As ISIS escalates their endeavours at being the most hated group of people on earth, it has also dragged the names of innocent, peaceful Muslims who have nothing to do with their evils.
It’s guilt by association of course, but as we’ve discussed before, it’s bigoted to blame ISIS on Muslims, or even force peaceful practitioners to ‘own’ the problem.
Truth be told, Islamophobia has always existed in Singapore (and anywhere else in the world). Though hidden and only talked about behind closed doors, don’t think those stares and whispered mumblings go unnoticed when a lady wearing a hijab or a man with a songkok gets on the train or bus.
In the wake of the deadly ISIS attack on Paris, the resentment towards Singapore’s Muslims has been growing more apparent. Two days ago, a Muslim woman got the brunt of unwarranted verbal abuse by a Caucasian stranger — just because she was wearing a headscarf.
Her emotional and mental hurt was only enhanced by the fact that absolutely no one around came forward to defend her, as if they were silently agreeing with the bigot.
Fortunately, many Singaporeans — regardless of race and religion — came forward to extend their sympathies and support for Syazwani Jaffari since her Tweet went viral.
The growing distrust has also reared its head in the form of vandalism:
Image: @kiraazman via Twitter
“There was an empty seat beside me, but two ladies — one Indian and one Chinese — refused to sit next to me and sat on the opposite side to stare at me”
The rising sense of discontent with Muslim Singaporeans have inevitably raised their worries in terms of safety.
For those of you still blissfully unaware of the veiled hostilities Singaporean Muslims have to increasingly face everyday, you best believe that it exists son. And as attitudes based on ignorance and fear continue to overwhelm rational thought here, we’ve got a long way to go if we want to pledge ourselves as one united people this SG50.
Photo: Coconuts Singapore
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