Perspective: Lessons from Islam applied to Baltimore uprising | Rehana Akhtar

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Loyalty to the homeland and abiding by the law is one of the key principles of Islam which seeks to establish an absolute peaceful society.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: The Baltimore Sun
By Rehana Akhtar | May 1, 2015

Violence should not be part of response to injustice in Baltimore.

"Love for all, hatred for none," the motto of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, seems to be the order of the day when looking at the precarious situation in Baltimore City. Much as police violence is to be condemned, there is no justification for violence on the part of the citizens either. Destroying public property is no answer to presumed misconduct by the guardians of the law.

In the video clip from April 24 capturing a news conference by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in front of local faith leaders, no Muslim representative was shown giving any statement. Whatever the reason was, Islam is very clear about what the right response to any kind of injustice should be: "Repel evil with that which is best" (Quran, 41: 35). Thus Islam demands from us to utilize peaceful means of protest within the limits of the law and without creating disorder in the land, even in the face of blatant injustice. Loyalty to the homeland and abiding by the law is one of the key principles of Islam which seeks to establish an absolute peaceful society.

I hope that justice is also done to the bereaved family of Freddie Gray by a speedy and thorough investigation of the case, and that we can find ways to live peacefully together without any racial conflicts splitting our nation apart.

Rehana Akhtar, Randallstown


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