JK Rowling
J.K.Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, took to Twitter on Sunday (11 January) to condemn anti-Muslim tweet from Rupert Murdoch where he insists that even peaceful Muslims should be held responsible for terrorist attacks. Carlo Allegri/Reuters

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling took to Twitter on Sunday (11 January) to condemn a tweet from Rupert Murdoch, in which he insisted that even peaceful Muslims should be held responsible for terrorist attacks.

Murdoch tweeted on Saturday (10 January) saying: "Maybe most Moslems peaceful, but until they recognize and destroy their growing jihadist cancer they must be held responsible."

Maybe most Moslems peaceful, but until they recognize and destroy their growing jihadist cancer they must be held responsible.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) January 10, 2015

In response, Rowling tweeted on Sunday: "I was born Christian. If that makes Rupert Murdoch my responsibility, 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, 2015

.@dom209 The Spanish Inquisition was my fault, as is all Christian fundamentalist violence. Oh, and Jim Bakker.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 11, 2015

.@peeyushmalhotra Eight times more Muslims have been killed by so-called Islamic terrorists than non-Muslims. http://t.co/JXLfZOmcKl

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 11, 2015

Murdoch's initial tweet had already drawn a lot of criticism and he followed it up with another to further fuel the online rage.

Big jihadist danger looming everywhere from Philippines to Africa to Europe to US.
Political correctness makes for denial and hypocrisy.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) January 10, 2015

Rowling, on the other hand praised "the courage and compassionate actions of Lassana Bathily," the Muslim employee, who helped hide several Jewish customers in the basement chiller room of the kosher supermarket in Vincennes, where gunman held customers hostage.

The courageous and compassionate actions of Lassana Bathily remind us what 'humanity' ought to mean #Paris http://t.co/6tQHEbsOWI

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 10, 2015

In a moving spectacle, people of all faiths joined Rowling to defend peaceful Muslims and apologized on Murdoch's behalf.

As a white man I feel compelled I must apologise for recent comments made by Rupert Murdoch. He can't help being an idiot. Oh wait, he can.

— Chris Lent 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🇵🇸 🇨🇺 (@MrChrisLent) January 10, 2015

As a journalist, I would like to apologise for Rupert Murdoch

— Gerard Cunningham (@faduda) January 10, 2015

As a fellow white man, I would like to apologise on behalf of Rupert Murdoch. He's just old and clearly losing his mind. It's what happens.

— Ⓜⓐⓡⓒⓤⓢ (@MarcusGunn4) January 10, 2015

@hrtbps I'd like to offer an apology on behalf of us all. Murdoch's comments don't represent the views of mainstream Rupert community

— Rupert Franklin (@rupert_franklin) January 10, 2015

After Sunday's (11 January) Unity March, Murdoch was in a kinder mood and tweeted: "Extraordinary scenes in Paris today, but do not forget the heroic sacrifice of Ahmed Merabet, Muslim police officer whose funeral was today."

Extraordinary scenes in Paris today, but do not forget the heroic sacrifice of Ahmed Merabet, Muslim police officer whose funeral was today.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) January 11, 2015
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