
It
probably isn’t difficult to guess my political position by now – yes, I’m
Conservative. Centre-right, albeit more towards the centre. Yet, I find it hard
to swallow the Conservative Party’s decision to conduct airstrikes in Syria.
No, I’m not a “terrorist sympathiser”, neither am I a Corbyn sympathiser. I
hate terrorism to the gut; I hate how religion is being abused, how it creates
stigmatism, and how lives are being taken so lightly. And that is precisely why
I do not condone spending 508 grand to fuel the violent war that ISIS is trying
to wage.
We
declare war on terrorism. But terrorism is not just ISIS. Terrorism is not just
radicalised human beings whom we ought to get rid of. Terrorism is an idea. You
can’t kill an idea with bombs and bullets. In fact, you can’t kill it at all.
What you can do, though, is to contain it. Not with threats of violence but by
showing the world how absurd it is, by dwindling its support, and ultimately,
making it crumble away.
The aim
of Islamic terrorism is jihad.
The Cambridge English Dictionary defines it as a holy war fought against people
who are a threat to Islam. It also defines war
as an armed fighting between two or more groups. When the Conservative
Party reciprocates to ISIS’ call for a violent war, it is precisely fulfilling
ISIS’ raison d'être. A
violent war cannot be waged if there is only one party involved. They are terrorists.
They are suicide bombers. They are ever ready to put their lives, and the lives
of their people, on the line. That is what they are “called” to do. But you’re
politicians. You’re the government. You’re not called to fight this war, and
neither are your people, nor your soldiers. You’re called to protect your people.
You think you’re doing so, but you’re just fighting a losing battle. As Jessica Stern aptly points out, it is a huge paradox. “The more we fight it, the more
its appeal grows.” You’re giving the enemies of the West an idea that they can
relate to. Radicalised citizens are springing up all around the world. In
Europe, in America, in Asia; everywhere.
In a propaganda video that ISIS reportedly released, they declared that your numbers only
increase them in faith. They said that they are counting your banners, awaiting
the fulfilment of their prophecy, that it would reach 80 in number. Why are you
being so obedient? Why are you playing into their hands?
Of course, you
shouldn’t be sitting back and doing nothing. But there are things you can do
apart from taking revenge. There are things you can do with the 508 grand,
apart from conducting the airstrikes. Among all the things that UNILAD has suggested, you could also, instead, fight this war against terrorism with
investments in education. Win the hearts of young people, against the forces of
terrorism. You could fight this war by investing in the lives of local Syrian
people. Win their hearts with care and concern. Show them that you’re
practising the democracy that you preach, that the tactics you adopt are
different, that you’re not merely a party involved in the holy war. You could
fight this war by sending more aid to the victims of terrorism, and to their families. It is
support and comfort that heals, not revenge.
As
French journalist, Nicolas Henin (who was held captive by ISIS), puts it, “The winner of this war
will not be the party that has the newest, the most expensive or the most
sophisticated weaponry, but the party that manages to win over the people on
its side.” Frankly speaking, I don’t have the answers to how you could win
people over. But all I know is that violence and revenge is not the way.
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