Stop blaming Islam for terrorism

Stop blaming Islam for terrorism

When acts of terrorism are associated with Muslims, public discourse frequently treats Islam itself as the most immediate and often only explanation. Because it is a visible and familiar marker to Western audiences, scapegoating Islam feels like a neat answer, but it is misleading. It turns a complex social and political phenomenon into a simple moral story — Islam made them do it. This reflex is also mistaken because religion is rarely the orig…