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"GFJ Commentary"
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"GFJ Commentary" presents views of members and friends of GFJ on the relations of Japan with the rest of the world and other related international affairs. The view expressed herein is the author's own and should not be attributed to GFJ.
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No.65: Terrorism causes prejudice and discrimination against Muslims -
the collective responsibility of Muslims
By KURANISHI Masako
Political Scientist
Recently, it is reported that cruel acts of terrorism by Islamic fundamentalists have already brought about some harassments against ordinary Muslims in some Non-Muslim countries. Now, social division and tension between Non-Muslims and Muslims come to be serious concerns not only in those countries but also in the international community. Where can we find the key to resolve such a delicate problem?
First of all, we should pay attention to the point that actually, there are some dequate grounds and reasons on which not a few Non-Muslims admit the justice of religious and ethical prejudice and discrimination against Muslims.
If their psychological reactions against Muslims are groundless, the present appeals by some governments and the mass media, that persuade the public to be more tolerant to Muslims, may be effective. If they have founded-grounds, however, these appeals may not contribute to wipe out their negative feelings against Muslims. It is not far from the truth to say that Non-Muslims have the following grounds and reasons.
Firstly, in comparison with other religions that teach love of one's
neighbors and to respect others' lives, Islam is a rather aggressive and
intolerant religion to other peoples as symbolized by 'Jihad'. Secondly, Islam is a religion that values especially solidarity and
brotherhood among its believers sharing the teachings written in their
Scriptures, the Quran, although there are several ramified competitive
sects, such as the Sunni and the Shia. Thus it is natural that the dangerous
image of Islam arising from the outcomes of the acts of terrorism extends to
ordinary Muslims.
This is the reason why Non-Muslims cannot help suspecting ordinary Muslim citizens to be one of members of any terrorist group, even though only fanatics who try to realize their political and/or religious ideal commit heartless crimes of terrorism.
Thirdly, worse still, some Islamic fundamentalists tend to abuse the Islamic community as the mass power backing their activities latently and in
fact, they have been exploiting it effectively. For example, they have been spreading worldwide networks by means of
the Internet, through which they have been brainwashing and recruiting new
members or supporters of the terrorist groups easily. If they have had acted
as only a private individual or an isolated small group and had no relation
with the Islamic community, they could not have terrified Non-Muslim
societies as severely as today.
Non-Muslims are daily and everywhere confronted with the dangers that 'Jihad' would be carried out by any of Muslim neighbors. Nobody can discern precisely terrorists from ordinary Muslims by appearances. It is clear that the terrorists strategically enhance the point of threats by the number of the Muslim population.
For reasons mentioned above, it seems to be desired that the Islamic society address the issue of Islamic terrorism by themselves in addition to efforts of the side of Mon-Muslim countries. Although they are victims of extremists among them, Muslims look to be irresponsible for the issues of their own community. Muslims ought to be aware of such anxieties and uneasiness of Non-Muslims and to shoulder the collective responsibility for the Islamic terrorism.
Why do they not remonstrate with terrorists about their violent acts, saying "My dear brothers, it is your merciless and brutal acts of terrorism that is bringing about prejudice and discrimination against all of us"? Nobody else can dissuade fundamentalists from exerting the acts of terrorism as well as Muslims do.
If ordinary Muslims come to think of terrorists as deviators from the teachings of Islam, they may devote themselves to eradicate the notorious organizations and the worldwide networks of terrorism. On the other hand, the members of the terror groups like the IS and al-Qaeda understand the situation of other innocent Muslims, they may renounce terrorism for the sake of other ordinary Muslims.
We sincerely hope that Muslims could obviously show and certify that Islam is a peaceful and safe religion for all human beings.
(This is the English translation of an article written by KURANISHI Masako, Political Scientist, which originally appeared on the e-Forum "Giron-Hyakushutsu" of GFJ on January 5, 2016, and was posted on "GFJ Commentary" as no.65 on February 25, 2016.)
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For more views and opinions in the backnumber of "GFJ Commentary," the latest of which are as follows, please refer to:
http://www.gfj.jp/e/e-letter/back_number.html
No.64: The presence of U.S. and Russia lent weight to G20
by KAWAKAMI Takashi, Professor, Takushoku University
(16 December 2015)
No.63: Prime Minister ABE Should Retract His Pledge to Mark "A Departure
from the Post-war Regime"
by TANIMOTO Taku, Corporate Staff
(31 October 2015)
No.62: Greece and Korea - Analogy of the two peninsulas
by KURANISHI Masako, Political Scientist
(31 August 2015)
No.61: Does the USA Assume Japan and China Agree to Reshelf the Senkaku
Issue?
by TSUMORI Shigeru, Professor Emeritus, Toyo Eiwa University
(29 June 2015)
No.60: Inherent Difficulties of Standing in "Middle of the Road"
by OGATA Rintaro, Member of the House of Representatives
(27 April 2015)
No.59: Japan as the Key Actor to Strengthen US-Indian Partnership
by TAKAMINE Koushu, Research Fellow, Okazaki Institute
(17 February 2015)
"GFJ Updates"
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"GFJ Updates" introduces to you the latest events, announcements and/or publications of GFJ.
Event
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"Japan-U.S. Dialogue" on "Evolving Japan-U.S. Alliance in a Turbulent Time of Transition" Held
The Global Forum of Japan (GFJ), under the co-sponsorship of Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University (INSS) and the Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR), organized the "Japan-U.S. Dialogue" on "Evolving Japan-U.S. Alliance in a Turbulent Time of Transition: Sustaining the Open, Rules-Based Global Order" in Tokyo on March 2, 2016.
This "Dialogue" was attended by 88 participants including such eminent experts on the theme as KAMIYA Matake, Professor of National Defense Academy of Japan, HOSOYA Yuichi, Professor of Keio Univ., and NAKANISHI Hiroshi, Professor of Kyoto Univ., from the Japanese side and Rust DEMING, former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Robert MANNING, Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council, and James SCHOFF, Senior Associate of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, from the U.S. side.
For the Conference Paper distributed at the "Dialogue," please refer to; http://www.gfj.jp/e/dialogue/20160302_cp.pdf
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