Terror hits and after

France has shown the world that the

>solidarity of the people is vital in any fight against terror (Jan. 12). No government anywhere in the world should create fissures among the people in the name of religion or region. It is equally important that the media too should not provoke and incite passions.

K.R. Viswanathan Pillai,

Chennai

I happened to see a verse in the Koran that instructs the Prophet to pass over the faults of people and ask forgiveness of god for them (Chapter 3, verse 159). The terror attacks in France show that those responsible have been exploiting the ignorant, and with a certain political agenda in mind. It is equally unfathomable how extremist groups are going about destroying Islamic heritage structures, monuments and mazars of scholars and saints.

Jafar Sadique,

Tirur, Kerala

The hypocrisy of the western world was blatant during the show of solidarity in France. Did any of the world leaders ever condemn the massacre of innocent civilians in Gaza? What about the death of innocent civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Mali? It is no surprise then that there will be repercussions and a backlash.

Shajoo Anthappan,

Kochi

The gory incidents should never have taken place. However, the people who are responsible for the provocations, also appear to have deliberately ignored the risk involved in publishing material on an excessively sensitive subject. Why are there attempts to deliberately tarnish the image of Islam, provoke Muslims and cause mischief, violence and bloodshed? Unless we as a civilised society regulate our rights and freedoms and allow them to operate with proper checks and balances, one can only foretell disaster for society.

M. Nazar Sheriff,

Chennai