Karachi: The tragic loss of life occurred in southern New England, USA, has brought tears far and wide. My heart bleeds for the families that have been directly impacted by an unimaginable loss, said Dr Fowzia Siddiqui, the sister of Pakistani incarcerated mother Aafia Siddiqui here Monday.
In a statement, she said my sister too was a victim of such a shootout, but because she was a Muslim and her shooter was no other than an American she the victim becomes the accused. “No one can feel the pain of these affected families as I. In the Islamic tradition, children who die young are innocent beings who are guaranteed entry through the gates of Paradise. Taking the life of one innocent is like killing entire humanity.”
Dr Fowzia Siddiqui said US President Obama gave a moving, and no doubt, heartfelt statement lamenting the tragic loss of life which included references to young children who had “their whole lives ahead of them.” And of those who survived, he spoke of the innocence which had been “torn away far too early.” The US president also declared, “As a nation, we have endured far too many of these tragedies in the last few years.”
She asked Mr. Obama that as a nation, have you not imposed far too many of these tragedies on others, like the so-called collateral damage that you produce in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Palestine, and the list goes on The murdered children of these global communities, and the grieving families they leave behind, do they not matter as well
“Consequently, from Hurricane Sandy to Sandy Hook Elementary School, the world is witnessing the bitter truth in Thomas Jefferson’s words when he noted many generations ago: “I tremble for my country when I reflect God is Just; His justice cannot sleep forever.”
Fowzia Siddiqui said what we are seeing is a deeply disturbed society; one of the most influential societies in world history, but one that often exports its disturbances to other corners of the world. She said Newtown, Connecticut is a predominantly white township and economically booming. This has become the place of the second worst mass shooting in U.S. history – and one that tragically claimed the lives of 20 children.
She said while media attention, and the looming debate on the horizon, will increasingly focus on the issue of “gun control,” the more important issues at the heart of this tragedy will continue to be ignored. The culture of violence that permeates every strata of American society; the breakdown of the institution of family; the absence of God and any sense of accountability beyond the here and now; the rise of materialism and the dehumanization and alienation that comes in its wake; and the tendency for the generally well-to-do.
She said we pray for guidance from our Lord. We pray for peace in our countries and our hearts. We pray for strength to bear this tragic loss. Ameen.