Dear editor,
The International Movement for a Just World condemns the series of recent bomb blasts in Russia which have killed more than 50 people.
The Russian authorities should conduct a thorough investigation of both the blasts, in Moscow on March 29 and the Dagestan region on March 31, to determine the identities of the culprits and their motives. The culprits should be brought to justice and severely punished.
If the bombings are linked to the longstanding conflict in the Chechen region, the Chechen rebels should know that such heinous methods of fighting for their cause will not bring them any closer to their objectives.
On the contrary, militant violence will only increase the anger and antagonism of the Russian people towards the Chechens.
The Chechen rebels should eschew senseless, mindless violence in their campaign to compel the Russian government to address some of their grievances.
The deliberate targeting of civilians is an abominable crime for which there is no justification, whatever the circumstances.
We call upon civil society groups everywhere ― especially Muslim NGOs ― to take a principled stand against the bomb blasts in Russia. They cannot remain silent in the face of such starkly un-Islamic conduct.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar President, International Movement for a Just World (JUST) Petaling Jaya, Malaysia muza@just-international.org