There have been leaders in the West who have asked Muslim women to either learn English or face deportation
KARACHI: France was the first European country to ban the full face Islamic veil in public places in western Europe followed by several other countries of the region. Lately, a Swiss law banned the Islamic veil in Switzerland’s Ticino region with a fine of over $11,000 for violators of the law.
Anti-Islam rhetoric has already seeped into the political mainstream of the West. There have been leaders in the West who have asked Muslim women to either learn English or face deportation. Besides, the recent tragic terror attacks in Paris and Brussels have led to the further vilification of Muslims as terrorists, misfits, unwanted refugees, foreign fighters and criminals. The reason behind such discriminatory acts is the fear of terrorists. Even though European economies are stagnating, Europe’s ageing society needs Muslim refugees and migrants for their workforce. As a matter of fact, Muslims generally enter Europe in search of shelter, safety and jobs, not to inflict any terrorist activity upon any human.
The West, being the champion of equality, freedom, liberty and the upholder of democratic processes, should not stipulate anti-humanitarian and undemocratic values in the world. To dispel such a suspicious environment and mistrust, the West requires the joint efforts of politicians and policymakers, scholars, religious leaders, civil society organisations, business representatives and the media. Else, these rigid policies on religion will serve to further radicalise Muslim youth in the region and are likely to imbroil the world in general and the West in particular into further turmoil.
Afzal Khan Buledi
Published in The Express Tribune, July 11th, 2016.
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