As I was scanning the daily newspapers, I came across the horrible news regarding the latest horrendous terrorists’ attacks in Brussels, Belgium, on March 22nd, 2016 at the airport and the train stations that claimed the lives of more than 30 victims and injured more than 200 persons.
With a broken heart, I realized that those horrifying attacks and explosions have become almost daily occurrences.

Taking few moments to compose myself and come into terms with the tragic news, I found myself faced with the tedious question “Is getting rid of those horrendous attacks and explosions possible?”

The sad news is that no one can answer the previous question with certainty. Despite the efforts that are exerted by governments worldwide, terrorist groups, such as ISIS, achieved reasonable success in recruiting new members.

Those members are willing to sacrifice their own lives to promote their distorted ideologies of forming an Islamic state. The new society would base its laws on the principles of Sharia established by the prophet Mohammed and the Islamic holy book Quran.

One fact seems to be crystal clear.All attempts, to diminish terrorist groups influence upon vulnerable youth, who is facing difficult time in dealing the hardships of surviving their daily lives, had failed.

Most of those, who commit those horrible and violent acts of terror, are young Muslims who are led to believe that it is their Islamic duty to force their beliefs upon others regardless of the consequences of their actions.

How do terrorist group succeed in their recruitment of their young and gullible members? They accomplish that task by distorting the principles of Islam to convey the belief that our worldly life is temporary and short compared to the eternal life in Janna (Paradise or Heaven).

They convince young Muslims that they are promised luxurious, youthful and eternal existence if they die Showhada (heroes) fighting for the cause of spreading Islam. In afterlife, they will find beautiful Horiates (exotically beautiful young ladies) waiting for them in heaven.

The majority of Islamic scholars and leaders had condemned such attacks.They stressed the fact that Islam is innocent and would never condone or justify violent acts of cowardice that would murder innocent people including kids and women. Nevertheless, it seems to have no positive impact upon the task of diminishing or getting rid of terrorist attacks.

One may ask “What can be done to educate young Muslims to protect them from the destructive influence of terrorist groups along with evading the occurrence of future attacks?”
Every Muslim country has the human and decent responsibility of educating its youth about the peaceful nature of Islam. They should correct any misconceptions in textbooks or other publications regarding the inciting of violence in the name of Islam.

It is a well-known fact that living conditions in most Muslim countries are below the international standards established worldwide for poverty. Creating opportunities for better lives may help some of those youth to abstain from joining ISIS or any other terrorist group.

Poverty could lead to desperation and despondency which may lead to suicidal tendencies. Some youth may believe that joining terrorist groups is an easy way out to end their miserable existence and end up in heaven as heroes of Islam.

Leaders of the developed world should contribute in helping poor countries to improve their living conditions. They also can form a collation to fight ISIS which seems to be the most influential terrorist group worldwide.

The USA should exert every possible effort to protect its citizens from prospective future attacks by attempting to avoid any possibility of ISIS infiltrating the American society through recruiting new members in the USA.

As a Muslim, I am ashamed of belonging in the same religion as those who commit those horrendous acts of terror. My deepest sympathy goes to the families of the victims. I wish them to know that most Muslims feel the pain of their loss.

Should we hold high hopes for living in a world free of violent acts of terror? To lead bearable lives, we have no choice but to be hopeful and optimistic.

Author's Bio: 

Holding an honorary professorship from China, Sava Hassan is a Canadian author, poet and educator. He had published three books and wrote numerous articles in various topics in Canada, USA and China. For a year, he was writing an advice column for a major English magazine in China. Sava, occasionally, writes articles for several Chinese English Newspapers. He won several writing awards including four from China.