In the aftermath of the Paris attacks on Friday, there has been an array of mixed responses from the public. Many have changed their profile pictures on Facebook to show their solitary with France at this time while others are questioning why the millions who perished in Beirut, Syria, and Palestine combined have not received as much attention and empathy.
But what many do not have to deal with as a result of these attacks is a deep concern for their own safety. The fear in many Muslim’s minds in America is how to deal with the impending backslash and hate in the wake of ISIS declaring its supposed responsibility for the attacks. 9/11 turned the world upside down for all Muslims in the home they call America – there was no doubt that the attacks on Paris would do the same. The social media response has already begun as many have began to blame Muslims for the terror events in Paris, even going to the extent of blaming it all on the Refugee Crisis.
How's that Syrian refugee resettlement look now? How about that mass migration into Europe? Terrorism is alive & well in the world. #No
— Rep. Jeff Duncan (@RepJeffDuncan) November 14, 2015
What's the upside of letting millions of Muslims migrate to western countries?
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) November 14, 2015
The now revived hashtag #NotInMyName was created in 2014 by a group of young Muslims in east London after the murders of two British aid workers, Alan Henning and David Haines, by Islamic State terrorists. It has expanded in its role to remind the world that the Islamic State does not represent the true essence of Islam and the majority opinion of the Muslim population around the globe. Using the hashtag #NotInMyName, Muslim Twitter users have expressed their grief with Parisians all the while expressing their disbelief that such terror attacks are being, once again, attributed to their faith and religion. Rather than apologizing for the religion and carrying the burden of such accusations, they are taking back their image as Muslims from such terrorist groups to vocalize the true essence of Islam.
As a non-religious British female this is how I feel about Islamophobia & hatred towards innocents #NotInMyNamepic.twitter.com/AE7z9gUoT0
— -Lux- (@KijoLux) November 15, 2015
#notinmyname because #ISIS do not represent British #muslimspic.twitter.com/SVwu7bl33z
— Antonio Cimmino (@cimmino_a) November 15, 2015
#ISIS does not represent me, nor does it represent my religion, hence #NotInMyName.
Please R/T this message. ☺ pic.twitter.com/1WpWWoY1vq
— Dawood Masood (@dawoodmasood786) November 5, 2015
For anyone confused about what we, as Muslims, believe. Remember, terrorism is #NotInMyName. pic.twitter.com/rJ1Zn57RVe
— Noor ☭ Mothsama Boat Laden (@MothraMissWorld) November 14, 2015
RT @Mileyvwood This is utterly amazing. #NotInMyName#PrayForTheWorldhttps://t.co/RfNO0KxdkVhttps://t.co/RlvZOEksYC
— Ideas4Solutions (@ideas4solutions) November 14, 2015
Getting over having to say #NotInMyName over and over again. FACT: these guys are a bunch of loons with a distorted perception of Islam.
— Tahmina Ansari (@TahminaAnsari) November 15, 2015
Disgraceful front page article in Sunday Independent. No tragedy too horrific to use to attack left and push islamophobia. #NotInMyName
— Paul Murphy 🏳️⚧️ (@paulmurphy_TD) November 15, 2015
Terrorism is NOT Islam! Stop ignorance!#NotInMyNamepic.twitter.com/d7dPbMObib
— Marco di Noia (@marcodinoia) November 15, 2015
Islam is a religion of peace. Terrorism has no place in this religion. #NotInMyNamepic.twitter.com/wqXB3BTRCj
— Siasat.pk (@siasatpk) November 17, 2015
https://twitter.com/YouthMalaysia/status/665749376657133569
https://twitter.com/eminerosemutlu/status/665922370935398400
each time … #NotInMyNamepic.twitter.com/6x0nADPkDB
— sherry (@CherieDamour_) November 14, 2015
For every terror attack claimed in the name of Islam: #notinmyname . Monsters do not represent my faith.
— Ligwina Hananto (@mrshananto) November 14, 2015
Legítima defensa x legítima defensa y el mundo quedará destruido. #NotInMyName#NoEnMiNombre#NoALaGuerra#Raqqapic.twitter.com/gNiNRxGPtI
— Tango (@htiseyra76) November 15, 2015
But what is quite saddening is the fact that many Muslims have to come to such desperate measures to announce to the world for the hundredth time that ISIS does not define them and that they need to express sympathy for any attack that takes the lives of innocents.
https://twitter.com/juliahobsbawm/status/665962012116168704
Until I see 1000s of Belgians holding #NotInMyName posters on social media I'm holding them collectively responsible https://t.co/VZ3MGAMI4M
— Gracchus Babeuf #SiempreMaradona (@GBabeuf) November 15, 2015
Each time a bomb explodes I find myself pleading to God: "Please don't let the culprit be Muslim" #NotInMyName
— Salina N. (@salinanas) November 13, 2015
https://twitter.com/happy_akh/status/665298401483853824
https://twitter.com/zarahsultana/status/665289801252397056
And some… still. don’t. get. it.
https://twitter.com/JonathanMucci/status/666029259668893696
I guess we’ll just keep tweeting?
This article was originally published on MuslimGirl.net.