Hello friends,
After leaving Islam, I often thought that perhaps these news stories would affect me less now. But today, when I read about the villages of Korikori and Gomosogo in Mali, the same old pain, the same anger, and the same shame resurfaced. JNIM terrorists linked to Al-Qaeda entered two villages and killed more than 50 unarmed people. Women, children, teenagers—no one was spared. They set houses on fire, looted them, and sprayed bullets everywhere.
This was not an “armed conflict.” It was a one-sided massacre of defenseless villagers.
What does this incident tell us?
For several years now, Islamist terrorist organizations have been active in Mali. JNIM, a branch of Al-Qaeda, regularly carries out attacks in the name of jihad against “kafirs” and “mushrikun.” This time, they targeted rural villagers—people who were probably just farming, raising families, and had no dreams of taking anyone’s life.
Among the dead were members of local defense groups, but most were ordinary civilians, children, and women. The terrorists set the villages ablaze. This is the same inhuman act that ISIS, Boko Haram, the Taliban, and dozens of other jihadist groups have been committing around the world.
As an Ex-Muslim, here is my take:
When I was a Muslim, we were taught that jihad means fighting in the path of Allah and that becoming a martyr brings paradise. Fighting kafirs, burning their homes, and seizing their property—all this was presented as glorious chapters of “Islamic history.” By reading verses of the Quran and Hadiths about jihad, we were made to believe that this was the work of protecting the faith.
But now, when I look at it from the outside, the truth is crystal clear. These attacks are not a “political reaction” or the “result of poverty.” They are the direct outcome of Islamic ideology—that ideology which divides the world into Darul Islam and Darul Harb, treats non-Muslims as second-class citizens (dhimmis), or commands their killing.
JNIM terrorists draw inspiration from those very verses of the Quran that are still taught in thousands of madrasas today. Until Muslim society criticizes these verses and Hadiths, until the word “jihad” is separated from its violent historical meaning and described only as “inner struggle,” such massacres will not stop.
Silence is dangerous
I want to ask Muslim countries and organizations—where is your “strong condemnation”? Where is the OIC? Why are those “secular” Maulanas in India, who issue statements on every small issue, silent on this? Is it because the victims are African villagers? Or because the attackers were shouting “Allahu Akbar” while killing?
The Malian army has killed some terrorists—this is a good thing. But until the root is attacked, that is, the ideology of Islamic jihad, this cycle will continue.
In the end
I say this clearly—leaving Islam was the best decision of my life. Today, I can mourn these innocents without any guilt and openly condemn this jihadist mentality without fear.
My heartfelt condolences to the families in Mali who have lost their loved ones, and also to the thousands of unnamed victims who are being killed every day by this same jihadist violence across Africa, Asia, and the rest of the world.
Not jihad, but humanity—long live!
Not blind faith, but reason and compassion—long live!
