Hypocrisy of the right wing

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: This is with reference to Tazeen Javed’s article “Pervasive misogyny” (June 23). I have been disturbed by views among certain sections of the public on the derogatory language that Punjab MPA Sheikh Alauddin used against women members of the house, with some quarters defending his ‘right to freedom of expression’. Many of our right wingers are the worst type of hypocrites. When it suits them, they hide behind their assertion of a ‘right to freedom of expression’ to further their own backward views on women and non-Muslims and then feel offended by the slightest criticism on Islam and on those personalities that Muslims hold dearly, so much so that they are ready to kill others over this.

If what Mr Alauddin said was his right, then what is wrong with people in the West expressing their opinion about Islam under the same ‘right to freedom of expression’. The whole clan of religious fundamentalists starts pelting stones, burning police stations and killing innocent people in the name of ‘protection’ of our values when such a thing happens. Notice the irony?

Haris Chaudhry

Published In The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2012.