KARACHI:
Islamophobia gained momentum after the 9/11 attacks in the US, since then, any terrorist act that takes place in the Western world is immediately deemed Islamic terrorism. Non-Muslim populations have adopted a hostile attitude towards Muslims and all Muslims are stereotyped as barbaric and uncivilised.
Western leaders and the media have played an important role in peddling this misperception, which has normalised an anti-Muslim attitude among the people. Consequently, Muslims are faced with a constant threat of both verbal and physical attacks. Even the police in these countries turn a blind eye to the grievances of Muslims. In recent years, there has been a growth in hateful remarks about Islam. A Swedish cartoonist drew blasphemous sketches, and more recently, Indian political figures passed insulting comments about Islam. These actions instigate people against Muslims, which often leads to widespread unrest and violence.
The Western leaders, media, and the people must realise that the poor actions of a few should not be used to vilify an entire religion and its followers. Muslim leaders and the people must follow the teachings of Islam and promote tolerance, harmony, and brotherhood. They must work on alleviating the negative stereotypes to put an end to the constant hate and discrimination.
Hassan Raza
Sukkur
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2022.
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