There is a phrase that is often brought up:
"Not every Muslim is an insurgent, but every insurgent is a Muslim."
However, there is another undeniable truth:
"Not every Muslim is a bad person."
Every time violence occurs in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand, what is lost is not only lives and property, but also "mutual understanding" among people.
It is true that perpetrators are frequently associated with Islam, leading many to view Muslims as perpetrators of violence, or even to believe that Islam itself is the root cause of the conflict.
But that is simply not true.
Over the years, those who have suffered losses from this violence include both Thai Buddhists and Thai Muslims. Countless families have lost fathers, mothers, children, or loved ones—people who had no involvement whatsoever in the conflict.
This begs the question: If perpetrators kill fellow Muslims, children, women, the elderly, or innocent civilians, can we truly say this is what Islam teaches?
The answer is no.
The Holy Qur'an explicitly states:
"Whoever kills a soul... it is as if he had slain mankind entirely."
This clearly means that every human life is precious, and taking an innocent life directly contradicts the core teachings of Islam. Therefore, no one should ever use religion as an excuse or justification for committing acts of violence.
What we must condemn are the perpetrators, not the religion, and certainly not the entire Muslim community.
We must not allow the actions of a few individuals to define millions of others who live honestly, love their families, cherish their homeland, and yearn for peace just like people of every other faith.