Skip to footer

Facebook's Zuckerberg voices support for Muslims

The founder and CEO of the social media platform let Muslim users know they are always welcome. 

|
Eric Risberg/AP/File
In this March 25, 2015, file photo, Mark Zuckerberg talks during the Facebook F8 Developer Conference in San Francisco.

Mark Zuckerberg reassured Muslims Wednesday that they are welcome on Facebook, posting on his page, “I want to add my voice in support of Muslims in our community and around the world.”

With one billion users, including a number of Muslims, Mr. Zuckerberg’s public support could be seen as a savvy business move. But Zuckerberg isn’t typically quick to voice his opinion on hot-button issues, suggesting the statement was more personally than professionally directed; a shift that has become especially apparent following the birth of his son, says The New York Times.

“After the Paris attacks and hate this week, I can only imagine the fear Muslims feel that they will be persecuted for the actions of others,” Zuckerberg wrote. “If you're a Muslim in this community, as the leader of Facebook I want you to know that you are always welcome here and that we will fight to protect your rights and create a peaceful and safe environment for you.”

In the post, Zuckerberg also pointed to his Jewish upbringing, which several commenters took as a sign of solidarity.

“From a Muslim-American to a Jewish-American, thank you for your important words,” wrote Facebook user Ayman Mohyeldin. “Our communities have more in common than what many lead us to believe divides us. If only more of our country's leaders echoed your sentiments.”

“Thank you for this statement. Love from the Muslims all over the world :)” commented Talal Athar.

But not all commenters were supportive. Some called Zuckerberg naive:

“No offense, me also being Jewish, our people never strapped bombs to their chests in the name of Jihad. We should never persecute all for the actions of one, but we need to be more mindful of what's really going on in this world. Don't be naive, Mark Zuckerberg,” posted Facebook user Max SV.

Zuckerberg’s post highlights the tension felt around the country following the Paris attacks. Many, including Republican candidate Donald Trump, want to ban Muslims from the US and several states have taken steps to reject Syrian refugees. But Zuckerberg’s comments show that this isn’t a one-sided debate.

Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook commented, “Thank you Mark – this is such a welcome post. We should not just tolerate our differences but embrace them. As a society, we can do so much better.”

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
Real news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.
What is the Monitor difference? Tackling the tough headlines – with humanity. Listening to sources – with respect. Seeing the story that others are missing by reporting what so often gets overlooked: the values that connect us. That’s Monitor reporting – news that changes how you see the world.
editor@csmonitor.com
Subscribe
Mark Sappenfield
Editor

Dear Reader,

About a year ago, I happened upon this statement about the Monitor in the Harvard Business Review – under the charming heading of “do things that don’t interest you”:

“Many things that end up” being meaningful, writes social scientist Joseph Grenny, “have come from conference workshops, articles, or online videos that began as a chore and ended with an insight. My work in Kenya, for example, was heavily influenced by a Christian Science Monitor article I had forced myself to read 10 years earlier. Sometimes, we call things ‘boring’ simply because they lie outside the box we are currently in.”

If you were to come up with a punchline to a joke about the Monitor, that would probably be it. We’re seen as being global, fair, insightful, and perhaps a bit too earnest. We’re the bran muffin of journalism.

But you know what? We change lives. And I’m going to argue that we change lives precisely because we force open that too-small box that most human beings think they live in.

The Monitor is a peculiar little publication that’s hard for the world to figure out. We’re run by a church, but we’re not only for church members and we’re not about converting people. We’re known as being fair even as the world becomes as polarized as at any time since the newspaper’s founding in 1908.

We have a mission beyond circulation, we want to bridge divides. We’re about kicking down the door of thought everywhere and saying, “You are bigger and more capable than you realize. And we can prove it.”

If you’re looking for bran muffin journalism, you can subscribe to the Monitor for $15. You’ll get the Monitor Weekly magazine, the Monitor Daily email, and unlimited access to CSMonitor.com.

Subscribe to insightful journalism

QR Code to Facebook's Zuckerberg voices support for Muslims
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2015/1210/Facebook-s-Zuckerberg-voices-support-for-Muslims
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe