Islam Has Nothing To Do with Terrorism
A Response to the On-going Attack of Abu Sayyaf Terrorist Group in the Philippines
Meanwhile ago, Mindanao, southern part of the Philippines, has been struck by the suspected Abu Sayyaf Group, a geographically local but claimed to be international Mindanao-based organization having claimed to be a Muslim group with Islamic ideology. They hit Zamboanga areas, west part of Mindanao, and bombed a market place in Davao City, the capital city of Mindanao and the hometown of the Philippine President.
While the authority is still investigating the cause of the attack, the pre-conclusion of the people that it is a destruction framed up by the Muslims to fear the public and to control the Mindanao island has already spread widely throughout the Philippines, and possibly, to the world. It is quite dangerous and is needed to be corrected. The rumor can bring any danger to the Muslim people, and it must be stopped before it can harm any innocent Muslim living peacefully in any place of the world.
Islam has really nothing to do with any terroristic act. Muslim terrorists have only used the religion to legitimize their terrors and hide their own motifs so that the people and the media would get confused and would think that it is part of the Islamic faith. Just like the ISIS and the old Al-Qaeda groups, they falsely interpret their own evil deeds as part of their faith in Islam, but the truth is that they are securing the Middle East's oil reserves and other natural resources available in the area. In Mindanao, Abu Sayyaf has existed for how many years stealing the wealth of the island using force to fear the inhabitants, which are mostly Muslims.
Backed by a Giant Boss
The Abu Sayyaf group has already been suspected as a CIA-backed terrorist group. It may sound ridiculous but it has solid evidences like what happened in 2003 when a CIA agent was caught planting a bomb in a hotel in Davao City, Philippines following to the war declaration of the Abu Sayyaf Group against the government. But before that year, there were already solid evidences of the connection between the two organizations in the 90's.
In a critical investigation, the US imperialism has a longtime interest to the natural resources in the Philippines. In fact, it once colonized the country and has remained to be active today. No doubt why the US government has a lot of agreements and treaties with the Philippine government such as the Visiting Forces Agreement that enables the American troops to enter the sovereignty in any time and, indeed, have already been in a partnership with the Philippines in the free trade system and globalization.
On the other hand, Mindanao was chosen to be the base camp of the terrorists since it is where the Muslims are residing, making them easier to hide their identities. Mindanao is also one of a good sites for their plan to hijack the neighboring countries such as China and Japan. In order to make it realized, they form the terrorist group in disguise of Islamic principles just to hide the true American identity. The group is their eyes and instrument to make the penetration of the island more smoothly and problem-free.
The Muslim race has already been negatively labelled in Mindanao as well as in the world due to some historical alienating teachings to the people against them, making it as the reason why the Muslims are being used and recruited in terrorist groups. Thus, it would make it easier for the people to blame what is behind the killings and attacks. And speaking of alienation, those invited and recruited Muslims are not informed of the real purpose of the establishment of the group. They are not only taught that it is a good job with high payment and it is for the sake of the religion. The Muslims are only used for the advancement of some self-interests.
The Counter-attack of the President's War-on-drugs Advocacy
The authority has also suspected the attack of the terrorists as a revenge for the killings of drug addicts and for the broken drug businesses. The Abu Sayyaf terrorist group is said to be paid by the big time drug lords and personalities who want to beat the President. The analysis was made amid the bombing of a market during the "night market" sale in Davao City such that why it was planned in Davao, in the town of the President and not in other places.
At least 4 people died and many were injured at the bombing. Many have questioned it and formulated the idea that it was a call for attention to the President. The national government was alarmed and is currently sending troops to the heated areas for an offensive against the terrorist groups.
No announcement about the agenda of the terrorist group has been revealed as of the moment, but bad rumors, as mentioned above, have already dominated in the minds of the people. The terrorist group consists of Muslim and non-Muslim members, but this fact was ignored by many, and instead, Muslims were blamed and labelled generally as terrorists.
As one can observe in the preceding readings, the Abu Sayyaf Bandits are not really religious in orientation in contrast to what they label to themselves. The group is economic in nature. Their extremism is an act of immorality that is forbidden in Islam. They practice beheading, kidnap for ransom, looting from small industries in the localities, massive killings all with the purpose of profiting for personal advantage.
The Muslim people are just the victims of terrorism, may it be local or international. Their identity is being used for terrorizing the people. What is happening in the Philippines is only a reflection to what is happening to the global context that the Muslims have a bad reputation globally. The Middle East is thought by the outsiders as a dangerous region in the world just as similar to the bad connotation of Mindanao with the Muslims living in the island for many centuries.
A deeper and critical understanding and study of the orthodox teachings will help us understand the true cause of terrorism because if not, some innocent lives may be put into risks from just the false statements.