In the Name of God
Throughout human history, a redundant theme lies prevalent in the wake of the most violent and cruel occurrences: those who want power justify their inherent claim to it by alluding to their blessings from God. These nominally religious acts are rarely fought because of a devotion to the faith, but is rather rooted in human greed. Also, sometimes religious individuals delude themselves that they have the right to power because they have remained faithful to God.
What I found most scary about this novel, however, apart from the intensely graphic horrors that occurred within the village, was that the author skillfully showed that extremist infiltration is almost always rooted in already-widespread discontent. A minority population that feels wronged by its government or the people around them are vulnerable to be swayed by extremist ideologies, which not only guarantees revenge, but security and belonging. This is similar to what has been happening with ISIS and Muslim populations all over the world, and the reason why we must not respond to terrorism with a backlash of oppression for related groups, but rather acknowledgment of past mistakes, and promises to welcome all narratives into a national identity.
Finally, I was impressed my Khadra’s portrayal of the almost muted personalities of the perpetrators of violence. The terrorists seem neither crazy nor fanatic. Moreoever, when bystanders are possessed to participate in stonings and other violent happenings, the reader comes to understand that in tense and terrifying atmospheres as these, one could be carried away by the dynamics of the group to go along with a deed, no matter how immoral it is. I think the word for this in psychology is called groupthink.
In the light of recent events in Paris, I think it is important to remember that the goal of these terrorist is to not only gain public tension, but turn public sentiment against the minority groups that they want to absorb as part of their masses. Alienating and furthering oppressing Muslim populations is doing exactly what the terrorists aimed to do—degrade the morality and sense of unity in the nation of target.