‘What about Yemen?’ Western hypocrisy in wake of Westminster attack called out on Twitter
The outpouring of grief and solidarity in the aftermath of the Westminster terrorist attack has provided westerners with some modicum of hope, but such reactions are not universal, with many pointing to the lack of response to attacks elsewhere.
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While many online praised the bravery of PC Keith Palmer, who sacrificed his own life to save others at the gates of the Houses of Parliament, others highlighted conflict zones around the world that suffer from terrorism on a weekly basis.
Everyone is asking "what can we do to stop terrorist attacks"
— The chosen 1 (@darren_dazmav) March 22, 2017
the UK has terrorised the middle east for years but ppl seem to forget that??
Thinking of #London & thinking of #Baghdad. Terrorism will not win. We have to be better than that. Those who cheer for death are soulless.
— MimianMorales (@MimianMorales) March 22, 2017
Several Twitter users questioned the lack of coverage on digital and social media in response to Monday’s car bomb attack attack in Baghdad which killed 23 people and injured many more, bringing into focus the bloody impact of terrorism in the wider world this month alone.
Car bomb blast in #Baghdad kills 23+. Go to https://t.co/kxUqy0dMRW or any other major western news site & c if u r able to find the news. pic.twitter.com/9rYt8ifpio
— Rehman Siddiq (@RehmanSid) March 20, 2017
I'll #PrayForLondon sure but I'll also #PrayForPalestine#PrayForSyria#PrayForNorthKorea#PrayForBaghdad#PrayForYemen#PrayForCongo
— Milly (@milly_rigby) March 22, 2017
@BirdsOfJannah Sadly people only care about humanity when it concerns western affairs since their lives 'matter more.'
— T A Z (@TasnimZaki15) March 22, 2017
In a sad indictment of the modern world, one user simply highlighted both the frequency and severity of attacks that have taken place across the world in recent months, which also overshadowed the dark day in Westminster.
Sadly what's happened elsewhere, #Berlin, #Paris, #Kabul, #Damascus, #Baghdad etc was/is a whole lot worse. #Westminster#Londonhttps://t.co/sVTjUkjaBb
— John Hafstad (@AsiaStudy) March 23, 2017
If only the media would cover #Iraq attacks same way they do for Western cities #Westminster#London#prayforIraq#prayforLondonpic.twitter.com/WooGnuSzLA
— Bilal Abboud (@bilalabboud) March 22, 2017
Incidents far worse than Westminster Incident have rocked Baghdad, Mogadishu, Damascus, Cairo in the recent past.
— Wandering Baba (@Leopard212) March 22, 2017
While people expressed sympathy for those in London, many couldn’t help but compare the reaction to that which follows similar attacks in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and beyond.
Obviously terrible the incident in Westminster but for gods sake, where is the reaction to Syria & Yemen relentless bombing by UK allies?
— Scot (s) land (@scotsvote) March 22, 2017
It is touching to receive messages of concern from friends from Syria — where Westminster-style horrors unravel on an hourly basis.
— Patrick Kingsley (@PatrickKingsley) March 23, 2017
5 dead in Westminster. Hundreds dead in Syria. Guess which story made the news?
— zakaria.mn (@thegraphiczak) March 23, 2017
Some people drew attention to the school bombing which took place in Syria on Tuesday, where at least 30 were killed.
I'm disgusted by the attack in #Westminster attack but am equally disgusted at the lack of attention given to the school bombing in #syria
— al Hasan ibn Tunkara (@nibijomu) March 22, 2017
You asking us to condemn #WestMinister attack, when are you going to condemn US airstrike that massacred 33 civilians in #Syria today?
— Zahid Akhtar / زاهد (@AHudhayfah) March 22, 2017
Comparisons were also drawn between the terror attack at Westminster and Syria’s long battle with extremists. Some questioned why the London attacker was called a terrorist while various Islamist groups in Syria are referred to as “rebels.”
Reminder: The Syrian Army & Russia are fighting terrorists everyday in Syria just like the Westminster criminal on behalf of the whole world
— Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) March 23, 2017
@Osman_Marwa1 The same people who r willing to cut behead some1 in London is also known in #Syria as moderate rebels,Ahrar Al Sham,Nusra etc
— AlHamzi_Yemen (@Optimist2thend) March 23, 2017