Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is facing criticism on Twitter after he posted a comment suggesting that all Muslims had some responsibility for the terror attacks in Paris last week that left 17 people dead.
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The suspects were Muslims and had apparently wanted to “die as martyrs,” prompting a worldwide discussion about radical Islam and terrorism. On Friday, the News Corp. chairman and CEO took to Twitter to comment about the Paris attacks, and said that all Muslims must take responsibility for the attacks:
Maybe most Moslems peaceful, but until they recognize and destroy their growing jihadist cancer they must be held responsible.
— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) January 10, 2015Murdoch’s tweet drew ire from many Twitter users, including “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling and comedian and actor Aziz Ansari, who felt it unfair for Murdoch to place blame on all Muslims for the terrible actions perpetrated by a few terrorists.
Rowling wrote on her Twitter account: “I was born Christian. If that makes me responsible for Rupert Murdoch, I’ll auto-excommunicate.”
I was born Christian. If that makes Rupert Murdoch my responsibility, I'll auto-excommunicate. http://t.co/Atw1wNk8UX
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 11, 2015On Sunday during the Golden Globe awards, Ansari, who stars in NBC’s “Parks and Recreation,” went on a Twitter rant, posting several messages directed at Murdoch asking if Christians such as the media exec should similarly be held “responsible” for all crimes perpetrated by Christians. Ansari also started the joking hashtag #RupertsFault, which quickly became a trending topic as other Twitter users joined in.
.@rupertmudoch Are you responsible for the evil shit all Christians do or just the insane amount of evil you yourself contribute to?
— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) January 12, 2015.@RUPERTMURDOCH PLEASE TELL ME WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO STOP ANY AND ALL CRIMES COMMITTED BY PEOPLE OF YOUR RELIGION???!!!
— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) January 12, 2015All Christian militia people and anyone they've hurt. #RupertsFault
— Aziz Ansari (@azizansari) January 12, 2015Westboro Baptist Church. #RupertsFault
— Prashant (@busybee) January 12, 2015News Corp did not immediately respond to a request for comment from msnbc.
Last week, a string of deadly terror attacks in France left 17 people dead. Three of four suspects were killed, while one remaining suspect, Hayat Boumeddiene, remains at large. She is believed to be in Syria. In the wake of the attacks, many used social media to urge respect for Muslims, noting that the actions of a few terrorists were not representative of an entire religion.
Nisha Chittal