Terrorism In The Name Of Religion, by Zahid Hussain
January 14th, 2015
IT has not taken
much time for the tenuous unity that emerged after the Peshawar school carnage
to crumble. Once again, there is an attempt by members of the religious right
to turn the narrative to protect their militant enterprise. No sooner had
public outrage over the tragedy begun to subside than they were back to their
old tricks. ‘Islam under threat’ is a convenient mantra to shield radical
clerics and their seminaries closely linked with banned militant outfits.
It did not come as
a surprise when both the JUI-F and Jamaat-i-Islami reneged on their endorsement
of the 20-point national counterterrorism action plan and abstained from voting
on the constitutional amendment empowering military courts to try hardened
militants. They now smell a conspiracy to ‘secularise’ the country. What
changed their minds is not difficult to comprehend.
These two largest Islamic
parties are the original faces of jihadi politics in the country. Many of those
fighting the Pakistani state with militant groups have originated from their
ranks. So, their worries over a potential crackdown on radical seminaries
and militant groups are not a total surprise.
One of the
objections of the religious parties is the clause in the amendment related to
the use of religion or sect for acts of terrorism tried under the military
courts. They described the wording as discriminatory against religious groups
and seminaries. Nothing can be more absurd than this argument of the selective
targeting of Islamic groups. The lady doth protest too much.
It is a fact that
most terrorist attacks and sectarian killings in Pakistan are religiously
motivated. The Taliban and other militant groups justify their terrorist
actions in the name of ‘Sharia and Islam’. The latest example of this was the
statement by the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan spokesman claiming responsibility
for the school carnage. A Hadith was cited in support of the heinous crime.
Had not radical
clerics such as Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid issued fatwas justifying
insurgent attacks on Pakistani security forces? Didn’t the Taliban led by
Mullah Fazlullah kill hundreds of people in Swat in the name of the ‘Islamic
Sharia’? Whether it is the massacre of Hazara Shias or attacks on mosques,
shrines and churches — all have been carried out in the name of religion.
Suicide bombers are
brainwashed and motivated by the false interpretation of religion. Poverty,
unemployment, romantic notions of jihad and the growing influence of radical
Islamist groups have been the main reasons driving a young man to become a
suicide bomber. The pulpit of the mosque is used by clerics to spread sectarian hatred
and incite violence. The trail of international terror has often led to
madrasas and mosques in Pakistan.
Even scholars of
Islam and moderate clerics have not been spared for speaking out against
terrorism. The scourge of terrorism and violent extremism cannot be
effectively dealt with without eradicating their ideological sources.
Surely it will not be easy. The proposal for madrasa reform faces the greatest
resistance not only from the mainstream Islamic parties, but also other vested
interests.
It is true that
madrasas are not the sole source of militancy and religious extremism in the country,
but they certainly are the main source. It is estimated that only 10-15pc of
madrasas are involved in radical activities. That too is a very large
proportion, given the mushroom growth of unregistered and unregulated madrasas.
The proliferation
of jihadist and sectarian organisations in Pakistan had been the result of a
militant culture espoused by radical madrasas long patronised by the Pakistani
state and funded by foreign money. They have turned into hubs of religious
extremism having had a spill-over effect, and now present a serious threat to
Pakistan’s internal security.
Saudi Arabian
patronage, especially of more radical seminaries, has played a major role in
the spread of sectarian hatred. Successive governments ignored their
activities out of political expediency and also because most of the foreigners
supporting them were ‘brotherly’ Muslim countries.
Religious
sectarianism, the principal source of terrorist activity in Pakistan, presents
the most serious threat to the country’s internal security. Sectarian
militancy has been deeply intertwined with the radicalisation of the madrasa,
as minority sects feel increasingly threatened.
Divided along
sectarian and political lines, religious seminaries are largely controlled by
the two main branches of Sunni Islam — the Deobandi and the Barelvi. Ahle
Hadith or Wahhabi Muslims have their own schools, as do the Shias. Most of the
madrasas are in time zones centuries away from the outside world.
Teaching is
rudimentary and students are taught religion within a highly rigorous and
traditional perspective, giving them a deeply retrograde worldview. The most
dangerous consequence of the content and style of teaching in religious schools
is that the people emerging from them can do nothing other than guide the
faithful in rituals that, in fact, demand no experts. The education imparted by
traditional madrasas often spawns factional, religious and cultural conflict.
It creates barriers to modern knowledge, stifles creativity and breeds bigotry,
thus laying the foundation on which fundamentalism — militant or otherwise — is
based.
Divided by
sectarian identities, these institutions are, by their very nature, driven by
their zeal to outnumber and dominate rival sects. Promoting a particular sect
inevitably implies the rejection of other sects, sowing the seeds of extremism
in the minds of the pupils. The literature produced by their parent religious
organisations is aimed at proving the rival sects infidels and apostates. The
efforts by successive governments to modernise madrasa curricula and introduce
secular subjects have failed because of the stiff resistance put up by
religious organisations controlling the religious schools.
It is now a test of
the government’s resolve whether or not it submits to the blackmailing of these
religious parties. Any modification in the action plan to appease the religious
right will defeat the entire counterterrorism effort. The exploitation of
religion has to be stopped if we are really serious about rooting out the
extremism and militancy present in our society.
Zahid Hussain is an author and
journalist.
Source:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1156831/terrorism-in-the-name-of-religion
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