Europe's Muslims feel heat of backlash after Paris terror

[webfact]

Europe's Muslims feel heat of backlash after Paris terror
By ELAINE GANLEY

PARIS (AP) — Firebombs and pig heads thrown into mosques. Veiled women subjected to insults in the street. The Internet awash with threats against Muslims. Europe's Muslims are feeling the heat of a fierce backlash following last week's terror attack against French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.

An official who keeps track of Islamophobic attacks in France said there were 60 incidents — attacks and threats — in the six days since that attack.

A climate of fear is taking hold in Europe, stoked by rightist rhetoric equating the millions of peaceful Muslims with the few plotting murder and mayhem.

Abdallah Zekri, head of the National Observatory Against Islamophobia, said that since last Wednesday's massacre at Charlie Hebdo, 26 places of worship around France were attacked by firebombs, gunshots or pig heads, with a mosque in Le Mans hit with four grenades. There were 34 insults and threats.

The three-day terror spree in Paris claimed the lives of 17 victims, and traumatized a continent already brimming with anti-immigrant sentiment. Brothers Cherif and Said Kouachi — the al-Qaida-linked suspects in the magazine attack — were killed in a shootout at a printing plant north of Paris; their apparent accomplice Amedy Coulibaly was shot dead in a near-simultaneous raid at a Jewish market, where he had holed himself up with hostages, killing four.

French authorities are warning the nation against linking French Muslims with terrorists.

"The terrorists' religion is not Islam, which they are betraying," Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said last week. "It's barbarity."

To make the point stick, he said he doesn't want the word "Islamist" used to describe the killers.

"I call that terrorists," he said this week on iTele, explaining he doesn't want to link terrorists with those who practice their "religion of peace."

Concerns about a backlash against Muslims were discussed Monday during a counter-terrorism meeting at the Interior Ministry. "We said above all, pretty unanimously, that in France there are 5 or 6 million Muslims. These (terrorist) issues concern 1,000 individuals," said Socialist lawmaker Patrick Mennucci. "We should be careful not to stigmatize anyone."

Coulibaly's mother and daughters, presenting condolences to the victims, issued a plea in a statement delivered to the French press "that there will be no amalgam between these odious acts and the Muslim religion."

Yet Muslims and some experts said that it was inevitable that Muslims would fall under suspicion after the attacks, despite a unity march on Sunday — described as the largest in French history — in which throngs of Muslims participated.

The rising far-right in France and other European countries has been driven by an anti-immigration, anti-Islam message. National Front leader Marine Le Pen seized upon the Charlie Hebdo attack just hours after it happened, suggesting it was a vindication of her party's xenophobic stance. Extreme-right groups across Europe have increasingly been striking a chord with ordinary citizens voicing fears their culture is being uprooted by an alien civilization.

The fledgling German group that calls itself Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West, or PEGIDA, drew its largest crowd ever Monday night — a reported 40,000 — at its weekly rally in Dresden, after organizers declared it a tribute to the victims of the French attacks. No anti-Islamic acts have been reported in Germany since the terror.

French Muslims were already facing a backlash triggered by terror acts by French radicals twisting their religion — particularly since the rampage in southern France in 2012 in which Mohamed Merah killed three children at a Jewish school, a rabbi and three paratroopers. Anti-Islam sentiment spread further after the killing of four people by a French Muslim at the Brussels Jewish Museum in May.

Anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish incidents rose throughout 2014 in France, which has Europe's largest communities of both religions.

"For Muslims, the shock is grave in this climate of Islamophobia, of aggressions against places of worship," read a statement by Dalil Boubakeur, head of the French Council for the Muslim Faith and the most visible Muslim in France.

France's state of high alert after the Charlie Hebdo rampage — with 10,000 soldiers deployed in the streets — may deepen a sense of siege within the Muslim population.

French authorities have long warned that France is a preferred target of Islamic extremists. France routed al-Qaida from northern Mali — two years ago to the day before Coulibaly attacked the Jewish market — and is now carrying out airstrikes in Iraq against the Islamic State group. Both al-Qaida and IS have threatened France.

