- Only 1 in 4 British Muslims Agree Hamas Committed Atrocities
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/only-1-4-british-muslims-agree-hamas-committed-atrocities
Location: United Kingdom
A comprehensive survey by the Henry Jackson Society and JL Partners has brought to light some disconcerting attitudes among British Muslims regarding Hamas and the broader socio-political landscape. The survey, which polled 1,000 British Muslims, found that only a quarter acknowledge that Hamas committed atrocities like murder and rape in Israel on October 7. This perspective is compounded by the finding that nearly half of the respondents (46%) harbor sympathy for Hamas. This is significantly higher than the 26% sympathy rate among the broader British public. Moreover, the poll revealed that a notable segment of British Muslims—nearly a third—favor the introduction of Sharia law in the UK within the next two decades, reflecting a strong desire for the integration of Islamic legal principles into the British legal framework. The survey also highlights a prevalent belief among British Muslims that Jews disproportionately influence UK and US foreign policies, with 46% endorsing this viewpoint. A leader in the Muslim community, involved with organizations like Tell Mama and Muslims Against Anti-Semitism, emphasized the need for corrective measures: "The sense that Hamas did not conduct massacres and rapes in Israel is atrocious because it shows a closed-off mentality to anything emanating from Israel.”
- Australian Bishop Stabbed in Terrorist Attack by Radicalized Teen
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/australian-bishop-stabbed-terrorist-attack-radicalized-teen
Location: Australia
In a disturbing event that has gripped Australia, a 16-year-old boy launched a violent attack inside the Assyrian Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, a suburb of Sydney. During a mass that was being live-streamed on April 15th, the teenager attempted to fatally stab Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel and Reverend Isaac Royel. Four individuals, including the clerics, sustained injuries classified as non-life-threatening. The attack, which was broadcasted on the church’s social media, saw the assailant vocalizing his motives in Arabic, saying, "If they didn’t insult my prophet, I wouldn’t have come here. If he didn’t involve himself in my religion, I would not have come here.” The incident not only caused panic among the attendees but also incited significant unrest and violent confrontations between the community and the police outside the church. This led to injuries among the police officers and the destruction of police vehicles. The New South Wales Police Force, through Commissioner Karen Webb, labeled the incident a religiously motivated terrorist attack, which has sparked debate among community leaders regarding the implications of such a classification. This act of violence has left the community and followers online in a state of shock and mourning, further emphasized by a vigil held for the recovering clerics, with the church urging prayers for both the victims and the perpetrator.
- Asylum Seeker Attacks Ex-Muslim Roommate in UK, 'Motivated by Gaza'
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/asylum-seeker-attacks-ex-muslim-roommate-uk-motivated-gaza
Location: United Kingdom
In a distressing case unfolding in the UK, 45-year-old Moroccan asylum seeker Ahmed Alid stands accused of murdering 70-year-old Terrence Carney and attempting to murder his housemate, Javed Nouri, in Hartlepool. The violence, according to the prosecution at Teesside Crown Court, was driven by Alid's reaction to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC described how Alid, harboring extreme views, assaulted Nouri on October 15, 2023, after breaking into his room at 4 AM. Alid, who shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great), stabbed Nouri near the heart and continued attacking even as Nouri tried to defend himself. Alid reportedly acted out of a belief that Nouri, being a Christian convert, was an apostate deserving of death. Alid's rampage did not stop with Nouri; he fatally stabbed Carney several times as the pensioner was out for a morning walk. Sandiford highlighted Alid's motivation, stating he attacked to "further his desire that Palestine would be free from Zionists," and chillingly added, "the defendant said he would have killed more people if he had been able to do so." This case paints a grim picture of how deeply held beliefs can manifest into violent actions, impacting the lives of individuals and their communities.
- Chants of "Death to America" at Michigan Pro-Palestine Rally Spark Outrage
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/chants-death-america-michigan-pro-palestine-rally-spark-outrage
Location: United States
The pro-Palestine rallies held in Dearborn, Michigan, and Houston, Texas, which included chants of "death to America" and "death to Israel," have stirred significant public outrage and media attention. These rallies, marking the International Day of Al-Quds, underscored the deep divisions regarding U.S. support for Israel following the deadly October 7 attack that claimed 1,200 Israeli lives. Tarek Bazzi, a Michigan activist who organized the Dearborn event, vocally criticized the U.S. administration and American foreign policy. He controversially echoed Malcolm X, calling America “one of the rottenest countries that has ever existed on this earth,” and rationalized that in the current global context, "death to Israel" is perceived as a "logical chant." The events streamed online and attended by crowds waving Palestinian flags and displaying anti-Israel slogans, also featured inflammatory speeches that were captured and widely shared on social media platforms, leading to millions of views and a broad spectrum of reactions. Local leaders, including Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, have publicly condemned the rhetoric used at these rallies, emphasizing that such statements do not reflect the community's views and advocating for peace and justice for all people. These incidents highlight the volatile intersection of local expressions of international conflicts and the challenges they pose to community cohesion and public diplomacy.
- Top US Intel Agency Bans "Jihadist" and "Radical Islamist" as Offensive
https://www.atheistrepublic.com/news/top-us-intel-agency-bans-jihadist-radical-islamist-offensive
Location: United States
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in the United States has issued new guidelines urging intelligence personnel to avoid terms like "jihadist" and "radical Islamist," which are deemed offensive to Muslim Americans. This initiative, revealed through a Freedom of Information Act request by The Daily Wire, is part of a broader effort by the ODNI's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Office to refine language used in counterterrorism contexts to avoid reinforcing stereotypes or alienating Muslim communities. The internal document emphasizes that "words matter" and seeks to "disentangle Islam from words and phrases used to discuss terrorism and extremist violence," aiming to replace them with less provocative terms such as "Khawarij," referencing historical Islamic sects. This shift has sparked criticism and debate about the balance between sensitive communication and the clarity of security terminology, with opponents like Senator Tom Cotton arguing, "The Biden administration putting DEI above national security concerns is a tragedy waiting to happen. Our intelligence agencies should spend their time finding terrorists, not worrying about whether they will offend them."
