“Muslims are not Muslims, Christians are not Christians and Jews are not Jews anymore as all religions talk about peace and their followers have messed up”, said Prof Dr Moonis Ahmar, Director Area Study Centre for Europe, University of Karachi, in a book-launching ceremony named “Europe and the Muslim World: Coexistence or Conflict?”, written by Ambassador(r) Shahid Amin.
“This first book-launching ceremony is a great achievement for ASCE”, he added. “I congratulate the author of this book to write such an extensive and well-written research piece. I also appreciate Dr Moonis and ASCE to perform this academic activity of launching first book on such an important issue”, said Professor Talat Wizarat, former chairperson, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi.
According to her, the research tools and methodology applied in this book are very interesting and simple. “The author has used a historical approach and gone into roots of events happening today. He only goes in historical roots but also analyzes the events and the resources and material consulted are worth mentioning”, she said. She emphasized that “this book should also be read by people in Europe as this book is like a mirror which shows both faces. It has an easy flow of ideas, no jargons, no complicated words and good for students and common readers”.
Eminent journalist, Ghazi Salahuddin, said, “we can write many books on relations with the West, Muslims, and so on but what the author has done in this book is that he has given us a text book which has historical perspective and framework of how Muslim world interacts with Europe”. He deliberated: “Ideas are more important than reading a newspaper. The ideas have created the modern world”. While emphasizing on the importance of reading books, he further said, “all books invite you to think and to check the doubts created in your mind while reading and to have a rational course of thinking”.
In the end, the author of the book, Amb (r) Shahid Amin expressed his gratitude to the audience and the panelists for their valuable comments. “I thank ASCE for reviewing and editing this book and to bring it into a presentable form”, he said. Talking about his book, he said: “this book primarily presents a relation between the West and Muslims. It tells us what divides Europe and Muslims and also what is the way forward and where do we go from here”. “Militants are now advocating the civilizations and bringing them into conflicts. Extremism and Al-Qaeda is not only a threat to the West but it is also a grave threat for us. Extremist elements don’t allow women education, their employment and they ban all other studies except reading the Quran. Extremism is a disease wherever it is found and unfortunately it is growing”, he added.
After the vote of thanks by Dr Uzma Shujaat, Assistant Professor ASCE, the audience of the ceremony gave their comments about the book and asked few questions which were answered by the author.
