In no way a rational call
The greater the power, the greater the responsibility. Or so they say. But finding a semblance of rationality in our neck of the woods is becoming an impossible task with each passing day. We do not seem to be able to record even a peaceful protest, even when it has officially been declared a day to profess love, much less forcing the world to mend its ways. As if what happened on the 21st of September wasn’t enough, Federal Minister for Railways Ghulam Ahmad Bilour has upped the ante by announcing a bounty of 100,000 dollars on the maker of a movie that has disrespected Prophet Muhammad and brought millions of Muslims on to streets in protests all over the world.
While his passion is commendable, his gesture is not, more so considering that he is a federal minister. His action might incite violence from not just one or two religious zealots but many more, the least the government would want on its hands right now. The very public who protested, mind you they were largely on rampage, as they celebrated a day to honor love for their Prophet, a Prophet actions from whose life they quotes so passionately to convince the world that Islam is a peaceful religion, could provide a launching pad to some extremists in disguise. After all, it takes not much to contort an ideology or a statement.
The carrot he is dangling in front of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and the general public — by inciting them to commit murder, in itself a crime — would also hand over the stick in the hands of those who take his offer to heart. More than that, it represents a disappointing lack of confidence in the government by none other than a minister of the same government. Yes, the acts of that American filmmaker must be discouraged but so should be the ones proposed by the minister. In fact, what Mr Bilour is proposing is somewhat same what the maker of that sacrilegious film has done: to incite people to violence.
With the country already at war with terrorists and law and order situation not much to boast of, violent protests and calls for violence would do us no good. What we lack is a unified approach on how to handle the issue and how to convey our message to the West. It won’t make much of a convincing case to the western governments, even though we are right in demanding action against blasphemers, if we keep announcing a price on the heads of their citizens.
Rational approach calls for rational measures, not for passionate appeals for more violence.
