Daily Times

LAHORE: Iranian American author, scholar and TV host Reza Aslan has said that US is responsible for killings of thousands of Pakistanis, adding that the country’s policies are only linked to its own interest.

He expressed these views while addressing the opening session of the 6th Lahore Literary Festival (LLF) 2018 on Saturday at Alhamra Art Centre. Thousands of people from all walks of lives thronged to the festival on its first day. The first day of the festival comprised 32 sessions, panel discussion and dialogues with local and international public and literary figures. The festival was attended by students, teachers, scholars, writers, actors, singers, authors, publishers, politicians and several renowned artists.

The opening session titled ‘Light at the End of Trumpian Disruption’ was addressed by Booker Prize Winner Ben Okri, Britsh political scientist Mark Leonard and was moderated by Ahmad Rashid. Reza Aslan further stated that lives of the American people have been affected greatly after Donald Trump’s election as the US president because the most powerful man of the world is not only racist and sexist, but also ‘mentally unstable’.

“I am an American citizen who was born in Iran and my sincerities are still with the country of my birth. My children have a Christian mother and Iranian brown father but the president of their country is racist”, he lamented.

He went on to say that the world today is facing identity crises and catacharismatic phenomenon is being seen in which ethnicities enjoy privilege in Europe and the US. He however added that this status might soon be taken away from these ethnicities. The US will soon be divided into majority and minority classes based on ethnicities as the country had already seen minorities migrating out of fear, he said, and added that the US needs to be a multipolarised country.

Ben Okri explained that it was the most troubling and disastrous event of politics that Trump was elected as the president of the US.

In response to a question, Ben said that unlike his predecessors, Trump has not become a murderer yet but the world should not wait for him to become one, adding that the US president’s hateful rhetoric is just as dangerous. “It is concerning that racism and narrative of the extremists has seen an increase post-Trump.”

Ben further stated that we live in an atmosphere that has been completely changed by the powers-that-be. Talking about colonialism, he said that it has changed the texture of Britain. He was of the view that now is the time for ordinary people to raise their voices and participate in the political process, adding that such engagements will help revive the values of diversity and humanity in politics.

Mark Leonard noted that Trump is supported by American society because it is a polarised one and he represents the majority that feels threatened by the minority. Leonard further stated that Trump’s policies are dangerous but he enjoys supports within the US.

Published in Daily Times, February  25^th 2018.