Its extremists pose enormous threat

So, a 17-year-old letter writer has decided that she “has learned enough to know that Islam is a peaceful religion” (Letters, July 27 “Writer wrong to condemn religion”). Maybe she could tell that to:

The 2,974 people who died during the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Or the 202 people who died in Bali on Oct. 12, 2002. Or the 191 people who died in Madrid on March 11, 2004. Or the 52 people who died in London on July 7, 2005. Or the unknown number of people tortured and murdered by the Taliban during their reign in Afghanistan. Or the many people being blown to pieces every day in Iraq by suicide bomers; including 89 killed over the weekend by female suicide bombers. And all of this violence — and much more — is done in the name of Allah.

The letter writer states that “it is wrong to condemn an entire religion based on the actions of a few deluded and violent individuals.” It is just as wrong to claim that Islam is a “peaceful religion” when the facts prove otherwise. And contrary to her personal research, there seems to be more than a few deluded and violent individuals who are willing to kill innocent men, women and children (infidels and fellow Muslims alike) in the name of Allah.

Muslim extremists are the biggest threat to world security since the axis alliance of World War II (Germany, Japan and Italy). Appeasement is not the solution. And, so far, “moderate Muslims” are playing the role of Neville Chamberlain.

Jim Willoughby