Opinion

Blurring the lines

Labelling someone an extremist for thinking that Taliban are freedom fighters will make 95% of Pakistanis extremists

Yaqoob Khan Bangash March 12, 2016

The writer teaches at IT University Lahore and is the author of A Princely Affair: The Accession and Integration of the Princely States of Pakistan, 1947-55. He tweets at @BangashYK

On Saturday February 20, 2016, The New York Times carried an opinion piece by the noted columnist Nicholas Kristof, titled “My Friend, the Former Muslim Extremist”. I picked it up expecting it to be about either a former of Al-Qaeda member, or of Al-Shabab, or at the very least the Taliban, but interestingly it was about a friend of mine, Rafiullah Kakar, who I have known for years from my time at Oxford. While Rafi certainly comes from a working class background, his education has been something few in Balochistan, or even Pakistan, can only dream of. In Balochistan, he went to the prestigious Balochistan Residential College in Loralai, followed by the oldest and most prestigious institution of higher learning in Pakistan, Government College Lahore, and then to the oldest English speaking university in the world —Oxford. His has certainly been the story of hard work and effort, which must be commended. Rafiullah never went to an extremist madrassa nor trained or joined any such organisation, therefore labelling him a ‘former Muslim extremist,’ is going a bit too far, and confuses the concept of extremism, let alone Muslim extremism.

The word ‘extremist’ obviously has a wide meaning — at a basic level it means someone holding strong exclusionary views. One can be an extremist by refusing to drink Coke as compared to Pepsi, or preferring Messi to Ronaldo; but the term ‘Muslim extremist’ usually refers to someone who has such extreme views that they are willing to harm or kill others for it. ‘Muslim extremism’, in the modern context, is not a light proposition. Hence, to label someone who has had a privileged secular education throughout his life, a ‘Muslim extremist’ is misconstruing the concept.

My main reason in pointing out this difference is that there is a real and existential battle going on in Pakistan, literally for its soul. In this battle we must not forget who we are fighting against. We are not against peaceful and democratic religious parties who have a religiously motivated agenda — it is their right to popularise their manifesto. These people might have different views than the mainstream — some of them extreme, but as long as they do not harm anyone, incite violence or advocate the overthrow of the state, there is no problem with them. We are also not against people who have certain views due to misinformation, indoctrination, peer pressure, or the like — these people need better education and more avenues for debate and reflection. We are only against those who harm or kill others because they do not conform to their views and who want to overthrow the state — these are the extremists we are fighting.

Labelling someone an extremist just because they thought that 4,000 Jews did not go to the World Trade Centre on 9/11, or that the Taliban are freedom fighters, would make nearly 95 per cent of Pakistanis extremists. People who are highly placed and highly educated, including the current Vice-Chancellor of Punjab University, have reportedly such views, and while they are erroneous, and even silly views, having them does not make the person an extremist. Therefore, we must not blur these lines.

A ‘former Muslim extremist’ could be a student of mine from Forman Christian College who came from a rural background, studied in an Urdu medium school all his life and struggled with English even in university. Between his school and university life, he actually joined an extremist organisation and even undertook paramilitary training with them over several weeks. Even at FC College, he would often comment on how odd he felt studying with girls and non-Muslims, but that he had now learnt that imposing one’s views on others was wrong and that he needed to keep an open mind, learn more, and first become a better human being. This student is still on his journey as a former extremist.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 13^th, 2016.

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COMMENTS (6)

abhi | 8 years ago | Reply We cannot say somebody is not extremist just because 95% of population supports such view.

Hasnain Iqbal (PITB) | 8 years ago | Reply Interesting read Yaqoob. I agree the ease with which we label someone an extremist is very disturbing. .

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Toti callling | 8 years ago | Reply @Rex Minor: You misunderstood my comment or did not bother to read it carefully. I never said that pork should be forced on those who do not consume it. There is always a choice of meals and one option is pork. In other words, Muslims have a choice to eat meals without pork. But they have no right to demand that pork dishes should be taken off the menu because a small minority does not want to eat pork dishes. A liberal human being will allow others, even when they are a minority, to consume what they want. The consumption of pork dishes is more common in Germany than many EU countries or even America, So the leader of a political party (CDU) is right when he says that nobody has the right to tell us not to eat our favourite dishes. I agree with him.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @Toti calling: Here in Germany many Muslims, who are otherwise very liberal are suggesting that pork should not be served in any canteens even though the number of Muslims is less than 10% in schools and work place. That is taking the right of over 85% away from them. That is extremism. You said it, like the author very rightly points out that even the notable columnist of New York Times is misconstruing the concept of extremism with his labelling. You too are ignoring the basic rights of the law abiding minorities who rightly expect that neither they at their work place nor their children in schools be subjected to not having the choice of a vegeterian or non pork meals during lunch breaks. In certain industries and schools too these minorities represent more than 80 percent and not the less than 10 percent you quoted. Rex Minor

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply Interesting read. Your defense is logical but works only for the one person you defend. In general you say that those who want to overthrow the state, are not acceptable and could be categorized as terrorists ( I hope I'm correct in this assumption )........the total thrust of the religious right, who are misleading the populace, has very little to do with religion, which is simply being used in order to overthrow the state and usurp power.......it's the silence of the state for such a long time that is baffling.

Toti calling | 8 years ago | Reply Very few do call peaceful followers of any faith extremists. There is a border line. If anybody is of the opinion that those not following the text in the holy books should be killed or punished for their belief is where the line of acceptable must not be crossed, Forcing others to follow your views is not accepted in most countries.That includes your children when they have reached a certain age. This applies particularly to women. Here in Germany many Muslims, who are otherwise very liberal are suggesting that pork should not be served in any canteens even though the number of Muslims is less than 10% in schools and work place. That is taking the right of over 85% away from them. That is extremism.

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