The recent terrorist attacks in Paris have shocked everyone. Terror and violence of any kind carried out on any ethnicity is fiercely condemned by every country that wishes for peace and security in the world. The attacks claimed the lives of many civilians and left hundreds of families and friends in mourning. In the wake of such horrific incidents, while it is understandable for the public to be swayed by emotional reactions, the governments on the other hand are required to keep a cool head and make responsible and rational decisions in order to ease tension and prevent further damage. Yet, this has rarely been the case so far. With ISIL terrorists claiming affinity to Islam, Muslims in the US and Europe are beginning to feel alienated, met with hostile stares and even targeted in religiously-motivated hate crimes.
Islamophobia and xenophobia are also being whipped up by US Republican presidential candidates, with Donald Trump swearing to close all mosques and force American-Muslims to carry special ID cards, or Ben Carson referring to Syrian refugees as “rabid dogs.”
