Since the “Charlie Hebdo” shooting that occurred on Jan. 7, “Je suis Charlie,” or I am Charlie, has become the new motto for free speech worldwide.

After the attack, the Charlie Hebdo magazine released an image of Muhammad holding a sign with the slogan. The caption above it read: “Tout est pardonne” — you are forgiven.

But a sizable portion of the Islamic world does not seem interested in accepting the magazine’s forgiveness. In fact, not two weeks after these attacks, riots sparked in Niger, with eight churches burned down and 10 innocent people killed.

In other parts of the Muslim world, protests were held not for the victims, but against what they say is the magazine’s insensitivity to Muslim practices. They carried signs which read: “You are Charlie; I am Mohammed. #noapologies”

Now there’s been debate to censor criticism against Islam. Pope Francis even went as far as to say that “you cannot provoke, you cannot insult the faith of others. You cannot make fun of the faith of others,” somehow mistaking satire against terrorists as insulting the faith of others.

Organizations like the Council on American-Islamic relations cry “Islamophobia” when scrutiny arises, and there has even been a call to have criticism censored as hate speech. Never mind that criticisms and insults against every other religion are par for the course.

President Obama, Prime Minister David Cameron, and even French President Francois Hollande have all insisted that the actions of groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS are contrary to the Islamic faith, and that these are the works of a radical fringe.

But is it true? And should we censor our criticisms? Only if we are cowards.

While it is true that the attacks do not represent the average Muslim next door, the idea that they are from a small minority is not a claim that holds water, especially when we look at the statistics.

According to a poll conducted by Newsweek, 16 percent of muslims in France actually support ISIS militants, while a similar poll by the “Sunday Telegraph” showed that 40 percent of muslims in

Great Britain supported Sharia law, which demands amputations of hands for theft and stoning for adultery.

In the U.S., a survey by the Pew Research Center found that 13 percent of muslims feel that violence towards non-Muslims was justified.

In the week that spanned Jan. 24 to Jan. 31 alone, there were 61 terror attacks by Muslim extremists and six suicide bombings in 13 countries, resulting in 508 deaths. This is hardly a fringe in the faith; these numbers are big, and they’re growing.

Though we wish to keep our lives and reputations safe, we must accept the fact that the truth is not always politically correct.

When we see violence and hatred from a growing group, we cannot silently stand by and make excuses for those who resort to terror to publicize their messages.

If we do, then we are no better than those who stood down and let fascist governments usurp their nations.

Likewise, for all those muslims who read this, the ones who say that they represent the “true Islamic faith,” it is your responsibility to stand up with us.

Many are already, but they’re voices are drowned out by the anger of your brothers. It is you, the nonviolent Muslims, who must be the reformers of your faith.

We must not work to appease evil in the press or on the streets. It is in the face of such murderous men that our voices must ring the loudest. We owe it to those killed, to defend and uphold the truth for all to see

No more excuses, no more lies, no more running.

Je suis Charlie.