Demonising Islam, ‘Copyleft’ by Carlos Latuff



I have spoken to a number of Palestinians over the past few days about the humiliation and torture suffered by my dear friend and Brother Mohammed Omer . He had his clothing forcibly removed by Israeli soldiers upon returning to Israel on his way home to Gaza. They proceeded to torture him which resulted in unconsciousness and hospitalisation. He was treated like a captured criminal rather than the esteemed journalist that he is. His crime? He is a Palestinian.

Many reactions that I got were “the same was done to me when I returned from abroad.” (not including the torture) Exposure of a naked body is strictly forbidden in Islam, so when the situation is forced it goes unspoken, much like the case of many rape victims. Has the demonisation of Islam become accepted by the world, including the silent Muslims themselves?

To someone like myself, having lived in the West, any violation of one’s personal dignity is a crime that must not be hidden from the public eye. The rapist will seek out another victim if he knows silence follows his actions. The same with the Israeli soldier, their dehumanisation tactics used against innocent Palestinian civilians continues because of that same silence.

Why is it that the victim is the one that feels the shame? There appears to be an obsessive feeling that when certain things happen to a person it is their own fault.

Abed was strip searched at Ben Gurion Airport because he is a Palestinian.

Mahmoud was delayed at security at Ben Gurion resulting in him missing his flight, because he is a Palestinian. And I might add was not compensated for lost monies that resulted in changing tickets.

Mona was denied entry to Israel where she planned to study for the summer, because she is of Palestinian decent…. traveling with a United States Passport. Deported upon arrival, also without financial compensation…. and with not a word of protest from the U.S. State Department.

A family was not allowed to leave Israel last summer because of a bureaucratic hassle at the airport, forcing half of the family to remain in the occupied West Bank for the summer while the other half was allowed to return home to the US.

All of the above are actual cases of the humiliation I spoke of. The only one that was publicised was the last one . Is there a shame associated with being Palestinian? Why were the other cases not publicised? Has it become an accepted fact that if a Palestinian or other Muslim suffers an indignity it is alright? Have the events of 9/11 destroyed the minds of every person on this planet? Events, which I must add, were not orchestrated by Palestinians or Muslims.



Taking all of what I wrote above into account, is this the reason the incidents involving Mohammed Omer are not publicised in any major newspaper, including ones that he has written for in the past? The crimes were committed in Israel. There has not been one word printed in the Israeli press, including HaAretz, which claims to be at the left of the other newspapers. ( Letter to the BBC

Is it just to be accepted that Mohammed was tortured and beaten simply because he is a Palestinian, which makes it all OK?

What has become of the human race? Where is the outrage?

Have we all truly become a race of Sheeple?