As of now, competition is on between Pakistani government and unruly rioters to prove their love for Prophet (PBUH). Government declared Friday, Sept 21, as a national holiday, a ‘day of love for Prophet’, to let people to orderly demonstrate against production of an amateurish movie about Prophet’s private life. However, violent mobs are showing off their affection and love for prophet by rioting, ransacking and putting properties on fire. On Thursday, army units were called in to safeguard the Capital’s diplomatic enclosure. Pakistan’s electronic media, though lost one cameraman in Friday’s riots in Peshawar, is putting up a brave face and trying to justify, and some cases, incite the violence.
Most of the protestors are demanding death sentence for anyone accused of insulting their religion. Don’t we see our own literature and in-built thinking denouncing Semitism, denying Christ’s divinity as the son of God, Hindus’ mythology, but how come the West is accommodating all faiths and letting them to propagate and prosper (in some cases Islamic schools receive government’s grants).
We all know that policing of internet for any offensive material is next to impossible, otherwise, these Jihadist organizations would not be able to use internet and social media to advance their hate-agenda. However, there are legal ways to bring the hate-mongers to face the music. The Muslim community in the US is quite vibrant; it can take the lead to sue the film producers for inciting racism and hatred leading to violence. Perhaps a legal way is the only discourse to get out of destructing our own properties and killing our own people. But can anyone talk to these rioters who are not ready to listen to any sane voice. Best way to counter a hate-speech is to debate and present your counter argument; it’s a global village and whether we like or not, now on we have to live in pluralistic societies.
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia