‘Name That Religion’ Banned in Boston

Rezwan Ferdaus, the Massachusetts Islamist arrested for plotting to blow up the Capitol and the Pentagon with explosive-laden model planes, hadn’t a doubt in the world about his motivation.

He wanted to do jihad for the “sake of Allah,” “terrorize” the United States, and kill as many Americans, “infidels,” and “kafirs” as he could, including women and children, whom he referred to as “enemies of Allah.”

Here is the affidavit supporting his indictment.

I believe it’s safe to say that Ferdaus’s motives are religious ones, and that his religion is Islam. There’s no doubt the deity he worships is Allah, the being who have him the skills, he said, “to strike the ‘infidels’ by carrying out his planned attacks and building bomb components to kill the ‘kafir armies.’”

But in the wake of the indictment, the Obama-appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Carmen M. Ortiz,

stressed that any underlying religious motives to Ferdaus’s actions should not reflect on the Muslim culture at-large.
“I want the public to understand that Mr. Ferdaus’s conduct, as alleged in the complaint, is not reflective of a particular culture, community or religion,” Ortiz said.

Not reflective of a particular religion? But The Hill reports that, “According to the DOJ, a focal point of Ferdaus’s plots revolved around ‘jihad’ and his desire to carry out the will of Allah.”   Is there some generic religion that incorporates the concepts of “jihad,” “Allah,” and “death to the infidels”? 

Isn’t Ferdaus’s conduct explained by his motivations?  She might as well say that the O.J. Simpson’s conduct is not reflective of homicidally jealous husbands.     

Of course Ferdaus’s conduct is reflective of his particular religion. He said himself that his desire to attack the “enemies of Allah” in the United States was overwhelming: “I just can’t stop; there is no other choice for me.”

Now I realize that U.S. Attorney Ortiz isn’t only concerned with trying to keep that high shine on Islam’s already sparkly image. She also feels the political duty to minimize yet another shocking example of a jihadi threat by suggesting an equally menacing counterthreat from nonMuslims sharpening their pitchforks with revenge on their minds. That’s why she said:

In addition to protecting our citizens from the threats and violence alleged today, we also have an obligation to protect members of every community, race and religion against violence and other unlawful conduct.

Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, went her one better in the DOJ press release,

It is important to remember that our system of justice is based on the notion of individual responsibility. Therefore, no one should cite Mr. Ferdaus’ actions as an excuse or reason to engage in any unlawful behavior against others in the community. We will work diligently to protect the civil rights of all Americans.

It’s also part of our system of justice not to ascribe criminal impulses to law-abiding citizens who are just minding their own business.  I wonder if  DesLauriers and Ortiz both find it necessary, whenever announcing a big arrest, to warn the innocent populace that they’d damned well better not take the perpetrator’s bad conduct out on the rest of the arrestee’s “community.”  I don’t know if the same warning is required for the captures of money launderers, drug dealers, kidnappers, and murderers. 

Maybe it’s a special problem they have in Boston.