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Civilized world must unite to punish IS for deplorable Paris attacks

Civilized world must unite to punish IS for deplorable Paris attacks

Posted November. 16, 2015 10:08,   

한국어

Multiple terror attacks in Paris by the Islamic terrorist group ISIS come as immense shock that is comparable in magnitude to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Terrorists went on unconditional firing sprees and suicide bombings against Parisians who were spending peaceful daily life at six locations, including a rock band concert, a soccer stadium, a bar and restaurants from Friday night to Saturday morning, killing at least 129 people.

After the terror attacks, ISIS said, “France took the lead in airstrikes on Muslims and insulting Prophet Muhammad,” claiming that the attacks are a revenge for France’s participation in U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria. It is shivering to see atrocity and brutality of ISIS that has killed and injured more than 470 innocent civilians but still claim its terrorism to be "holy attacks." French President François Hollande evacuated to safety upon learning about suicide bombings outside the stadium while watching a soccer game at the Stade de France in the outskirts of Paris. He called the terror attacks “acts of war.” In the name of humanity, we condemn ISIS that launched “attack on entire humanity” as U.S. President Barack Obama put it.

ISIS is a terrorist group that envisions the revival of an “empire under Caliph (political and religious leader of Islam) during glorious days of Islam in the Middle Age. Having started with Al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, an al-Qaeda affiliated group led by Jordanian militant islamist Khaled Musa`id, in Iraq in 2004, ISIS occupied a considerable portion of Iraq territory, and has been effectively acting like a state since last year. ISIS has increased influence by blocking outside forces’ interventions by maximizing fears through beheading and burning alive of hostages. The terror attacks in Paris are apparently a strategy meant to spread fears that "nowhere is safe" in countries that spearheaded attacks on ISIS, including France and the U.S. After the bombing of a Russian passenger jet on October 31, the terror group committed bombing attacks in Beirut, Lebanon on last Thursday. Since ISIS calls the attacks in Paris the "start of storm," chances are high it will launch additional attacks.

Of the suspected terrorists that were killed, one was found to be a French national, while two others to be refugees who recently entered the country through Greece. Committing terror attacks after infiltrating into Europe by disguising as refugees is immoral challenge against lenience and generosity of major European countries that have accepted influx of refugees from Syria and other countries. Only when the international community forms a united front without getting daunted by terrorism, and decisively counter it, then will the world be able to deter ISIS’ violent challenge against the civilized world.

Korea cannot afford to remain indifferent towards situations in France and elsewhere either. The organization that killed Korean national Kim Sun-il in Iraq in 2004 is Jama`at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, the predecessor of ISIS. ISIS could classify Korea as a pro-U.S. country and use as a target for its crime. The arrest of five pro-ISIS foreigners, who sought to smuggle into Korea ammonium nitrate, which can be used to produce homemade bombs as weapons for massacre, last month is an ominous example. Stop-gap measures such as reinforcement of immigration screening of foreign nationals are hardly sufficient to block infiltration of terrorist groups who can resort to whatever means at disposal. The ruling and opposition parties should pool wisdom to legislate anti-terrorism act, which calls for strengthened response to terrorism before the 19th National Assembly ends. If Korea fails to devise measures even after witnessing atrocities committed by ISIS, innocent Korean citizens could fall victims to terror attacks.