eight jihadis can traumatise a city of eight million, one must assume that other groups of disaffected people will continue to plan comparable destruction elsewhere.
It is imperative that the struggle against Isis also takes the form of an ideological struggle. Here it is crucial that Muslims, particularly clergy, academics, journalists and teachers, be at the forefront of the struggle. They need to strongly discredit the ideology in order to reclaim Islam as their own. In so doing, they will also be drying up the extremists’ recruitment pool.
The West must recognise too that this ideology, no matter how twisted and violent it is, reflects real grievances that need to be understood if we are to develop effective strategies to achieve a world without terror and fear.
Until the West makes a determined effort to understand the mindset of terrorists, many of whom have grown up in our cities and are products of our society, talk of warfare will achieve nothing. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD COFFEY,
Terenure,
Dublin 6W.