But the attacks have had an effect outside France, too. In the Netherlands, Muslim groups and the government met Friday and said they plan to register anti-Muslim incidents. A burning object was thrown at a mosque in Vlaardingen, on the outskirts of Rotterdam.

"Everyone has this uncomfortable feeling, a sense of being threatened — Muslims because they are afraid to be stigmatized and that they will be attacked too," said Imade Annouri, a Green parliamentarian of Belgium's regional legislature of Flanders and an expert on integration issues.

TellMAMA, a British group that tracks anti-Muslim attacks, reported 50-60 cases of specific online threats to individuals over the weekend.

"The sheer volume is unbelievable," said the organization's director, Fiyaz Mughal, who fears virtual assaults could spur real ones in the street. Mughal said that after the slaying of British soldier Lee Rigby in London, the group was able to gauge how threats made on Twitter and Facebook translated directly into attacks on individuals or mosques.

Mohamed Ali Adraoui, a fellow at the European University Institute, suggested that hatred of Islam could morph into an assault on a mosque, in France or elsewhere.

"If you can do that in Charlie Hebdo offices, you can do it in a mosque," he said.
___

Raf Casert in Brussels, Danica Kirka in London, Mike Corder in Amsterdam and Milos Krivokapic in Paris contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-14

[NeverSure]

It IS Muslims who are doing this. They come out of hate preaching mosques. People have a right to be afraid of them because they can't know if someone is a threat.

If someone put 500 king cobras in my living room and assured me a majority had been defanged and rendered harmless, I'd have no comfort at all.

[Ulysses G.]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

[robblok]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

Correct, maybe if they denounce violence more often and work more to keep track on radicals.

On the other hand that is not really their job and I don't denounce all Dutch criminals i see in Thailand.

Always hard.

[Bakeman]

Europe's Muslims feel heat of backlash after Paris terror

I can't believe they grew a pair. EXCELLENT JOB!!!!!

Edited January 14, 2015 by Bakeman

[Ulysses G.]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

Correct, maybe if they denounce violence more often and work more to keep track on radicals.

They need to be more proactive about helping to getting rid of the cancer of radical Islam. That is for sure.

[Chwooly]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

the problem is very few want to fit in to western society. They want us to fit in to sharia, the call to pray while annoying can be argued the same as Christian Church bells but my not being able to eat pork in front of them or buy it in my local Market because it is haram is bs, same with not allowed to buy alchohol, drinking or talking to a pretty woman. Where are the Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, or hindu prayer rooms in airports?

[OMGImInPattaya]

Religious "faith" is believing in something one knows isn't true.

Samuel Clemens

[robblok]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

Correct, maybe if they denounce violence more often and work more to keep track on radicals.

They need to be more proactive about helping to getting rid of the cancer of radical Islam. That is for sure.

For sure.. but for some people whatever they do is never enough.

[robblok]

Religious "faith" is believing in something one knows isn't true.

Samuel Clemens

There is no proof for any faith, that is why atheists are increasing. But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one. All those religious books are on par with those Grimm wrote.

[Crazy chef 1]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

haven't met them yet...

peacefully yes but integrating-no...

[robblok]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

haven't met them yet...

peacefully yes but integrating-no...

So what ? do you speak Thai.. go to the Thai temple.. forgot about where you came from.. do you live in a farang ghetto ? Pattaya .. Phuket ect ? Do you only eat Thai food drink Thai beers ?

Immigrants complaining about other immigrants not integrating

Sorry but i prefer to stay how I am instead of turning Thai, give those Muslims the same cutesy as long as they are peaceful.

[Crazy chef 1]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

haven't met them yet...

peacefully yes but integrating-no...

So what ? do you speak Thai.. go to the Thai temple.. forgot about where you came from.. do you live in a farang ghetto ? Pattaya .. Phuket ect ? Do you only eat Thai food drink Thai beers ?

