Dr Muhammad Khan
THE latest incidents of burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden and Norway represent a prejudiced mindset which has developed in the traditionally tolerant societies of the West. Despite appearance of racial symptoms, the Scandinavian region of Europe maintained the highest level of social capital. It remained as an all-encompassing society having highest level of socio-economic integration. This region of the Northern European, the Nordic countries had high “civic participation, high ethnic homogeneity, high social and economic equality and low public corruption.” The Muslim immigrants in Europe and particularly in the Scandinavian countries have largely contributed towards further enrichment of traditional values of this region with a visible uplift of economy and homogeneity. On their part, these countries assimilated and accepted the Muslims in their societies. There was, indeed, more room for excellence and talent development in the national discourses of Scandinavian societies.
Since, the population is same, the traditional values and culture are same, what has impacted the people who rose to the level of desecration of mosques, burning of the Holy Quran and prejudices against Muslims. It is not a home-grown mindset of the Scandinavian region. It seems to be alien, imported and with vested interests. Definitely, it is a well-planned strategy and wilful act, aiming a wider and longer design to create hatred against Islam which is the religion of peace and love. Alas! Those who burnt the Holy Quran, could have read it; the message it carried and the teachings it imparts. The teachings of Islam began with an abiding message of peace. Peace brings harmony among the human beings. The harmony in turn purges hearts of hatred, fear and bias. Once a society reaches such a level, it would end the conflicts and wars and fosters love among the masses. This in turn paves the ground for development and economic prosperity for everyone in Scandinavian region and Europe.
Indeed, there developed an adversely negative mindset against Muslims and Islam in the Trans-Atlantic region after the unfortunate happenings of 9/11 and thereafter. The Incident of 9/11 neither benefitted nor conceived by any Islamic state or the Islamic institutions anywhere in the world. The incident rather harmed the Muslims and indeed was an attempt to defame Islam and Muslims. According to American and Western scholars, the incident was part of a greater game, hence well planned and executed with a lot of perfection and professionalism which needed expertise not available in any Muslim state. The incident created a wide ranging hatred against Islam and Muslims everywhere, since the pilots of those aircraft which hit World Trade Centre and Pentagon were Muslims from some Arab states. The scholars, however, questioned the bulk employment of pilots from the Arab world and their concurring flight timings. Moreover, they questioned the beneficiaries; Muslim, West, United States or someone else?
The sentiments of hate against Islam, Muslims and burning of the Holy Quran and desecration of mosques and places of prayers in the West are indirectly defaming the traditionally tolerant western societies too. It represents the mushroom growth of an intolerant society in the West and America. Hundreds of thousands of events of terrorism have happened in the West and America since the beginning of anti-Muslim campaign in these continents. The perpetrators of these incidents were non-Muslims in over 90% cases. Mostly, the Christians were killing the Christens in these acts of terrorism. But, amazingly these terrorists, who committed the act of terrorism against innocents in schools, clubs and other public places were not labelled as terrorists, since this label is dedicated for Muslims only. Even, Brenton Tarrant, the man who killed 51 Muslims in live-streamed attacks on two New Zealand mosques was not declared as a terrorist. He has been sentenced to life imprisonment, a rare incident in New Zeeland. He is still proud of killing innocent Muslims since he is part of this new mindset. Indeed, Islamophobia and mushroom growth of hatred against Islam and Muslims in Europe and America would go against the traditional bondage of their multi-religious, multi-cultural and all-encompassing social fabric. Creation of hatred, desecration of religious places and burning of Holy Books is against the teaching of all Divine religions, thus cannot be justified for Islam and Muslims. It is not allowed even in the Constitution of any State or UN Charter under the so-called freedom of speech and freedom of actions by anyone. Today’s’ Islamophobia may take the shape of Christianphobia tomorrow. Then there will be no end to it, these phobias can be developed against other religions and expand to other communities too. After all Europe has faced centuries of internal strife, conflicts and wars in the name of religion and even within two schools of Christianity. The broader dimension of this write-up is; through growing trends of Islamophobia, European and American societies are sowing seeds of hatred, intolerance and violence which they may find difficult to calmly harvest and resolve in a future scenario.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
