How to counter Islamophobia

[Rigel]

THE recently concluded OIC meeting focused mainly on what it perceives to be the rising Islamophobia in the world. A report presented at the OIC said, �?????�????�???�??�?�¢??The Muslim world has created a plan to defend its religion from political cartoonists and bigots.�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�� The report concluded that Islam is under attack and that a defence must be mounted.

The Senegal summit deliberated on legal measures against those who insult their religion and its sacred symbols. It resolved that there should be a �?????�????�???�??�?�¢??legal instrument�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?�� to crack down on defamation of Islam, but it is unclear what kind of legal action could be taken. One view is that laws should be formulated as exist in Europe which prohibit anti-Semitic rhetoric.

There is widespread reaction in Muslim countries to the blasphemous cartoons in the Danish press, the writings of Ayyan Hirsi Ali and an anti-Islam film made by a right-wing Dutch politician. Another Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh was assassinated when he made a movie criticising Islam. Angry protestors in Muslim countries have been damaging their own property, observing strikes and raising hysterical slogans. But no one answers the question: what difference does this make to the countries where these works are produced? This shows the inability of Muslim leaders to counter the propaganda against Islam.

The OIC leaders should realise that no law can stop people from expressing their views. Muslims cannot impose their own value system on the rest of the world. The West has produced a number of movies, books and articles critical of personalities held in high esteem in Christianity and Judaism. Freedom of expression is upheld as a fundamental right. It is futile to seek respect from them for the Holy Prophet of Islam. Anti-Semitic laws do not protect Judaism from criticism. They can only be invoked when Jews are criticised as a race. It is significant that the Danish and Dutch governments do not approve of these offending cartoons or films but are helpless to do anything about them in view of their freedom of expression laws.

The OIC should not give importance to inflammatory views as they are better left ignored. On the other hand, projection of the positive contributions of Muslim societies would be a more effective strategy to counter the attacks of detractors.

Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid had rightly advised: �?????�????�???�??�?�¢??Too many Muslims fail to grasp Islam, which teaches one to be tolerant towards others and to understand their value system. The essence of Islam is encapsulated in the words of the Quran: �?????�????�???�??�?�¢??For you your religion; for me mine.�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?? That is the essence of tolerance.�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?��

Indian Muslim scholar Maulana Wahiduddin Khan had also endorsed this view of Islamic pluralism: �?????�????�???�??�?�¢??Muslims mistakenly regard it as their duty to stop any visual depiction of Prophet Mohammad. This is untrue. It is the followers of Islam who are forbidden to do so in order to discourage idolatry. Moreover, Islam forbids imposing its beliefs on people of other faith. Even in Muslim countries, Muslims cannot impose their laws and culture on others.�?????�????�???�??�?�¢?�?????�????�???�??�?��

The iconography discourse has changed its course in Muslim societies over the last 1,400 years. Most Muslims agree that Prophet Mohammad�?????�????�???�??�?�¢??s image should not be rendered. But until a few years back such images were available in Iran and Turkey�?????�????�???�??�?�¢??s back streets. Some images are with museums in Europe but have been removed from display for fear of reaction. Drawing the human form was also an issue in Muslim societies but it changed over the course of history.

Why has Islamophobia erupted at this point in time? The main reason is that a transnational Islam has emerged in reaction to economic and cultural globalisation and aggressive US policies in the Middle East. Though in a minority, unfortunately these Islamic movements have stolen the leadership from moderate Muslims. What started as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is now an international movement with recruits from all Muslim countries. They do not represent the majority of people, something which was proved in the recent elections in Pakistan.

Muslims should not cry for muzzling dissent. Attacks on tasteless cartoonists will be futile. They should argue their case with confidence if they think they have a case. They should not indulge in theological diatribes. They should just project themselves as modern Muslims who are normal beings and believe in love and tolerance among people of different faiths. The OIC would be better off if it spent a couple of billion dollars on promoting Muslim societies as moderate, tolerant and modern. They should erase the image of Muslims as rejectionists as presented by the extremists. A well-thought-out PR strategy is needed with a positive programme.

The OIC summit failed to pay attention to a more burning issue �?????�????�???�??�?�¢?? that of Muslims killing Muslims. So far the OIC has not made any serious effort to mediate between Hamas and the PLO, between warring Shias and Sunnis in Iraq, between the Taliban and the Karzai government in Afghanistan, and between warring Muslim Darfur factions. If OIC leaders really want to make their talking forum effective they should raise a peace force and offer to replace the American and Nato forces in Muslim countries. This will change the antagonistic relationship with the West.

It�?????�????�???�??�?�¢??s time for action, not the mere passing of resolutions. It�?????�????�???�??�?�¢??s time to stop sulking and reacting, and become proactive and positive.

By Babar Ayaz
The writer is a freelance journalist