1. Parisand the ongoingfightforliberty,equalityandfraternity
Democracyis thoughtto have beenintroducedasearlyas 550 BCE inancientAthens.Itwasn’t
democracyas we understandittodayas onlymenwithstatus,landand propertywere allowedto
vote.The chaos of 600 mentryingto decide onlegislationhelpeddecide Platothatdemocracywas
one stepaway fromanarchy.
The modernformof democracymay notbe ideal,butitoffershope tomillions,hope thatthe world
can be changedtoprovide humankindasafe andsecure environmentinwhichtolive,workand
raise children.
The recentatrocitiesaroundthe world,concernnotonlyParisbut many,manyotherssuch as
Lebanon,Israel,Burundi,Afghanistan,Pakistan,India,Syria,Bali….toomany.Parishasdominated
the recentheadlinesbecause itisregardedasan emblemof the democraticstate andthe originof
the phrase ‘Liberty,EqualityandFraternity’.These wordsholdaspecial meaningforthe people who
live infree,equal societiesandnevermore sothannow,whenthose idealsare underattackfrom
groupsof fanatical,religiousextremists.
The West issplitbetweenfactionsofferingrefuge tothose fleeingwar,whose aimisunityand
tolerance,peace andbetterunderstanding,andthose whowouldcondemnIslamandall its
followersthroughdiscrimination,fearandhatred.Althoughbloodhasbeenshedbyall different
religioussects,thereislittledoubtIslamhasreceivedthe worstof the public’s opprobriumbecause
of the hideousactscarriedoutin itsname.
Troops are deployedonthe streets,bombingraidshave increased,xenophobiamore extensive,
citizenshave beenwarnedandbordersclosed;fearandwarmongeringreignssupreme because this
isthe rhetoricthe medialove,outrage,deathanddestruction sellnewspapers andgetpublicity.ISIS
knowsthisandif theiraimisas stated,theyrelishthe ideaof apocalypse,afighttothe deathon the
plainsof Dabiq – ‘The sparkhas beenlithere inIraq,and itsheatwill continue tointensify…until it
burnsthe CrusaderarmiesinDabiq,’ preached AbuMusabal-Zaraqawi in2006
(http://www.clarionproject.org/analysis/dabiq-islamic-state-wants-battle-end-days).Itmarksa
fulfilmentof prophecywhenthe forcesof ‘Rome’willbe defeatedbythose of Islam.Thisprophecy
can be foundeverywhereonthe internetanddemonstratesthe ultimate goal of the jihadists…and
fuelsthe escalating,political storms.
Sadly,ithas beenMuslimsthemselveswhohave sufferedthe mostinthisbattle foran Islamic
Caliphate andthe callsforthe reformationorre-interpretationof Islamare growing.The majorityof
Muslimsinterpretthe Qu’ranasa message of tolerance andpeace inthe same way Christians
decidedthe ideologyof the Bible inpasttimes.Thesewere bloodytimesforChristianity - war,
massacres,burningandtorture all playeda part inthe re-thinkingof enlightenmentEurope anda
diminishmentof strict,religiousbelief introducedthe blossomingof democracy,science andreason,
leadingtothe supremacyof westernstatesonthe worldstage.
Muslimsaroundthe worldhave consistentlypleadedfortheirreligion,insistingIslamisareligionof
peace,butin Paris,whowouldorcouldbelievethis? Infact,manypeople do.Ordinaryhuman
beingswholive andbreathe democracyandstandforthe valuesexpressedabove;those who
upholdthe rightsof the individual aboveall elseandtheirvoicesneedtobe heeded.
There isa wayto defeatISISbutit mustbe embracedbythose directlyinvolved –Muslims. Egyptian
president,Abdel Fattahel-Sisi,IrshadManji,AyaanHirsi Ali,NawazMasjidare justafew of the

2. voicesnowraisedinsupportof reform,nevertheless,these fewwillnotprevail withoutthe
wholeheartedencouragementanddeterminationof the 1.6 billionMuslimswhodeclare ‘Islamisa
religionof peace’and‘notinIslam’sname’. The idealsof the FrenchRepublicare still ahope forthe
future we can all strive toachieve.