Putin’s ‘prophetic reverence’ for Last Prophet (SAWW)
THE message of reverence and dignity delivered by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin that insulting the Last Prophet (SAWW) is not freedom of expression has received global appreciation and commendation of the Muslim community at large.
Indeed, it has been a timely intervention of President Putin to condemn the desecration of the Holy Prophet (SAWW) in the western media.
Sadly, in the pretext of freedom of expression, the Western cartoonists have been staining the dignity of the Prophet of Islam (SAWW) via disrespectful publication of caricatures of the Last Prophet (PBUH), thereby developing a feeling of resentment, compunction, and discomfiture in the hearts of the Muslims worldwide.
Freedom of expression and its misuse is common in the western media.The fact remains that there has been a glaring difference between the two freedoms –the so- called freedom of expression and the freedom of religion.
Apparently, since 2003, there have been various attempts in Europe to desecrate the Holy Prophet (SAWW), who has been not the Prophet of Islam, but a prophet of all Holy religions and whose message cannot be attributed to the Muslim community alone, rather his message remains valid for the whole humanity.
These demoralized attempts of the Western cartoonists and writers should have been discouraged and penalised via academic and legal recourse.
It is ironic that instead of adopting a meaningful course against this unethical and prejudicial conduct/attitude of the western writers, the western governments remained silent, which consequently paved the way for Islamophobia in the West.
What is more important in this regard is the exigency that in the times of global pandemic-the Covid -19, there should have been a gravity of thinking of promoting humanitarian feelings, yet some people in the West promoted hatred and cultural ghettos.
The latest moves of such illicit acts of desecrating the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in France must be taken a global cognizance since the universality of the teachings of the Holy Prophet (SAWW) has not been stipulated in his times but his precepts/guidelines serve as candlelight for all ages to come.
The horrendous rise of Islamophobia in the West has caused an evil effect worldwide.The Western disdain for Islamic values and culture has badly divided the global community.
Islam harnessed the virtues of humanism, philanthropy and multiculturalism.The state of Madinah created by the Holy Prophet of Islam was the first welfare state in the world.
The state of Madinah gave full liberty to the followers of other religions.Putin, now wisely reacts when he says that the acts of religious disdain give rise to extremist reprisals, citing as an example the attack on the editorial office of Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris after its publication of cartoons of the Last Prophet (PBUH).
The ideological transformation marked in Putin’s current thinking is absolutely evolutionary. Putin said insulting the Prophet Muhammad is a violation of freedom of religion and a violation of the holy feelings of people who profess Islam.
This freedom should have in its basis respect for everyone whose feelings can be affected, Putin said at his annual news conference last Thursday.
“What are insults against the Last Prophet (SAWW)?Is this creative freedom?I think not. This is a violation of freedom of religion and a violation of the holy feelings of people who profess Islam, and this brings to life other, even more, acute and extremist manifestations,” he said.
“Russia was formed as a multinational and multi-confessional state, and we are used to basically treat each other’s interests and traditions with respect.
This is indeed a very powerful base of existence, a solid basis for the existence of Russia as a multinational state,” he said.
Today, Russia is the home of more than 25 million Muslims.The Muslim community in Russia continues to grow, having a profound influence, according to the grand mufti of Russia, Sheikh Rawil Gaynetdin.
There is also a high concentration of followers of Islam in the regions where Islamic states were located before the formation of a single Russian state; today, these regions are Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, the republics of the North Caucasus, the mufti said.
Approximately more than 400000 Muslims reside in the capital area of Moscow, while mostly migrants— coming from across the country and the former Soviet republics of the Caucasus and Central Asia—reflect a model of Muslims as loyal citizens/subjects of a Russian state.
Geopolitically, Russian boundaries are closer to the Middle Eastern states as compared to the European peripheries.
Therefore, the Kremlin views Russia’s Muslim community as a single entity without distinguishing between the country’s citizens and foreigners while perceiving the Islamic factor in Russia’s cultural, social, and political life.
Today “it is openly said that Russia is not only an Orthodox, but also a Muslim country, including members of more than 30 indigenous Russian nations,” according to Talib Saidbaev, advisor to the Head Mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia.
And yet more broadly, Putin’s current message could counter negative western trends, thereby orchestrating some consequential effects: firstly, it may prevent the western propaganda against the last Prophet (SAWW).
Secondly, it may halt the misuse of freedom of expression.Thirdly, it may defuse the tensions between the Western and the Muslim community.
Fourthly, it may pave the way for objective legislation against such acts of Blasphemy. Fifthly, it may restore the feelings of security in Russian Muslims.
And last but not least, it may elevate Russian geopolitical clout in the Muslim States.In his tweet PM, Imran Khan said,’’ I welcome President Putin’s statement which reaffirms my message that insulting our Holy Prophet (SAWW)is not “ freedom of expression”.
We Muslims, especially Muslim leaders, must spread this message to leaders of the non-Muslim world to counter Islamophobia’’.
Article 20(2) of the ICCPR requires states parties to prohibit ‘’advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence’’.
The world must take a serious note of the RSS—sponsored cultural terrorism against religious minorities in India.
By no means, freedom of expression should ever be used to ridicule the Holy Prophet (SAWW) since it is against the dignity of Prophethood whose sanctity is directly attached to the realm of divinity.
It is the moral obligation that all religious communities should respect the sanctity of Prophethood
—The writer, an independent ‘IR’ researcher-cum-international law analyst based in Pakistan, is member of European Consortium for Political Research Standing Group on IR, Critical Peace & Conflict Studies, also a member of Washington Foreign Law Society and European Society of International Law.
