Daily Times

A majority of Americans have expressed their distaste over the YouTube video insulting Islam that sparked violent protests in the Muslim world. Talking to media along with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khan, who is on a visit to Washington, DC, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton condemned the film. The US embassy in Islamabad went so far as to spend $ 70,000 on TV ads to convey President Barack Obama’s condemnation of the video in Urdu on Pakistan’s news networks. Numerous American columnists have offered explanations of the violence caused by the film that cost the US the life of four of its diplomats, including the ambassador, in Libya. The strong reaction to the film notwithstanding, the Americans are all very clear and stand firm on one thing. They uphold the First Amendment to the US constitution passed on December 15, 1791 that gives all US citizens the right to free speech.

The American forefathers and the descending generations of leaders have carefully considered this value and hold it close to their hearts. It is the First Amendment that gives people of different origins, cultures and religious denominations, including Muslims, the space to practice their beliefs and lifestyles without any interference. There is certainly a debate on how to respond when the right to free speech is used for provocation, as in the case of this video, but that does not undermine the value attached to freedom of expression. Had the Muslims’ protests been peaceful and engaging, this debate would have received impetus. Unfortunately, whatever debate the film evoked has been drowned by images of death and destruction emerging out of countries like Libya, Egypt, Pakistan and Sudan. In Pakistan alone, 20 people were killed, scores were injured, and businesses and properties, including a church, were vandalised during the protests against this film.

All great nations that have made a mark in history carefully consider their guiding principles, and once they espouse them, strive to uphold them under all circumstances. What are Pakistan’s values? What are the principles on which all segments of society — political class, academia, writers, journalists, professionals — agree? We are taught in school that Pakistan was created so that Muslims could live their lives according to their religion. Successive regimes have made changes in the constitution and laws to give pre-eminence to ‘Islamic values’ in the lives of Pakistanis. But there seems to be a mighty confusion on what constitutes Islamic values.

From the mayhem seen on the streets on September 21, which had been declared a holiday by the government, it appeared that nobody had ever read the Quran and learnt from the Sunnah (practice) of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which have clear injunctions on how to respond to insults. Some verses of the Quran state: “(The believers are such that) when they hear foul speech, they turn away and say: ‘To us our deeds, and to you yours. Peace be to you; we seek not the (ways of the) ignorant’” (Quran, 28:55), “And do not argue with the People of the Scripture (Jews, Christians, etc.) except in the nicest manner” (Quran, 29:46). “When you hear the signs of Allah rejected and mocked at, just leave their company until they engage in a different discourse” (Quran, 4:140). “You will surely be tested in your possessions and in yourselves. And you will surely hear from those who were given the Scripture before you and from those who associate with Allah much abuse. But if you persevere with patience and piety, then that will be a determining factor in all affairs” (Quran, 3:186).

I wonder if any of the political leaders who avowed their love for the Prophet (PBUH), or Islamic parties that claim to be the custodians of Islam, or madrassa students who led the assault on the diplomatic enclave, or TV anchors and producers who hold considerable influence with the public, or government ministers — one of whom has declared bounty on the head of the filmmaker and even urged the Taliban and al Qaeda to assist in this “pious deed” — ever read these, and numerous other verses that urge believers to remain calm in the face of insult. Why did they not urge the people to contain their anger? The only going discourse was that we are outraged and justified in our expression of it, whatever shape it takes.

We have legitimised, even institutionalised, outrage on perceived insults to Islam, e.g. in the blasphemy law, when Islam teaches the opposite. Even the loss of life and property is no offence when it involves the outrage of the ‘believers’. From what happened on Friday, it is clear that the ‘Islamists’ have nothing to do with Islam other than exploiting it for personal gain. In Islamabad, banned militant outfits egged on their followers to clash with the police and invade the diplomatic enclave. In Karachi, banks and shops were looted, cinemas and petrol pumps burnt, and 14 people killed. In Mardan, a church was vandalised and burnt. All this is the fruit of contaminating religion with politics, where everything, from the hurt sentiments of ordinary Pakistanis, to the love of the Prophet (PBUH), to the verses of the Quran, becomes a saleable commodity.

It is time that Pakistanis decided what their values are. Simply naming Islam as our guiding philosophy and then leaving it in the hands of mullahs to dictate to us will lead us even further into chaos. Religious and militant outfits have come to exercise immense power due to the misguided policies of successive regimes. They have guns, street power of indoctrinated madrassa students, patrons in the corridors of power, and the authority of Islam that they abuse to legitimise their actions. No political party has shown the grit to take on these retrogressive forces. Ironically, it is only the political forces that can push them back by educating and organising the public and clearly framing our values. Perhaps there is some hope, because ordinary people are now questioning the violence committed in the name of Islam. There has been a heated debate on the social media on this issue. Even people who were initially twitching with rage, have expressed regret over the manner of the protests. Youth in Islamabad started a campaign to clean up the city and raise funds for rebuilding the church in Mardan. Perhaps the youth of Pakistan can organise and force the political parties to listen to their voice for a moderate and secular Pakistan that is governed by carefully thought out values drawn from our religion, culture, history, and learn from nations that have progressed in today’s world, not the whims and fancies of violent hordes led by self-proclaimed protectors of religion.

The writer lives in Washington, DC, and tweets at http://twitter.com/ishrats