Immigrants complaining about other immigrants not integrating

Sorry but i prefer to stay how I am instead of turning Thai, give those Muslims the same cutesy as long as they are peaceful.

valid points...but i try NOT to change my host country or live from their social security...and to some points yes i integrate...

[Bocking]

This ‘Backlash’ if true, is exactly what the terrorists sought. A rise in counter-attacks against Muslims in general is the perfect recruiting tool for IS, Al Qaeda, Al Nusra Front, Boko Haram et al.

Every weekend, millions of individuals turn up at the world’s pitches, parks and playgrounds to play football. By their actions, Messi, Ronaldo and Rooney monopolise the headlines, but the majority of players, the Green Dragon 2^nd XI etc., probably don’t arrive for their games in McLarens, Bentley’s or Murcielagos.

Islamic community leaders often claim that the radicals are in the minority, but if the minority is so small, and the majority so large, then surely the majority has the strength and ability to identify and control those who reportedly aim to corrupt their mutual religion of peace? For how long were the likes of Abu Hamza and Abu Qatada able to preach hatred in the mosques, and to influence the teaching in madrasas, before the majority stepped forward and stopped then?

In recent years, through the advent of political correctness and the subsequent fear of being labelled ‘Islamphobic’ or ‘Racist’, the power and will of governments has been stunted by, amongst others but in the main, politicised Muslims. So, if the claims of the majority of Muslims are to be believed, then it is up to them to start accepting responsibility, and to take measures to stem, this accelerating rise in radicalism.

This is not a rant against Islam. As an atheist I treat all monotheistic religions with same degree of suspicion, but it is Islam that is currently, and quite spectacularly, putting its head above the parapet.

[Choctastic]

This ‘Backlash’ if true, is exactly what the terrorists sought.

Ours or theirs?

[robblok]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

haven't met them yet...

peacefully yes but integrating-no...

So what ? do you speak Thai.. go to the Thai temple.. forgot about where you came from.. do you live in a farang ghetto ? Pattaya .. Phuket ect ? Do you only eat Thai food drink Thai beers ?

Immigrants complaining about other immigrants not integrating

Sorry but i prefer to stay how I am instead of turning Thai, give those Muslims the same cutesy as long as they are peaceful.

valid points...but i try NOT to change my host country or live from their social security...and to some points yes i integrate...

But not the points I made, as for changing your host country just your presence changes it. But I get that point, but I always find it funny immigrants complaining about other immigrants.

I certainly don't assimilate (that is what many people mean when they write integrate). I keep my values and I see no problems with Muslims doing the same. I have no problems with Muslims having Halal meat and such (though its a bit barbaric but the whole meat industry is). Here there are plenty of shops catering just to foreigners.. same as Muslims having their own shops.

As long as they are peaceful and make their own living.. I have absolutely no problems with them.

[Crazy chef 1]

me too.

[Amir]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

the problem is very few want to fit in to western society. They want us to fit in to sharia, the call to pray while annoying can be argued the same as Christian Church bells but my not being able to eat pork in front of them or buy it in my local Market because it is haram is bs, same with not allowed to buy alchohol, drinking or talking to a pretty woman. Where are the Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, or hindu prayer rooms in airports?

Wow... you don't know shit I presume...

95% of Muslims in France are completely "fitting in" in France, 4.9% don't try but stay in their apartments and are the older people and their kids brought to France in the 20's and 30's to build apartments that were given citizenship and parked in lousy apartments. the other part which represents less than 1% are stupid <deleted> claiming they are fighting in the name of Allah... exactly the same minority as the ones trowing stones and pig heads at Mosques...

[snottgoblin]

Might find some interesting facts in this link concerning Islam.

Certainly thought provoking in a multitude of ways

http://www.sacred-texts.com/eso/sta/sta47.htm

[Mosha]

Fatwas against snowmen won't help understanding.

[MilesofSmiles]

Islamic community leaders often claim that the radicals are in the minority

There's 1.6 billion Muslims on the planet. 23%. I think to say a 'minority' are crazy psychos is reasonable. Tiny minority would be more accurate.

