Saturday, November 14, 2015

Religious Right Responses to the Paris Massacre

The November 13th terrorist attacks in Paris, France have left the world reeling. The Washington Post reports that 129 people were killed in a series of suicide bombings and shootings at the Bataclan concert hall, the Stade de France, and several bars and restaurants. The attacks remind us that Islamic extremism continues to threaten innocent lives in both the West and the Middle East.

Paris prosecutor Francois Molins stated that the killings were carried out by seven terrorists divided into three teams, reports USA Today. According to the Washington Post, at least one of the seven dead attackers was a French national. Two of the dead attackers may be Belgians, and yet another was found with a Syrian passport near his body. Ten suspects have since been arrested in Belgium, and Reuters adds that a man arrested in Germany this month may also be linked the the Paris carnage.

The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attacks, according to CNN, prompting French President Francois Holland to declare the killings an "act of war". World leaders, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens have condemned the attacks in the strongest possible terms.

Several Religious Right organizations and figures have responded to the catastrophe via Twitter. Some offered genuine warmth to Paris, while others used the tragedy as an opportunity to pontificate on gun control.






















No comments:

Post a Comment

All comments are subject to moderation. Threatening, violent, or bigoted comments will not be published.