Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak
KUALA LUMPUR: Muslims must condemn and send a strong message that violence, whether against fellow Muslims or non-Muslims, cannot be tolerated, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
Salleh said that Muslims rejected all forms of violence whether by terrorists or state organised.
“Violence begets violence and history has proven that violence has never been the way to solve conflicts.
“However, as long as the large silent majority remain silent and do not condemn such terrorist acts then it would be perceived that the silence mean tacit support,” he posted on his blog sskeruak.blogspot.com today.
Salleh was commenting on the Paris attack which indicates that over 100 people were killed in the attacks Friday night at a concert hall, city-centre restaurants and near the Stade de France.
He said the incident was the second terrorist incident this year after the Charlie Hebdo shooting and has brought back memories of the Madrid bombings in 2004 that resulted in 191 dead and 1,800 wounded.
Salleh pointed out that since the incident of Sept 2001, Islam is perceived as a violent religion and those giving Islam this negative image are Muslims themselves.
“Unfortunately, in all these tragedies it was the work of Muslims. And this is another tragedy because Islam is as much the victim as those killed and wounded.
“What the west may not realise is that there are more than a billion Muslims but just a small minority commit these terrorist acts while the majority o Muslims are peace loving and reject violence,” Salleh said. –Bernama