This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Have you ever wondered why Muslims are so quiet on Islamic extremists? Do they not care?
No. They care; we just don't hear about it because car bombs are more interesting than peace talks.
It is often claimed that the Quran teaches violence. Here's a verse that explains Islam's view on other religions: "There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion" (Quran 2:256). This theme of acceptance is common throughout the Quran.
Although there is no head of the Islamic faith, as in many Christian churches, there are regional religious leaders known as Imams. There are hundreds of examples of Imams denouncing terrorism. Imam Mohamed Al-Darsani, who runs the Fort Myers Islamic Center for Peace, condemned the recent attack in Benghazi, Libya, saying: "It's not Islamic. It's not Arabic."
The rejection of terrorism is also on a national level. Following 9/11, Iran had a minute-long moment of silence in memory of those affected by the attacks. Dozens more examples can be found on the Internet.
The Middle East is in a state of unrest, but the vast majority of people there want peace. Let us not fall into the trap of discrimination, which is ultimately the root of this conflict.
Vulhar Rala
Provo