Do you know any Muslims ? They're just normal people.

Peaceful ? Actually yes.

Indonesians, Africans, Saudis.... maybe not the Sauds they're party animals.

Aslarn, 5x world Muay Thai champion, Ramazon 7x, nice and more peaceful that I am.

Muslims, as a whole, take the Koran seriously, they don't drink, all remember to pray, fast etc.

Nobody's ever cared about what I eat in front of them.

Show some respect to start with, won't not feel the need to make a point about demanding some later.

My opinions might be different if I lived in the UK or France, but I don't.

Frankly, if they gave up big parts of their culture, to "appease Muslims" and now regret it... reap what you sow.

Very often, the cause of angry men who happen to be Muslim are social, political and economic, and the fights aren't driven by ideology first.

There are d*ckheads of every religion and skin colour.

If you lived in Syria, and your city was trashed, house bombed, all gone...

You'd be spewing too.

I think Shira law sucks, but as long as it's not forced onto me, it's not my place to say how they should and shouldn't run their life.

I don't like full-viel burkhas, but blah blah blah.

About special concessions to wear religious dress in banks or ID photos, no.

Everyone's the same, and I don't think the rules should be changed, because everyone wants a piece.

[simple1]

Europe's Muslims feel heat of backlash after Paris terror

I can't believe they grew a pair. EXCELLENT JOB!!!!!

"Grew a pair' - you've got to be joking! Based upon the acts described in the OP a bunch of bullying cowards is a more apt description.

[chuckd]

Religious "faith" is believing in something one knows isn't true.

Samuel Clemens

There is no proof for any faith, that is why atheists are increasing. But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one. All those religious books are on par with those Grimm wrote.

"But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one."

This is a rather interesting comment.

I have been coming to Thailand since 1976 and have had a permanent residence here since the 1980s.

I have never had a Thai ask me what my religion is nor even express any interest in my religious beliefs...other than my wife of 10 years.

Are you volunteering to share your beliefs with them or have you found some actually inquisitive about your beliefs?

If you started that with me, I would inform you I have not one ounce of interest in what you believe. Much as you don't care what I believe.

[uptheos]

Religious "faith" is believing in something one knows isn't true.

Samuel Clemens

There is no proof for any faith, that is why atheists are increasing. But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one. All those religious books are on par with those Grimm wrote.

"But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one."

This is a rather interesting comment.

I have been coming to Thailand since 1976 and have had a permanent residence here since the 1980s.

I have never had a Thai ask me what my religion is nor even express any interest in my religious beliefs...other than my wife of 10 years.

Are you volunteering to share your beliefs with them or have you found some actually inquisitive about your beliefs?

If you started that with me, I would inform you I have not one ounce of interest in what you believe. Much as you don't care what I believe.

Come to think of it, neither have I and I believe my circle is quite wide.

I think a hospital may have asked.

[robblok]

Religious "faith" is believing in something one knows isn't true.

Samuel Clemens

There is no proof for any faith, that is why atheists are increasing. But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one. All those religious books are on par with those Grimm wrote.

"But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one."

This is a rather interesting comment.

I have been coming to Thailand since 1976 and have had a permanent residence here since the 1980s.

I have never had a Thai ask me what my religion is nor even express any interest in my religious beliefs...other than my wife of 10 years.

Are you volunteering to share your beliefs with them or have you found some actually inquisitive about your beliefs?

If you started that with me, I would inform you I have not one ounce of interest in what you believe. Much as you don't care what I believe.

I have had the question a few times but when you say mai mee sasana (as i was led to believe it means i have no relgion) they look at you strange but i heard it could be translated with no morals. They usually ask me if I am Christian. It has not happened a lot 2 or 3 times in my 9 years here but I always get strange looks with the awnser.

[samran]

Religious "faith" is believing in something one knows isn't true.

Samuel Clemens

There is no proof for any faith, that is why atheists are increasing. But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one. All those religious books are on par with those Grimm wrote.

"But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one."

This is a rather interesting comment.

