Do Muslim preachers deserve human rights? Dr Shabir Choudhry

Do Muslim preachers deserve human rights?

Dr Shabir Choudhry    4 December 2018

According to Mujib Rehman Shami, a prominent writer, political analyst and scholar, about a week ago, a 90 years old Mufti Hafiz Yousaf was arrested during a crackdown on religious parties in Pakistan.

Mufti Yousaf, is not only 90-year-old religious scholar, he was also sick, and could not even walk.

Why the authorities thought it appropriate to arrest him and keep in a prison, where there were no basic facilities, it is difficult to say. In prison, due to cold weather his condition deteriorated and he died.

If he was dangerous man, and had to be kept under control, they could have kept him in a Rest House with some fundamental facilities.

I posted the news of Mufti Yousaf on social media. As always, I got criticism and praise, which is not new to me. However, this time, surprisingly, I got criticism from some unexpected quarters too.

I can understand many Muslims; I mean those Muslims who think opposing Islam and Muslim preachers is a sign of liberalism. More you oppose Islam and the Muslim preachers, more progressive one is perceived.

I am also a liberal and a progressive person. However, I don’t fall in the category of those who feel they have to oppose Islam in order to be perceived as a progressive person.

On the other hand, I oppose wrong doings of people. I learnt to dislike the wrong doings; and not the wrongdoer. I am aware of the problems many Muslim religious preachers have created for people of Pakistan, Jammu and Kashmir and South Asia.

However, does it mean, only Muslim religious preachers commit wrong acts, and preach hatred? Does it mean, non–Muslim religious preachers do nothing wrong; and they are all pious people?

Leaving debate of liberalism aside, in my view, every human being deserves to have human rights. How can we call ourselves human rights defenders when we deny fundamental rights to an old man, just because we don’t agree with his views, or what he preaches?

A man convicted of a murder, whether young or old, also has basic human rights. In case where the convicted murderer is an old man, courts and jail staff is generally very lenient in all civil societies.

Let me give you an example. I don’t like religious views of Syed Ali Gilani. Also, I strongly dislike his political views, and approach to Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

Government of India also have many reasons to dislike, or even hate what Syed Ali Gilani does. Despite that, Syed Ali Gilani gets his pension and other rights as a senior citizen. Once when he was in jail, and his health deteriorated, he was taken by plane to hospital for treatment. All the expenses were paid by the state.

In a similar case, when Yasin Malik was seriously ill, he was flown by air force plane to hospital. This is not to suggest that India does not commit human rights abuses. However, when it comes to political leaders, their treatment is different.

If Mufti Yousaf had committed some crime, he should have been arrested and charged at that time. Similarly, other religious leaders who are arrested they should have been arrested and charged under the Pakistan laws.

However, if during the arrest, a leader or a detainee feels unwell, he is entitled to have medical treatment. We cannot and must not support the maltreatment and negligence of the authorities. If today, we remain quiet and support the wrong doing of authorities because we think Muslim religious preachers are bad, and they don’t deserve medical help, then remember, tomorrow someone else could be in the same situation.

Authorities can arrest your leaders or even your elders, and claim they are anti state and agents of foreign powers. Many critics may say, these ‘traitors’ don’t deserve to enjoy fundamental rights.

I remember, at the time when Pakistan was upraising Mangla Dam, I spoke against this in the UN Human Rights Commission (it was called Commission at that time). A meeting was held in ISI office in Mirpur where it was discussed that Shabir Choudhry and his family must be taught a lesson.

In the meeting was one Inspector who lived near our village. He requested his seniors to let him deal with this case. This Inspector and our family had friendly relations for decades. My father was at home. There were some other people sitting at our house. This Inspector was welcomed and well treated. Before he left he said:

“Choudhry Sahib, tell Shabir Choudhry to behave like human being (bandey da putter Bann jaaey, else we can get him sorted out in England too.”

When I phoned my father after few days, he was very unhappy. He said, a man half of his age, insulted him in front of so many people by threatening him aggressively.

My father was 82 years old at that them. He said to me, ‘Shabir my old bones may not be able endure their torture’, and urged me to stop what I was doing.

I have given this example to explain that we can all be at the receiving end; and that we must speak against wrong doings, no matter who is doing them.

Writer is a renowned writer and author of many books. He is also President Foreign Affairs Committee of UKPNP; and Chairman South Asia Watch, London.

Email: Drshabirchoudhry@gmail.com       Twitter:  @Drshabir