Is a terrorist a terrorist only when a law enforcement officer or politician says he is?
Malik Faisal Akram entered a synagogue in Colleyville, Texas, held four hostages, including the rabbi, and expressed support for Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani neuroscientist who was sentenced to 86 years in prison for attempting to murder and assault members of the U.S. military in Afghanistan. If some people refuse to acknowledge these related incidents as terrorism, they are in deep denial, which does not change what happened. Even President Biden called the incident what it was – “an act of terror.”
Initially, an FBI spokesman claimed Akram’s motive was “not specifically related to the Jewish Community.” Really? Then why didn’t he visit a Baptist church?
After an outcry from Jewish and non-Jewish sources, the FBI reversed itself and admitted the obvious: it was an act of terrorism. Fortunately, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker and three other hostages escaped unharmed. Akram was reportedly killed in a standoff with police.
Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, said the incident goes far deeper than what happened in Texas. Marcus said it was “obviously a matter of antisemitism” and “a failure of the FBI to understand this is something of a pattern with law enforcement in the United States and frankly in Europe.” The initial comment by FBI Special Agent Matt DeSarno denying a connection between the incident and the Jewish community “was not a mere slip-up,” said Marcus. “It is symptomatic of a widespread failure with law enforcement to understand the problems of antisemitism and anti-Zionism.”