I have been coming to Thailand since 1976 and have had a permanent residence here since the 1980s.

I have never had a Thai ask me what my religion is nor even express any interest in my religious beliefs...other than my wife of 10 years.

Are you volunteering to share your beliefs with them or have you found some actually inquisitive about your beliefs?

If you started that with me, I would inform you I have not one ounce of interest in what you believe. Much as you don't care what I believe.

It comes up more with officialdom. I'm a non practicing catholic and every now and then filling out a government form you have to state your religion. 'None of your <deleted> business' isn't an option so I just say 'krist' and that is the end of it. Edited January 14, 2015 by samran

[Jingthing]

Religious "faith" is believing in something one knows isn't true.

Samuel Clemens

There is no proof for any faith, that is why atheists are increasing. But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one. All those religious books are on par with those Grimm wrote.

"But the moment you tell Thais you have no beliefs they look at you like your some sort of monster. While in fact your the only reasonable one."

This is a rather interesting comment.

I have been coming to Thailand since 1976 and have had a permanent residence here since the 1980s.

I have never had a Thai ask me what my religion is nor even express any interest in my religious beliefs...other than my wife of 10 years.

Are you volunteering to share your beliefs with them or have you found some actually inquisitive about your beliefs?

If you started that with me, I would inform you I have not one ounce of interest in what you believe. Much as you don't care what I believe.

I have had the question a few times but when you say mai mee sasana (as i was led to believe it means i have no relgion) they look at you strange but i heard it could be translated with no morals. They usually ask me if I am Christian. It has not happened a lot 2 or 3 times in my 9 years here but I always get strange looks with the awnser.

I have had Thais assume I am Christian which I understand, odds are a white foreigner is Christian. So when it has come up and I say, no, I am not a Christian, they generally don't say anything else. I think they probably think I might be a Muslim and they have nothing to say about that, maybe not polite. A few times I have expressed my atheism to Thais and yes my impression is that it perceived as proclaiming you are a bad person. Not to diss Thais on that ... it's similar or worse in many parts of the U.S., especially the SOUTH.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Jingthing

[ExPratt]

Part of the problem is The Middle East is so divided , who do you negotiate some kind of cease fire of start a peace process with. Many Middle eastern Governments are fighting the "Terrorists" Themselves

Having said that a United middle east, Iraq , Saudi , Iran, Egypt, UAE, would prove a handful to the West. So although its highly unlikely with those countries huge differences , it doesn't hurt to keep them at it and I think that is sometimes why the West has always dabbled/stirred in the middle East because of the Oil and controlling either with Allies or puppets

Edited January 14, 2015 by ExPratt

[canman]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

the problem is very few want to fit in to western society. They want us to fit in to sharia, the call to pray while annoying can be argued the same as Christian Church bells but my not being able to eat pork in front of them or buy it in my local Market because it is haram is bs, same with not allowed to buy alchohol, drinking or talking to a pretty woman. Where are the Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, or hindu prayer rooms in airports?

Wow... you don't know shit I presume...

95% of Muslims in France are completely "fitting in" in France, 4.9% don't try but stay in their apartments and are the older people and their kids brought to France in the 20's and 30's to build apartments that were given citizenship and parked in lousy apartments. the other part which represents less than 1% are stupid <deleted> claiming they are fighting in the name of Allah... exactly the same minority as the ones trowing stones and pig heads at Mosques...

"95% of Muslims in France are completely "fitting in" in France"

You just made that stat up; didn't you?

[krisb]

Agreed, but I still feel badly for the Muslims that just want live their lives peacefully and fit into Western society.

haven't met them yet...

peacefully yes but integrating-no...

So what ? do you speak Thai.. go to the Thai temple.. forgot about where you came from.. do you live in a farang ghetto ? Pattaya .. Phuket ect ? Do you only eat Thai food drink Thai beers ?

Immigrants complaining about other immigrants not integrating

Sorry but i prefer to stay how I am instead of turning Thai, give those Muslims the same cutesy as long as they are peaceful.

Very good point Rob.