DEARBORN — There are nearly 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide and the overwhelming majority do not condone the acts of terrorism being carried out by extremists in the name of Islam. 

Should the majority be apologetic and take responsibility for the actions of the small minority of self-proclaimed Muslims who are part of terrorist groups, including the “Islamic State” and Al-Qaeda? 

“There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and not even one percent of that figure is involved in violent extremism. Why does 99.9 percent of that figure  have to answer and apologize for them?” asked Dawud Walid, the executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations of Michigan. 

Walid said that while Muslims should have the responsibility to clarify misconceptions about their faith, they also should not be taking ownership for what ISIS is doing because it has nothing to do with the community.

A relatively new social media campaign called #Muslimapologies is making national news by bringing attention to the question of whether the entire Muslim community should have to come out in large numbers to criticize extremists. 

Last month President Obama put more pressure on Muslims to condemn the “Islamic State” at the UN General Assembly, saying “it is time for the world — especially Muslim communities — to explicitly, forcefully and consistently reject the ideology of al-Qaeda and ISIL.” 

Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Muslims have felt pressured to constantly condemn Islamic extremists and prove that they are typical Americans. More than a decade after 9/11, Muslims appear to be getting frustrated with the pressure to prove they don’t support extremists.  

With the emergence of the “Islamic State”, more Muslims are beginning to shift away from appearing apologetic for the actions of extremists and questioning whether they really need to bow down to the pressure of repeatedly denouncing them.  

“I believe we have to stay strong and not be apologetic, because being apologetic means we admit those people are Muslims and represent our faith,” said Hussein Hachem, chairman of the Lebanese American Heritage Club’s Youth Leadership Committee. “ISIS does not represent Islam. They do not represent us. We are a community that supports peace only and nothing else.” 

Walid said he is frustrated with national television shows having conversations about Islam without including Muslims. 

 “What I am really sick of is national discussions on programs such as ‘Meet the Press’ that don’t have Muslims on the program,” Walid said. 

He said discussions about failed American policies that led to the advancement of groups such as the “Islamic State” need to take place. 

“Muslim leaders keep having an apologetic tone without criticism of the foreign policy that led to this,” Walid said. 

Through the #nomuslimapologies social media campaigns, Muslims have tweeted things such as “I apologize for brightening up the streets of the UK with my colorful scarves #MuslimApologies”, “We’re sorry for algebra”, which Muslims invented, and “#MuslimApologies “we are sorry American genes still produce people like Sarah Palin and Donald Trump.” 

It differs from the new Twitter campaign #NotinMyName, which started in Britain and was mentioned by president Obama as a way for Muslims to disassociate themselves with extremist groups. 

“I think by now Americans are very aware of their Muslim neighbors, their behavior and their values; and they know very well that our holy book prohibits our people from killing in general and our holy book encourages only good values and denounces hate, killing and even the thought of simply thinking bad about people,” Hachem said. 

Last month, American Muslim leaders gathered at Washington’s National Press Club to release a 17-page open letter to the “Islamic State” that distanced mainstream Muslims from the group. 

Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, a prominent imam from West Virginia, refused to give his endorsement. 

It sounded like they were apologizing for something they haven’t done, like they were running for cover,” he said in an interview.

Other Muslims have also refused to engage in similar types of condemnations for similar reasons. One hundred –­­­twenty-six prominent Islamic scholars, including the grand Muftis of Egypt, Jerusalem, Bulgaria and Kosovo, signed the letter.

“We are a community that has contributed immensely to this nation,” Hachem said.