A Terrorist Murdered Three Promising Young Adults in North Carolina
I’m supposed to feel weird stating the truth- that a terrorist murdered three young people in North Carolina. The reason I’m supposed to feel weird is because the three young people were Muslim. And terrorists don’t murder Muslims according to what we are told. We are told that Muslims are the terrorists. All other types of people are simply not. (Not terrorists that is.) All other types of people (other than Muslim) that commit heinous crimes that fit the definition of terrorism are mentally unstable, “troubled,” a “lone wolf” or pissed off about a parking space. But they are definitely- definitely not terrorists.
Muslim victims of terrorism like students Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19 are being mourned today after they were murdered – shot in the head execution-style by their “hateful neighbor” (as Abu-Salha described him to her father just last week,) Craig Stephen Hicks, 46. They are being mourned by people of conscious of all walks of life. They are being mourned by the Muslim community in America and around the world.
They are not being treated the same in mainstream media as other human beings that have been victims of terrorism though. The mainstream media doesn’t make a big hoopla out of terrorist victims if they are Muslim. That would be counter-intuitive to the narrative that we are supposed to be jiving with. It doesn’t flow with the media pills we are supposed to be swallowing. The terrorism drum-beat is supposed to have a Moozlem sound to it. In order for the true narrative to come out, we have to flock to places like Twitter. And use hash tags like #MuslimLivesMatter in order to tell the world, in 2015, that it’s not okay to execution-style massacre people for their religious beliefs.
Some news outlets are pedaling a “parking space” argument as a means to defend the defenseless. The white man needs a reason for massacring three young people. Road rage seems a palatable excuse. Reading the account of Abu-Salha’s best friend, Amira Ata talking about her experiences with the victims and even a previous run-in with their murderer, squashes the parking tale being spun. We all know this is a hate crime.
When I look at the images of these young people with a future ahead of them as dentists, artists, humanitarians, parents- I feel like I know them. They look like any other young and energetic Muslim kids from our community. They could be my nieces and nephew. They could be my kids. And I grieve for their senseless loss. I grieve for their family whose lives have been shattered. I grieve for the North Carolina Muslim community and the Muslim community at large. I grieve for our nation that the Islamophobia network’s consistent and incessant marketing of hate – is not just resulting in another Muslim being passed over for a job because of their Muslim-sounding name – but it is resulting in the loss of life. Young, beautiful, fruitful life. I grieve for the ancestry of these kids. Their families are from Syria and Palestine. These kids were American yet died tragically for who they were. Like people dying in Syria and Palestine are dying today.
Just a few days ago, I told a community activist friend of mine what makes my heart soar about the Muslim community. That no matter our backgrounds or weaknesses, we share a common bond that no one and nothing can tear down. We share a spiritual bond that is impenetrable. In good times and in bad times – when I find myself coming together with Muslim “strangers,” I always walk away with a larger network of friends and contacts. I emerge with phone numbers – emails – and I’m instantly bonded with new brothers and sisters as my Muslim network grows. When I see the young faces of Deah, Yusor and Razan – I see a brother and two sisters that I can imagine having that quick and easy spiritual bond with after meeting at a community iftar or an Islamic Relief charity event – as they have been known to partake in – and so have I right here in Chicago.
I feel bonded to them through images and through the senseless tragedy of their deaths. I want to comfort their parents – but nothing I can say or do will heal their hearts that are now forever shattered and empty without their children. These souls are in a better place – and we are still here. Living in a story land where Muslims are the bad guy, white terrorists have “parking issues,” and three beautiful, promising young people – are gone.
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Your activism is making a difference! The FBI is now investigating this as a Hate Crime. Don’t stop making your voices heard! We will not rest until this is called what it is! Keep it trending!!
#MuslimLivesMatter #ChapelHillShooting
UPDATE: On February 13, 2015, the White House issued a statement about the FBI probe. alhamduililah. May justice be served by uncovering the truth and allowing the dignity of the victims, their families, Muslims worldwide and all humans of conscience- to be upheld by calling this what it is: a Hate Crime.
“No one in the United States of America should ever be targeted because of who they are, what they look like, or how they worship.” ~President Barack Obama
____________________________
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2015
Statement by the President
Yesterday, the FBI opened an inquiry into the brutal and outrageous murders of Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, Deah Shaddy Barakat, and Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In addition to the ongoing investigation by local authorities, the FBI is taking steps to determine whether federal laws were violated. No one in the United States of America should ever be targeted because of who they are, what they look like, or how they worship. Michelle and I offer our condolences to the victims’ loved ones. As we saw with the overwhelming presence at the funeral of these young Americans, we are all one American family. Whenever anyone is taken from us before their time, we remember how they lived their lives – and the words of one of the victims should inspire the way we live ours.
“Growing up in America has been such a blessing,” Yusor said recently. “It doesn’t matter where you come from. There’s so many different people from so many different places, of different backgrounds and religions – but here, we’re all one.”
About the Author
About the Author: I'm a Writer, Speaker and Muslim Activist. I'm a former Board Member of the #MyJihad Public Education Campaign.
Follow my blog at yasminareality.com or follow me on Twitter: @yasmina_reality. I'm also now on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YasminaReality
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