The Dearborn-based Arab American News issued an editorial on Wednesday strongly condemning the terrorist attack in Paris.
The editorial, with the headline " The Paris attacks are an insult to the Prophet Mohamad," says:
Terrorism struck in the heart of Paris on Wednesday, Jan. 7, when three masked gunmen killed 12 people at the office of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Media reports rushed to describe the crime as "an apparent militant Islamist attack" because the paper had published cartoons of the Prophet Mohamad, even though the suspects, who fled the scene of the massacre, are still at large.
Regardless of the identity and motives of the perpetrators, this barbaric crime is despicable and we should condemn it collectively as a community. At The Arab American News, we feel painful sympathy for the victims, most of whom practiced our craft.
If the attack was a response to publishing the offensive cartoons, as most media outlets are claiming, then it is a crime against all Muslims, especially in the West and the Prophet Mohamad himself, who preached tolerance and urged his followers to refrain from the revenge mentality.
We do not condone insulting religious symbols, whether comically or in a serious manner. But speech should be addressed only with speech. The Paris attack does not earn Muslim respect; it rather perpetuates stereotypes and misconceptions about the religion and its followers and prophet. If the crime was carried out by extremists who proclaim themselves as Muslim, it will only harm the image of Muslims and their religion, which fundamentally rejects murder.
