Shahidullah Shahid
ISLAMOPHOBIA usually refers to systemic racism against Muslims and the lived experiences of bigotry against people who are perceived as Muslims. These forms of racism and discrimination have intensified in the last couple of decades, especially since the war on terror. Isalmophobia is a spatialzed process that occurs at different scales in Muslim-minority countries. In the Western Europe, surging wave of Islamophobia is now being cloaked into the garb of democracy by launching two pronged legislative and secular attack against Islam and Muslims. French President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a plan to strengthen a 1905 law that officially separated the church and the state, which according to him will serve as bulwark for defending secular values of France against what he described “Islamic radicalism” describing Islam as a religion “in crisis” all over the world. In his long awaited address, Macron insisted “no concession” shall be allowed in the drive to push religion out of education and public sector in France.
Muslim communities that have settled in Europe and Scandinavian states are very conscious of preserving and protecting their belief in Islam, staunchly observe its fundamentals and abide by values of Islamic culture as enshrined in the teaching of the Holy Quran. It has produced a cramp in the stomach of western political leaders as to why the Muslim youth cannot be lured to the unbridled western culture of immodesty, withered away family unit and aversion to religion. The worries of western leaders have further compounded by increasing number of mosques with thick attendance of worshipers in congregational prayers and centres of Islamic teachings. France was the first European Union member country which passed and enforced a discriminatory law in 2011 against wearing full-face veil by Muslim women at public places, followed by Belgium. Last year European Court of Human Rights upheld the Belgium ban on wearing full-face veil by Muslim women. In Denmark, the Danish Parliament passed legislation in August 2018 which makes wearing of full-face veil a cognizable offence liable for punishment in the form of fine. The same year another European Union member country, Austria shut down seven Turkish mosques and expelled 40 Turk Imams.
Ironically, the sentiments of Islamophobia have been constantly on the rise and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is playing a docile attitude. Islamophobia is being used as political football for attracting voters not only by the politicians in the rank and file of far right political parties but also the ones in right of the centre parties. These sentiments are inflamed to garner electoral support both in national polls and elections contested for the European Parliament. The west — and the US in particular — have not been able to comprehend and acknowledge the legitimacy of freedom struggle of the oppressed Muslim groups such as Kashmiris, Palestinians, Afghanis and the Chechens etc. Moreover, it has not really demonstrated even a reasonable level of interests nor made any serious attempt to facilitate the desired resolution. Instead most of these indigenous movements are brushed aside and lumped as terrorist movements.
The entire western media which indeed is not only powerful but also reaches almost all parts of the world, tends to either deliberately or inadvertently equate terrorism with Muslims and projects Islam as a religion that facilitates terrorism. Nothing could be far from the truth; Islam is a religion of peace and a complete code of life. It tends to promote peace everywhere. Non comprehension of Islam or deliberate distortions of Islamic injunctions, as has been continuously undertaken by many enemies of Islam, gave birth to such a notion. By and large, leaders of OIC member countries have shown an oblivious attitude towards the surging tide of sentiments against Islam by the US and western leaders. The autocrat rulers of Arab countries are keen in establishing diplomatic relations with Israel and they have adopted “Ostrich policy” by not countering Islamophobia. On the contrary, Pakistan, Turkey and Malaysia have always taken a bold stand to fight the threat of Islamophobia.
To manage Islamophobia, a counter-narrative is inevitable. The media needs to be able to transform its general culture whereby it understands the structural and pervasive problem of Islamophobia in its representation of Muslims. A four step approach can be adopted. First defining, second documenting Islamophobia, third deconstructing its narratives, fourth reconstructing positive and realistic narratives around Muslims. The ultimate goal in countering Islamophobia should be creation of a fair and just society for all. Exercising citizenship (The ‘Trojan Horse affair), Interfaith projects, using the arts, creating and developing existing alternative art spaces, humanization of Muslims, a travesty of justice, using platforms such as OIC, vibrant role of new generation, need for safe space, accountability of state and institutional racism, developing and asserting Muslim autonomy are the recommendations that need to be put in practice on a war-footing. It is high time that western leaders and think tanks get engage in intellectual dialogue about Islam. Likewise, people in general and states in particular have critical role to play. It is the duty of heads of Muslim states to strive for formulation of a common way ahead. On the other hand, as for the heads of states of non-Muslim majority countries, I request you to move beyond “thoughts & prayers” and “do more”. Let’s all — despite our differences — endeavour for create a peaceful world for our future generations to live in.
—The writer is an Assistant Commissioner serving in Government of KP.
