This post by Agha Haider Raza was originally published at his blog on 12 January 2011.
Our country is at a crossroad. Pakistan has come to a point where thousands believe they are righteous and have divine authority to carry out God’s acts on this earth. The repugnant response by the supporters of Salman Taseer’s alleged killer has truly been mesmerizing. Qadri’s fan base has distorted Islam to such an extent that it has become laughable to comprehend how they perceive themselves to be protecting the sanctity of Islam. Are they protecting the very Islam, which teaches that murder of one human is the equivalent of killing mankind? Are they protecting the very Islam, which allows for questions over ambiguity? Are they protecting the very Islam that believes in modernity and equality for all? The unfortunate reality today is the religious parties although do not have the political capital; they have influence over our society. These parties need to be exposed to the Pakistani public through education and the media. Their dangerous interpretation of Islam needs to be questioned and highlighted. Many in our country have been manipulated through religion and this should not be tolerated anymore. This twisted ideology has taken too many innocent lives in our country. Surely this madness needs to come to an end?
Much has been discussed, gossiped and publicized on Governor Salmaan Taseer’s inhumane assassination a week ago. Above the chorus about the Governors personality, character and political viewpoint, what I find completely baffling is the absence of condemning cold-blooded murder. I am not talking about the monotonous paragraph that has appeared on behalf of our government officials denouncing the murder, “we condemn the killing…will investigate”. What we need from our ‘democratically elected’ leaders is, showcase to Pakistani’s around the country the draconian way of life many of our ‘religious scholars’ have adopted.
I find it highly unfortunate that the President of Pakistan and co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Asif Zardari, has not used stronger words to deplore the heinous act. Furthermore, only two politicians, Imran Khan and Shujaat Hussain have linked Taseer’s murder to the growing extremism that many of the political establishment enjoys turning a blind eye towards. Murder is not justified – under any circumstances.
Those who argue that Islam has no place for modernity are incorrect. The Prophet (PBUH) was a 7th century Arab who married an older businesswoman. He broke with tradition. The Prophet broke idols that were in the Kaa’ba. He broke with tradition. The Prophet stopped female infanticide during his time. He broke with tradition. Islam was introduced at a time of jahaliyat and it was Prophet Muhammad who brought about a social change, expanding the concept of modernity. Why have we been estranged from the very foundation of Islam?
What is the purpose of believing in the Day of Judgment if we are judging people and deciding their fate in this world? Is it not blasphemous for Qadri to be carrying out God’s work? If Taseer was wrong in what he said or did, why was Qadri allowed to take away the Governor’s opportunity of repentance? Is it not blasphemous of Qadri to kill a human being when (in Islam) only God is the decider of our destiny?
The clergy has always been a powerful institution throughout history. One cannot deny the power and sway they maintain, but in a religion where we believe that God has the divine authority, I find it hard to believe how a moderate country like Pakistan has allowed the ‘right Ummah’ to become the ‘righteous Ummah’.
It also seems very hypocritical that we seem to merrily criticize any other religion on this earth. We mock the Jews, pass judgment on the concept of the Holy Trinity and laugh at believers who worship their own deities. And yet, when it comes to Islam, we don’t stand for any religious tolerance. How does one expect others to respect our religion when we don’t return the favour? What right do we have in condemning Aasia Bibi (who is a Christian) for blasphemy, when we are guilty of the same charge when it comes to her religion? Have we forgotten what the white stripe represents on our national flag?
The rising bourgeoisie in Pakistan needs to be exposed to heinous crimes that are being committed at the beck and call of the religious right. Such parties are entitled to voice their opinions and sentiment, but they are not allowed to instigate violence. The religious party (JuI) has been active prior to partition (1947). They have never been able to secure the Federal Government. If Pakistan believed in the ideology the religious parties put forward, we would have been a very different country today. It is in fact, the Pakistan Peoples Party, a grassroots, liberal, secular party that is not surprisingly, the largest political party as well.
The Establishment needs to wake up and smell the putrid air that has encompassed Pakistan. Pakistan no longer believes in their concept of ‘strategic depth’, Pakistani’s don’t want any further deaths in Kashmir, Pakistani’s don’t want to fund madrassah’s that mass produce suicide bombers. It is the very seed that was planted decades ago, which we reap today. It is the very ideology that was preached during the 1980s, which convinced the alleged assassin Mumtaz Qadri to empty two magazines on Governor Taseer.
The blasphemy laws in Pakistan are no doubt a very sensitive issue. But so was the Hudood Ordinance, which was rectified by Parliament. Pakistan went through a very turbulent period under General Zia-ul-Haq. Laws were incorporated that reeked of a very conservative and distorted form of Islam. But as the Governor rightly said, these are ‘man-made laws, not God-made laws’. They can and should be amended. The Political Establishment needs to challenge and enlighten those parties, groups and individuals who believe in suicide bombings, murder and religious intolerance.
Governor Taseer was murdered for what he rightly believed in a law that is dangerous to a prosperous society. This law has been interpreted to a point where a citizen believes it is lawful to murder another citizen. The blasphemy laws have been interpreted in a manner, where a citizen believes he does not need to respect the law enforcement agencies, the judicial courts or the legislative authority of Parliament. Max Weber famously articulated that a state solely possesses a monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force. When the power of violence shifts from the state to the people, we also see a shift from a state to anarchy.
Maybe this is what President Zardari meant when he awkwardly stated, Mumtaz Qadri threatened democratic institutions. The only logical explanation would be that if the blasphemy laws can be interpreted in a manner that threatens institutions, would it not be appropriate to repeal or amend such a law?
