Shazia Gulzar
Extremism always cause a turmoil and chaos in societies. You can’t have a peaceful coexistence when you nurture radicalism. This is what’s happening in France too. The murder of Samuel Paty is no doubt an utmost step by fanatics. Those hardliners reside everywhere and are a much bigger threat to their fellow Muslim than non-Muslims. Look at Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Pakistan. These hate mongers hate everybody except for their own bigotry. Being a part of NATO, and supposedly a big proponent of human rights, France is expected to promote democratic values, cooperate on defence and security related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflicts.
These values should be implemented no doubt, but those members should strive to do that in their countries first. The spiral of hypocrisy exits without cardinal directions so if one thinks he’s safe from all the viciousness, he’s hugely mistaken. Sadly, we are all becoming a part of this labyrinth. Their response to Samuel’s death is a farce on peaceful coexistence of humanity.
The murder of Samuel Paty is no way a justified one but the French’s reaction was also disappointing. Displaying those caricatures all around the city and hurting the sentiments of Muslims residing there, what message is France giving here? Does it show that you can stoop low to their extreme level too? What’s the difference between a civil society and an uncivilized one? How can one differentiate between a democratic state and a dictatorial one? The French government is doing the same thing what extremists are doing.
If the fundamentalists are banning free speech, where you can’t argue with them with anything, the French are allowing the unbridled speech which shows no respect to anyone. Banning the freedom of speech doesn’t mean you can curb the truth. Similarly, allowing the freedom of speech doesn’t entitle you to hurt or disrespect somebody’s sentiments. These figures are not the figments of our imagination, they were there in the past and they did play a big role in molding unruly society into a civilized one. We owe them for showing us humanity. Be it Moses, Budhha, Jesus, Abraham Lincoln, Malcolm X or Joan of Arc. If merely talking on holocaust can cause such an uproar in Europe, why can’t you show a little respect to your Muslim citizens.
You have allowed those immigrants in your countries. You have largest number of Jihadis joining ISIS. There must be something wrong in your society that is compelling them to do it. Either ban those extremists in your country or if you have decide to show a little bit of empathy then it’s a must on you to show them some respect too. Times have changed. Everybody is vocal about injustice around the world. If one wrong is wrong in one part of the world, your wrong also does not make it right in any culture, religion or society. It’s time we show those extremists what a civilized world means.
If you have to show the cartoons, show the positive side of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Show the world that he was the first one who liberated women from slavery. Let the fanatics show how merciful he was when people pelted him with stones. Show them how the Holy Prophet (PBUH) was when someone would curse him on his face. Shame them for their extreme measures in this. If you take the route they have taken, there will be no difference between you and them. As for me, I condemn both scenarios. Samuel Paty should be sipping his coffee at Champs-Élysées and those caricatures should be replaced with Islamic quotes. How about that?
—The writer, based in Islamabad, holds master degree in Communication Science.
