{"id":329903,"date":"2017-06-20T06:00:38","date_gmt":"2017-06-20T06:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=329903"},"modified":"2017-06-20T06:00:38","modified_gmt":"2017-06-20T06:00:38","slug":"fethullah-gulen-writes-muslims-unique-responsibility-to-fight-terror","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/06\/fethullah-gulen-writes-muslims-unique-responsibility-to-fight-terror\/","title":{"rendered":"Fethullah G\u00fclen writes: Muslims\u2019 unique responsibility to fight terror"},"content":{"rendered":"
The brutal, deadly attacks in London and Manchester on innocent civilians are the latest in a series of senseless violent acts carried out by the so-called Islamic State, a group that deserves no designation other than the world\u2019s most inhuman criminal network.<\/p>\n
In response to this threat, the world\u2019s Muslims can and should help intelligence and security communities ward off future attacks and eliminate the lifelines of this menace.<\/p>\n
From its founding amid the ashes of Al Qaeda in Iraq, ISIS has dealt in deception as well as death. Despite its name, ISIS represents a perversion of Islam. The group\u2019s dress, flags and slogans cannot hide their abhorrent betrayal of the spirit of this major world faith.<\/p>\n
Denying this barbaric group a geographical base that emboldens them to claim statehood \u2014 an essential element of their propaganda to potential recruits \u2014 is a worthwhile goal that all Muslims should support. But the challenge isn\u2019t only military.<\/p>\n
ISIS, and other groups like it, recruits alienated Muslim youth by offering them a false sense of purpose and belonging in the service of a totalitarian ideology.<\/p>\n
Countering that appeal will include religious, political, psycho-social and economic efforts. It will require that local communities and government institutions address structural issues such as discrimination and exclusion.<\/p>\n
“Self-examination is an Islamic ethic. There are actions we can take, as Muslim parents, teachers, community leaders and imams, to help our youth protect themselves.”<\/p>\n