Muslim residents of Japan on Sunday expressed their deep sorrow for the murder of journalist Kenji Goto and said they were angry about the Islamic State group’s barbaric actions.
“We are very, very sorry about this bad news and I am telling the Japanese people that we are very, very sorry,” said Mohamad H. Loghmani, a 44-year-old Iranian resident of Tokyo.
He said the Islamic State group has non-Islamic aims: a hunger for money, power and blood. He said he does not consider its fighters to be Muslims.
“I am telling the Japanese people that Muslim people in the world . . . like Japanese people because they are kind and friendly people,” he said. Loghmani was speaking at a charity bazaar at the Iranian ambassador’s residence in Tokyo on Sunday to raise funds for victims of natural disasters in Iran.
Another visitor to the bazaar was Iranian Nader Mansouri, 52. He, too, was disgusted by the actions of the Islamic State extremists.
“I don’t recognize them as Muslims; I don’t even recognize them as humans,” Mansouri said.
He said he despises the way the extremists threaten others and suggested that if they are so sure of themselves they should ditch their masks and anonymity.
The Islamic State group released a video on the Internet Sunday of Goto’s apparent execution that appeared to show his headless body.
After spending decades covering the Middle East, Goto was captured in Syria while trying to negotiate the release of his friend and fellow hostage Haruna Yukawa.
Japanese Muslim Shigeru Shimoyama, 65, said by phone that he had been praying for Goto’s release every day with fellow Muslims.
“This is truly unfortunate,” Shimoyama said.
He said Goto’s reporting had focused on critical social issues, such as poverty and civil strife, in the places like the Middle East and Africa. He said people worldwide must think seriously about solving such problems in order to pass on what Goto was trying to convey.
He also said people need to develop a greater appreciation of different cultures so such a tragedy will not be repeated.
“There are prejudices and misunderstandings about the Muslim religion. Those things could lead to the next crisis.”
Originally published on www.japantimes.com
But ISIS always justify their actions with relevant quotes from the Quoran. Like it or not, (and justified or not), for many people around the world, these modern-day barbarians are the face of Islam and represent Mohammad’s teachings. Due to this fact, if “moderate” Muslims are really worried about this kind of image, they will need to get together to carry out a huge PR job.
You have to remember that the Quran needs interpretation.The quote they used to justify their horrible actions are out of context.The first thing we read in the Quran is to respect other people,merder is strongly prohibited.Mohammed (sws)stayed pacifist when people insulted him orand threw trash to his face,he was nice and cared about his ennemy even when they treated him badly.
The horrible acts of few people (who apparently can’t read correctly the Quran)doesn’t represent the 1.3 billion of Muslims in the world.Nevermind,only God can judge us, so I don’t want to convince people who misunderstand our beautiful religion.
That is very true. At the same time, it must be seen why for 1400 years the Muslims did not have this interpretation of the Quran at all. Ask an Islamic scholar on the interpretation of the Quran and they will tell you the true meaning of the verses these barbarians use unjustly.
Muslims do need to carry out a huge PR job, but I have also noticed that anyone who knows Muslims personally and critically analyse the information the media provides, usually does come to the conclusion that it is not fair to equate the actions of these criminals to the teachings of Islam and it’s Prophet. The West with it’s “holy” liberalism always tries to belittle other societies and loves to label Islam as intolerant. That is sheer ignorance. I kindly request you to read Edward Said’s “Orientalism” which provides an interesting insight into the “otherism” that is increasingly being practiced by the corporate media. Media is powerful. People amazingly get brainwashed by it. Social media is doing a slightly better job I feel. Perhaps, with it’s own cons though.
Dear brothers.. Thank you so much for this great article..
Is there any possibility to get this or any similar article in Japanese, please?
Thanks again and may Allah bless all you do..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMS5HPHLjpQ
Who is Muhammad (pbuh)?
Please watch
Assalamualaikum dear my brothers and sisters, i felt very sorry and unfortunate about this incident of murder,isis is no longer doing the right things the right way therefore because of them we are suffer may allah give them a guide to the truth…im not from japan,i intended to study in japan, it is always been my dream to work there as an engineer but i’m afraid of all japanese people who knows im a muslim,what is their perception of islam,
Im afraid that people will avoid me..please dear brothers and sisters from japan please reply and show me how do you live there and how did people react when they found out that you were muslims….thats all…thx assalamualaikum
Walaikum Assalam,
Japanese people are extremely nice. They know that we are Muslims. But they also know that not all the Muslims are like ISIS. Inshallah, you may come here without any problem.