A significant wing of western societies wishes to represent Muslims as hate-filled and war-mongering. Very little publicity is given to their actions for love and peace.
The Good News Network features a number of stories down through the years in which Muslim communities in several countries have taken the lead in actions for the latter.
Muslims Take Out Full-Page Newspaper Ad to Denounce Anti-Semitism Against “Our Jewish Sisters and Brothers”
In giant, bold black text across the top, the ad read: “We Muslims have one word for Jews. Shalom.”
“As British Muslims, we believe that the time has come to speak out. For far too long, anti-Semitism has gone unchecked,” the ad continued. “Eradicating it is a challenge faced by all of us.
“We understand that many in our country empathize with the Palestinians and their right to a sovereign state. However, we must be ever vigilant against those who cynically use international issues to vilify Jews or promote anti-Semitic tropes. There is no cause that can justify the promotion of hate.”
“Just as we challenge those who recycle anti-Muslim tropes, we stand firmly against racism directed at our Jewish sisters and brothers.”
The ad, which was published in the Telegraph on Thursday, was signed by such major advocacy groups as anti-extremism group Faith Matters; Muslims Against Anti-Semitism; and the Association of British Muslims.
According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the statement was a welcomed follow-up to the Board of Deputies of British Jews denouncing Islamophobia last week.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews expressed their appreciation for the ad on Twitter, saying: “Incredible solidarity – a full-page ad by Muslim sisters and brothers in today’s Telegraph. Thank you. Together we will defeat the twin evils of anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hate.”
Thousands of Muslims Form “Human Shield” to Defend Christians From Terrorism
On New Year’s Day, a devastating terrorist bombing at a Coptic Christian church in Egypt killed 21 people and injured 79 others. It was assumed the culprits were Muslim extremists, intent on targeting those they saw as heretics.
The following week, as Egyptian Copts attended mass at churches across the country to celebrate their Christmas, “thousands” of Muslims, including “the two sons of President Hosni Mubarak,” joined them, acting as “human shields” to protect them from possible terrorist attack.
The Muslims organized under the slogan “We either live together, or we die together.”
Norway Muslims Form Human Shield Around Jewish Synagogue
Europe’s Jews face rising anti-Semitism in some countries, but multiculturalism is far from dead. Today, more than 1,000 Muslims formed a human shield around Oslo’s synagogue, offering protection and solidarity with Jews following a violent attack in Copenhagen last weekend.
Chanting “No to anti-Semitism, no to Islamophobia,” Norway’s Muslims and others formed what they called a ring of peace during the event organized on Facebook.
“Humanity is one, and we are here to demonstrate that,” Zeeshan Abdullah, one of the organizers told the crowd of Muslim immigrants and ethnic Norwegians who filled the street around Oslo’s only synagogue.
An English translation of the Facebook page reads: “Islam is about protecting our brothers and sisters, regardless of which religion they belong to. Islam is about rising above hate and never sinking to the same level as the haters… Muslims want to show that we deeply deplore all types of hatred of Jews, and that we are there to support them.”
(READ the story in the Jerusalem Post
Young Muslims Wake Up Early to Clean Up the Streets After New Years Celebrations
While thousands of people are still in bed sleeping off the effects of their New Year’s Eve festivities, these young Muslims woke up early to clean up the aftermath of last night’s partying.
Over 1,000 young members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) took to the streets of 50 different UK localities and cities for a New Year’s Day clean-up.
The young men and women even kicked off the event by hosting a special prayer for the new year before they donned their high-visibility vests and tackled the streets with garbage bags in hand.
“From Luton to London, Glasgow to Guilford, Cardiff to Croydon, across the entire country 1,000 members of AMYA participated in the New Year’s Day clean up,” said British Ahmadiyya Imam Qamar Zafar.
“Islam urges every Muslim to partake in charitable giving, community service, and promote cleanliness,” he added. “AMYA has and continues to instill young people with a sense of civic responsibility, and a desire to promote harmony within our local communities.”
“We’ve been doing the New Year’s clean-up for many years now, and each year we see more and more members coming to help,” added AMYA Yorkshire youth coordinator Nadeem Ahmed. “In Islam, ‘Cleanliness is Part of Faith’ so there’s no better way to serve our faith and our country, there’s no better way for us to start the new year.”
Further Reading
“To Muslims of America, I Apologize (Reissued),” OpEdNews, Oct. 17, 2007, at https://tinyurl.com/mvlybr
“What War on Terror?” OpEdNews, Oct. 28, 2008, at https://tinyurl.com/2ujmx9s.
“This 9/11, It’s Time to Apologize to Muslims,” September 11, 2012, at https://goldenageofgaia.com/2012/09/11/this-911-its-time-to-apologize-to-muslims-2/
“This 9/11, Vindicate the American Muslim Community,” September 3, 2011, at https://goldenageofgaia.com/2011/09/03/this-911-vindicate-the-american-muslim-community/