My first post this year and sadly it is not a happy one. Yes, I refer to the massacre, of the Charlie Hebdo crew, in Paris. The never justified killing of innocent people and the armed attack on our fundamental freedom of expression. I'm both sad and mad. Sad because we have lost brave citizens standing up for and practicing our core values. Values we daily take for granted and so it should be, I believe. Mad because it is beyond my imagination how people can feel such a hatred.
On Wednesday evening I was called up by one of our national newspapers, Expressen, in Sweden. As an islamologist they wanted me to comment on the situation. Being gratefully surprised and not prepared though I hand't had the possibility to dig into the news flow I opted out. A bit frustrating but commenting on a sensitive issue, as this one, I wanted to have more "meat on my bones" as we say in Swedish Still cool that they found me and asked for my comments. But what I do know is that this act isn't Islam. No interpretations of the the Holy Koran can justify/legitimate/support a hellish action like this one.
On another note, my Flying Dutchman has introduced me to a Dutch journalist, with similar academic background as mine. Living and working in the Middle East for many years, Joris Luyendijk writes about how complicated it is to report from the region and the big gap between what actually happens and what is reported by the big established news agencies. How little we actually understand. Go and grab it and give it a read!
…as I write this post I'm also watching the news and the new developments in Paris where a man has taken hostages in a Jewish grocery shop. Where is this world heading!?
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