Jumping to conclusions has become a routine affair for the habitual Muslim-bashers. Without verifying the facts Muslim groups are blamed for any act of terrorism carried out anywhere in the world. And as usual the screaming headlines on the TV channels had started speculating about Muslim extremist groups from al-Qaeda to Libyan organisations loyal to Muammar Gaddafi responsible for the Norwegian carnage. And the moment it turned out that Anders Behring Breivik a native extremist Christian having no links with any Muslim group is responsible for the bomb attack and the cold-blooded slaughter of teenagers, the jaws started dropping in disbelief as if only Muslim groups are capable of killing innocents. The tune and tenor of the media coverage also changed dramatically. Although UN Security Council and international leaders made a beeline to condemn the ghastly act and the media also prominently covered the incident, the level of coverage was not as intense and extensive as experienced in the aftermath of the London and Madrid bomb blasts.  
 The scholars studying the emerging trends of the media biases and prejudices have astoundingly discovered that anything associated to Islam and perceived ills attached to this religion are covered extensively by the media, universally. In comparison the ghastly acts committed by the other groups are not covered as comprehensively as in case of Muslim extremists.  In some cases the media coverage is even subdued.  Obviously, the West is profoundly griped with the worst syndrome of Islamophobia. This perceived fear of Islam is the reason behind the dastardly act carried by Behring Breivik in Norway. And this seems to be the new beginning of anti Islam tirade that may eventually lead to the exclusion of Muslims from the Europe.  The manner the hate is building up, even genocide of Muslims is a distant possibility.       
In his initial reaction little knowing that a home grown terrorist is involved, Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, had hinted “non-Norwegian forces could be behind the acts of terror”. In the heat of the moment he even affirmed that “no bomb or shooting would scare Norway to compromise on its values and democracy” as if invading Islamic forces are ready to take over the Europe. Coming to know that any Muslim group is not behind the gruesome murder of innocents in Norway a sigh of relief was felt in the Muslim societies. An act of terror by any Muslim extremist group would have surely triggered a fresh wave of hate Islam campaign. Yet it was hugely perplexing that why a self-declared Muslim hate monger carried out the murder of his own fellow countrymen? 
The 1,500-page manifesto of Behring Breivik unveils the murderous intentions and the mind griped with the hate and fear. He claims that “he was compelled to act by the failure of mainstream politicians — including those in the Progress Party — to stem the Islamic tide”. The killer chillingly declares that in order to “implement a cultural conservative political agenda” its must “to seize political and military control of Western European countries”. He declares that “the time for dialogue is over and the time for armed resistance has come”. What’s more frightening is his prediction that there will be more violence “that would kill or injure more than a million people” in order to “end a centuries-long Muslim colonisation of Europe”.  Making his intentions clear Behring Breivik writes in his hate manifesto: “What most people still do not understand is that the ongoing Islamicisation of Europe cannot be stopped before one gets to grip with the political doctrine which makes it possible.”
Muslim world seems to have lost its pristine glory. Nevertheless a section of adventurous Muslim youth still dream renascence. However mainstream Islam is struggling hard to overcome the challenges posed by the modern times. The violence witnessed in the Muslim societies is reaction to the subjugation, suppression and due to the powerlessness being experienced at the international stage. The deep sense of helplessness and depravity the Muslims are collectively experiencing presently is unprecedented that eventually leads to the violent reactions. Muslims feel besieged, vilified and conquered. On the contrary Western civilization is at its zenith. The third world Muslim societies are no match to the post modern societies of the West. Muslim nations are immensely overawed by the technological advancement, knowledge based economy and militarily prowess of the West. Yet it’s surprising that a fear psychosis has been deliberately built in the Europe and America that Islam is ready to take over West.  A New York Times editorial disturbingly points out that “A disturbing, and growing, intolerance across Europe for Muslims and other immigrants from Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Inflammatory political rhetoric is increasingly tolerated”. The NYT further divulges that “Even mainstream politicians in Europe, including Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France have sown doubts about the ability or willingness of Europe to absorb newcomers”.  In October 2010, The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, infamously had announced that “the country's attempts to create a multicultural society have utterly failed”.   
 The Western intelligentsia may accuse that “Mr. Breivik appears to have been deeply influenced by a small group of American bloggers and writers who have warned for years about Islam’s supposed threat to Western civilization”. The growing popularity of right wing extremist parties in Europe leads only to one conclusion that Islam has been presented as an invading civilization that may ultimately trigger the downfall of the West. Islamic societies at present may not have the capabilities even to confront some of the critical internal challenges, but to present Islam as an invading civilization is part of a grand sinister design. By presenting Islam as an adversary capable of vanquishing West, Western mind is eager to purge Muslims from Europe and America. The conquest may not stop there only, Islam has to be subdued and deformed for- ever. Some Western analysts openly argue that “Across Europe there is a strong and growing concern about immigration. It is partly fueled by unemployment but also has its roots in threatened identity”.  That’ the reason why more and more European countries one after another have started banning Burqa, there is now greater resistance to the building of mosques and Islamic cultural centres. Minarets and domes are considered threat to the Western culture.  Stephen Lennon, leader of the English Defense League has said that “he does not condone Breivik's rampage but the fact that so many people are scared - people have to listen to that... It's a ticking time bomb. If they don't give that frustration and anger a platform as such and a voice - and a way of getting emotion out in a democratic way - it will create monsters like this lunatic”.    
Behring Breivik’s lunatic act has been widely condemned, but he is not alone in his thinking, many in Europe find his thinking process quite acceptable. Mario Borghezio, a European parliamentarian belonging to Italy's populist Northern League party has said “Some of the ideas he expressed are good - barring the violence - some of them are great”.  So it has become amply clear that Behring Breivik’s is not alone, he represents a thinking process.      Behring Breivik wants Muslims to be assimilated completely:”In fact, I have had several Muslim friends over the years, some whom I still respect. This does not mean I will accept an Islamic presence in Europe. Muslim individuals who are not assimilated 100 per cent by 2020 will be deported as soon as we manage to seize power. Behring Breivik’s Muslims assimilation mission somehow resembles with the Hidutva forces eager to Hindunise Muslims. Just few days ago, Dr. Subramaniam Swamy in his article “How to wipe out Islamic terror” had suggested: “Therefore we need today a collective mindset as Hindus to stand against the Islamic terrorist. In this response, Muslims of India can join us if they genuinely feel for the Hindu. That they do, I will not believe, unless they acknowledge with pride that though they may be Muslims, their ancestors are Hindus”. Incidentally Breivik in his manifesto emphasises his sense of solidarity with “Sanatana Dharma movements”.  Demanding end to “Islamic immigration, Shariah law and building mosques”, might be fringe elements.  What about German chancellor Angela Merkel’s assertion that “onus was on immigrants to do more to integrate into German society”? Integration is the codeword for the assimilation; it leaves nothing for any imagination. Clash of civilizations seems to be becoming a real one?

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Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST