Three innocent young Muslims were killed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of the victims. We strongly condemn this hideous act. The media is reporting a parking dispute, but it is hard to believe that parking dispute alone can lead to murder of three innocent young individuals. The murderer claims to be an atheist and hates all religions but it is no accident that the killer chose Muslims as his target. I do not think it is unfair if some Muslims are calling it terrorism against Muslims in this charged environment and asking political leaders to step up and condemn it like any other act of terrorism.

Acts like these are no accident when media stars like Bill Maher and Sam Harris spew poisonous hatred against Muslims at large every day and even Hollywood has joined in this spread of hatred and Islamophobia.  Movie “Sniper” motivated many individuals to write threatening comments in social media. Below is a sample of tweets;

1-Portal Hudson   dochudson 15 Jan16

“American Sniper has me wanting to go shoot some ragheads.”

2- Sabrina Ho

” nice to see a movie where muslims are portrayed for who they really are vermin scum intent on destroying America# AmericanSniper “

3- Connor Besnikari

“American Sniper make me appreciate the work American soldiers do and also made me hate camel riding rag heads load more#AmericanSniper ““.

One of my relative applied for internship in one of the media outlet and was told blankly” we do not hire Muslims”, and it was even before Paris incidence. Muslims at large are as much victims of Islamic extremism and acts of terrorism as non-Muslims. Spreading hatred against all Muslims, as it is happening now, is a self-defeating endeavor. It ends up pushing some angry and frustrated young Muslims to choose the wrong side. When hatred is spread by media or non-media outlets, by Muslims or non-Muslims, it is bound to claim innocent victims from all sides. World has to join all hands to combat hatred and extremism in all its forms and from every quarter.  

 F. Sheikh

President, TFUSA