As the Toronto Star has reported, the young Indian woman who was gang-raped and severely beaten on a bus in New Delhi died Saturday at a Singapore hospital, after her horrific ordeal galvanized Indians to demand greater protection from sexual violence that affects thousands of women daily, in homes, streets and public transport, but which often goes unreported.
In response to this horrific tragedy, the writer and anti-Islamist activist Tarek Fatah posted a Twitter message: "Indian woman who was gang-raped in New Delhi succumbed to her injuries and dies in a Singapore hospital," he wrote. "Where was God when this happened," he asks. "And where was he when she died?"
Human beings always try to avoid responsibility and personal accountability. When things go down the hill, we tend to find blame it on others and we rarely hold ourselves accountable for failing to do our part -- to do anything -- to stop the crime from happening.
Instead of asking where were humans, what happened to their feelings and why didn't they do something to stop a prevailing and widespread trend of gang rape in India?
As reported in the New York Times, revulsion and anger over the rape galvanized India, where women regularly face sexual harassment and assault and where neither the police nor the judicial system is seen as adequately protecting them.
It would be more appropriate for Fatah to ask where were the police, politicians and conscious citizens of India. Why haven't they done something to stop this dangerous violence against women, we turn to God.
Questioning God in the face of a calamity shows a high level of arrogance and ignorance. A wise person should instead point the finger of blame to humans.
The injustices that are happening around the world, such as massacres in Syria, bring shame to each and every one of us. While we have succeeded to land on the moon, we have lost our sense of humanity altogether and have failed to take care of each other as a human family.
