The recent outrage by the Muslim Ummah protesting against a low budget blasphemous movie produced in theUSAand the West’s condemnation of the remonstration of the Islamists depict occidental double standards.
The US State Department assures the Muslims that the sacrilegious film was not sponsored by it. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, during her meeting with her Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar, made it clear that the protests that had turned violent and, sadly, resulted in loss of life, cannot be tolerated. She admitted that there is provocation, and theUShad made clear that it does not in any way support provocation. She reiterated that theUSadministration found the video, which is at the core of this series of events, offensive, disgusting and reprehensible.
Unfortunately, the West displays double standards in its dealing. Terry Jones, a small time pastor of Dove World Outreach Centre, a small nondenominational Christian church inGainesville,Florida, had his 10 minutes of fame when he burnt copies of the Holy Quràn. His despicable act was condemned, but no legal action was taken against him. The Danish caricatures ridiculing Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were in bad taste and violently protested by the Muslim Ummah, but no legal action was taken against the cartoonist, who caused mental agony to billions of Muslims all over the globe. Salman Rushdie, the author of Satanic Verses, was revered by the West although his blasphemous book was reviled by the Muslims all over the globe. Now similar revulsion has been caused by the profane film, which would have gone unnoticed if the producer had not taken pains to translate it in Arabic and post it on YouTube.
The sad aspect is that all these heinous acts causing mental anguish to Muslims for defaming their beloved Prophet (PBUH) are brushed aside by the West under the ‘Freedom of Speech Act’.
It is, indeed, doublespeak when the punishment for the denial of Holocaust ranges to imprisonment of one up to 10 years in a number of Western countries. Nudity is permissible but in some Western countries, Muslim women covering their heads with scarves can be punished or sacked from their jobs or expelled from educational institutions. InDenmark, the construction of magnificent palaces, citadels and mansions is permissible, but the domes of mosques are prohibited. Smoking at public places is prohibited as it is injurious to health, but the onslaught of venomous comments against a religious entity is permissible under freedom of speech. InGermany, Hitler’s Mein Kampf is banned, but books preaching hate and odium against Islam are tolerable. It is high time that the Occident reviews its laws against blasphemy and the reviling of other religions.
On the other hand, Muslims, and especially Pakistanis, need to rein in our anger.September 21, 2012, was declared as the day of ‘Love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH)’, but it turned into a day of expressing extreme hatred, violence and aggression. The same Holy Prophet (PBUH), whom we revere and whose Sunnah (teaching and practices) we are ordained to follow, were conveniently forgotten. The Prophet (PBUH) was a paragon of love and virtue. He decried violent behaviour and forgave even those who caused him physical harm.
Against this backdrop, Pakistanis, who attacked and burned a church, cinema houses, looted ATMs, torched cars and petrol pumps, only caused damage to their own country. They lost an ideal opportunity to display to the world that their sentiments had been hurt. By giving vent to their emotions through violent acts, they only revealed their barbaric nature and brought Islam a bad name. No wonder, an Indian student has taunted thatIndiadoes not need to build Pakistan-specific Agni and Prithvi missiles —- “just produce a blasphemous movie, post it on YouTube and in retaliation, Pakistanis will destroy their own country.”
The writer is a political and defence analyst. Email: sultanm.hali@gmail.com
