Haters Didn't Think #StopIslam Would Turn Out This Way
#StopIslam started trending yesterday, 22 March, after the attacks in Brussels.
By Tang Ruxyn — 23 Mar 2016, 10:20 AM
In the aftermath of Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels, Belgium, the hashtag #StopIslam was trending worldwide as social media users debate the involvement of religion in terrorism
Hours before the Islamic State (ISIS) terror group took credit for Tuesday’s attacks in Brussels, Twitter users across the world were using the hashtag #StopIslam to blame the second-largest religion on Earth for the explosions that have left at least 34 people dead.
Worldwide, #StopIslam was among the most popular hashtags on Twitter as of Tuesday, 22 March, according to the social network’s own statistics.
Alongside other topics related to the tragedy — such as #PrayforBelgium and #JeSuisBruxelles — #StopIslam became one of top internationally trending hashtags on Twitter hours after individuals detonated bombs at the Brussels airport and a metro station in the capital on Tuesday, 22 March.
washingtontimes.com
Although the hashtag seemed to be all negative as it appears that it was dominated by those who seemed to accuse Islam for promoting violence...
....many social media users were quick to jump in to defend Muslims worldwide, pointing out the act of terrorism does not belong to a specific religion, or race or nation
The Islamophobia behind the #StopIslam trend is exactly what ISIS wants. Disappoint them. https://t.co/aRgjo6z1Un pic.twitter.com/bQoWu3XMtG
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) March 22, 2016
Whoever started the hashtag #StopIslam doesn't know anything about our peaceful religion. May be #StopHate would be more beneficial.
— Mohammad Ali Salik (@M_Ali_Salik) March 22, 2016
#StopIslam I'm a muslim and i'm not a terrorist. Terrorism has no religion. Stop islamophobia, not islam. Okey
— Yazan Biri.. (@GamzeKurumlu) March 22, 2016
There were many tweets that called for unity, love and hope
When you go on the #StopIslam hashtag and see that the majority of tweets are denouncing the hashtag. Faith in humanity restored.
— Hema Malik (@Hema_ByrnesArmy) March 22, 2016
Instead of trending horrid things like #StopIslam, we should be trending #StopHate. Hatred breeds more hatred. Love is the only way to win.
— Ros (@GameOverRos) March 22, 2016
We don't need to #stopislam we need to stop hating or else we will bring all of civilisation down.
— Harry Leslie Smith (@Harryslaststand) March 22, 2016
One user even took the initiative to show everyone the difference between a terrorist and a Muslim
why trend #StopIslam when we can trend #StopISIS ?
— ♡ (@adidaslouisasf) March 22, 2016
there's a difference. pic.twitter.com/RgJbRyT0vA
Meanwhile, a political French cartoonist has published an illustration as a tribute after the tragic Brussels attacks
#Bruxelles L'hommage de Plantu https://t.co/sBBY9mGViE pic.twitter.com/WNoXNAwCUT
— Le Monde (@lemondefr) March 22, 2016
A simple drawing expressing sympathy for the victims of the Brussels terror attacks and the solidarity of the French people has gone viral in the wake of the deadly attacks, which have claimed dozens of lives and once again rattled Europe.
The image of a small weeping figure, draped in the French flag, embracing a similar figure draped in the Belgian flag, was created by Plantu, a political French cartoonist with the newspaper Le Monde.
The artist, whose real name is Jean Plantureux, shared the image on his Facebook page with the words: "The attacks this Tuesday, 22 March in Brussels. (the drawing of the world)".