This is with reference to the letter titled “Spreading ignorance” sent by Kainat Fatima printed in your newspaper on June 9, 2011. Ms Fatima’s claim, which you substantiated with a misleading image of a bearded man blindfolding a child, is a mere generalisation. The fact that some untrained religious scholars are spreading ignorance may be true in some cases but it is not generally the norm.
There are many learned scholars of religion and spirituality that guide many people and are widely respected for their knowledge.
However, if such generalisations are made, accompanied with such images, there is a risk that religious scholars who don’t mislead and who have a beard will be judged based on the way they look.
Part of the media’s responsibility is to make sure that only facts are reported, and not generalisations. I hope that the paper will exercise more care and help in combating not perpetuating stereotypes and faulty assumptions.
NILREM AHMED
Lahore