Deadly Attacks in Paris Bring France to a Standstill
By Tahir Abbas, Fair Observer, November 14, 2015
With at least 127 dead in Paris, serious questions will be raised, but where will the answers be found?
There
is blood on the streets of Paris. A city under siege. A nation gripped
in panic. At the time of writing, at least 127 people have been murdered by terrorists in six separate incidences of horrific violence, with the express aim to instill fear in the hearts of many.
is blood on the streets of Paris. A city under siege. A nation gripped
in panic. At the time of writing, at least 127 people have been murdered by terrorists in six separate incidences of horrific violence, with the express aim to instill fear in the hearts of many.
In
less than a year, France has once again been subjected to terrorism,
this time on a huge scale. There is every indication that these the
events follow the pattern of radicalization found among young Muslim men
witnessed throughout parts of western Europe for at least a decade.
Some of these more prominent incidents occurred in Madrid and Amsterdam
in 2004, London in 2005, Woolwich in 2013, and Copenhagen and Paris
earlier in 2015.
less than a year, France has once again been subjected to terrorism,
this time on a huge scale. There is every indication that these the
events follow the pattern of radicalization found among young Muslim men
witnessed throughout parts of western Europe for at least a decade.
Some of these more prominent incidents occurred in Madrid and Amsterdam
in 2004, London in 2005, Woolwich in 2013, and Copenhagen and Paris
earlier in 2015.
In the most recent occurrence on November 13, the
perpetrators might have been French-born, or not. At this stage, one
can only speculate as to their true identities. One can only begin to
suggest a relationship between the different incidences. Were the
suicide bombings near the Stade de France, the siege of the Bataclan
concert hall and the drive-by shootings all part of a single grand plan?
Or has there been an element of copycat behavior on the part of some?
perpetrators might have been French-born, or not. At this stage, one
can only speculate as to their true identities. One can only begin to
suggest a relationship between the different incidences. Were the
suicide bombings near the Stade de France, the siege of the Bataclan
concert hall and the drive-by shootings all part of a single grand plan?
Or has there been an element of copycat behavior on the part of some?
It
is clear that three suicide bombers have been implicated in the attacks
on the Stade de France. Three others blew themselves up when French
police carried out their rescue of hostages trapped inside the Bataclan,
while a fourth was shot dead. Another suicide bomber detonated an
explosive on Boulevard Voltaire, near the concert hall.
is clear that three suicide bombers have been implicated in the attacks
on the Stade de France. Three others blew themselves up when French
police carried out their rescue of hostages trapped inside the Bataclan,
while a fourth was shot dead. Another suicide bomber detonated an
explosive on Boulevard Voltaire, near the concert hall.
Over the next few days and weeks, there will be considerable media analysis of these attacks and the implications they raise.
Syrian Refugees
The
year 2015 is also one in which the Syrian refugee crisis has become a
major talking point. The dominant sentiment toward groups fleeing
persecution at the hands of the Islamic State has been to focus on such
forms of immigration being a drain on national resources or alluding
their coming as some kind of security threat.
year 2015 is also one in which the Syrian refugee crisis has become a
major talking point. The dominant sentiment toward groups fleeing
persecution at the hands of the Islamic State has been to focus on such
forms of immigration being a drain on national resources or alluding
their coming as some kind of security threat.
With many countries
shifting politically even further to the right, the hostility that
Syrians face in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Austria and even Britain
is antithetical to that in Germany. The Germans have emerged as
distinctly humane compared to their western European counterparts.
shifting politically even further to the right, the hostility that
Syrians face in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Austria and even Britain
is antithetical to that in Germany. The Germans have emerged as
distinctly humane compared to their western European counterparts.
© Shutterstock
There
will be some making associations between the refugee crisis and this
recent act of terrorism, but they will be wholly inaccurate. Those who
carried out the Paris attacks will likely be a combination of
French-born North Africans and some who may well have returned to France
from the Islamic State. Syrian refugees are in flight precisely because
of these so-called Muslims. Their fright is our collective fight.
will be some making associations between the refugee crisis and this
recent act of terrorism, but they will be wholly inaccurate. Those who
carried out the Paris attacks will likely be a combination of
French-born North Africans and some who may well have returned to France
from the Islamic State. Syrian refugees are in flight precisely because
of these so-called Muslims. Their fright is our collective fight.
Undoubtedly,
there will be severe implications for the 5 million or so Muslims in
France trying to live their lives as best they can in an already
difficult climate of suspicion and fear. For at least two decades, young
French Muslims have rebelled against the downward pressures placed upon
them and the practices associated with their faith. The people of
France as a whole will be in a state of shock for some time, but the
dread experienced by Muslims in France will arguably be greater.
there will be severe implications for the 5 million or so Muslims in
France trying to live their lives as best they can in an already
difficult climate of suspicion and fear. For at least two decades, young
French Muslims have rebelled against the downward pressures placed upon
them and the practices associated with their faith. The people of
France as a whole will be in a state of shock for some time, but the
dread experienced by Muslims in France will arguably be greater.
What
is worse, the far-right, in France but also throughout Europe, will be
rubbing their hands together in the knowledge that their arguments in
proscribing certain Islamic and Muslim customs are seemingly justified.
Policymakers and think tanks advocating a liberal argument to increase
the pressure on outspoken Muslim voices, to the extent of silencing
thought before there is even action, will feel vindicated.
is worse, the far-right, in France but also throughout Europe, will be
rubbing their hands together in the knowledge that their arguments in
proscribing certain Islamic and Muslim customs are seemingly justified.
Policymakers and think tanks advocating a liberal argument to increase
the pressure on outspoken Muslim voices, to the extent of silencing
thought before there is even action, will feel vindicated.
There
will be a great deal of emotion in the coming days. But once those who
tragically lost their lives are put to rest, there will be severe
questions and answers to consider.
will be a great deal of emotion in the coming days. But once those who
tragically lost their lives are put to rest, there will be severe
questions and answers to consider.
The anxiety, however, is that
the same mistakes will be made by politicians and influential
characters. Rather than looking at the deeper historical, social,
economic and political causes of the violent outcry, French President
Francois Hollande may use this event as a way in which to galvanize the
nation around the need for further securitization and illiberalism, as
he did in January 2015. The extension of the idea of “muscular
liberalism” espoused by British Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011
will ensure that the age of violence will go on.
the same mistakes will be made by politicians and influential
characters. Rather than looking at the deeper historical, social,
economic and political causes of the violent outcry, French President
Francois Hollande may use this event as a way in which to galvanize the
nation around the need for further securitization and illiberalism, as
he did in January 2015. The extension of the idea of “muscular
liberalism” espoused by British Prime Minister David Cameron in 2011
will ensure that the age of violence will go on.
It will
be a continuation of the “War on Terror” culture that has permeated
policy and practice in the West since the events of 9/11. What the poor,
disenfranchised, marginalized and disaffected need and want is the culture of hope.
be a continuation of the “War on Terror” culture that has permeated
policy and practice in the West since the events of 9/11. What the poor,
disenfranchised, marginalized and disaffected need and want is the culture of hope.
