Are we a moral society?
The culture of violence especially against women is growing in Pakistan and those who are meant to enforce law and order are doing the very opposite. The recent aggression against the curator at Nairang Art Gallery and the harassment of devotees at Bahauddin Zakariya’s shrine just show how women are always the first to suffer during difficult times. Our strange notions of ‘honour’ and ‘decency’ make men treat women like possessions rather than people. While many artists and civil society organisations are getting together to protest against police brutality this weekend, there are many who thought the actions of the police officers were justified because the women weren’t behaving ‘properly’. People choose to overlook the fact that these women were illegally beaten by a policeman and instead choose to focus on what they wore and whether their dress and behaviour was Islamic or not. And because of that their assault becomes justified even though they had done nothing wrong.
Similarly, I was appalled to hear some of my friends justify Sarfaraz Shah’s brutal murder by the Sindh Rangers. They thought that the alleged criminal deserved the punishment that was dispensed in less than 10 seconds. Why, because they felt ‘criminals’ like Sarfaraz Shah were responsible for making their lives in Karachi hell.
While I can understand why they are fearful for their lives and are frustrated about the rampant lawlessness in the city, I don’t think we can let our emotions guide our response. We can’t forgo the basic principles and tools that democracy provides us. How can we allow the enforcers of law — the so-called guardians and protectors of society — to disregard the laws of the land and deny citizens their rights? How can we as a society allow them to do the very opposite of what they pledge under their oath? How can we be okay with violence and extra-judicial killings and that too in the most inhumane and gruesome of forms?
Sadly, we seem to have landed back in medieval times where brutality and violence seems to be the only laws of the land. We seem to agree with on-the-spot justice whether it be state-endorsed or carried out by vigilantes. I see more people around me applauding moral policing and justifying violence than people calling for law and order. Our sense of right and wrong is so intertwined with our skewed sense of the ‘greater good’ and ‘majority sentiment’ that we seem to care very little about the violation of individual rights. We’re so obsessed with piety, religion, morality and other people’s sins that we forget the injustices that this may lead to.
If we want to see things change we need to demand and exercise our rights and use democracy to our advantage. We need to hold the establishment responsible. We have to make sure that our voices against these insane injustices are heard by those who are responsible for law and order, those who prosecute and those who ensure justice is served. So please join the citizens who will come out on the streets between 3 pm to 5 pm in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, outside their respective press clubs today, August 13, to demand an end to police instigated violence through various performances and street art. Let’s stop playing the blame game — the solutions to our problems lie with us.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2011.
COMMENTS (27)
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@Meera: Totally agree with you. This country is in a mess because we have never protested against corruption, injustice or religious intolerance. From France to Egypt, change came only through protest.
Fia, if we protest that doesn't mean we are not doing other things in tandem to ensure that Pakistan develops and prospers. Both things go hand in hand. Unless you speak up about injustices in society they will never get rectified.
We can't just remain silent, keep our heads down while trying to work in our little corners. Charities address the needs of the communities being helped and are somewhat limited in their scope. Also, building just one school will only help a certain number of students and their families in a specific area. If you want to bring change in how people think and ensure that society develops the capacity to combat issues such as violation of rights, violence and brutality then you have to first raise awareness and then educated the populous.
If people in Pakistan don't even know their rights and don't understand that their demands can and should be me then how do expect change?
While protesting may not be the most creative of forms for getting people to speak up, its the first step.
Why do you think Imran Khan is going around organizing Dharna's? Its a way to spread the message and get people involved.
We need to show our leaders that they were elected to serve us, hence they need to listen to us.
Lets hope more people understand the importance of our right to assembly and asking for our demands to be met. The people we have elected to represent us must know that we are watching them and that we will hold them accountable.
If protesting is your solution we are going DOWN!!!! Why don't you spend your time helping build schools and charities and actually helping ppl and contributing towards Pakistan's growth? Instead of just screaming a little and holding a sign and then thinking you've done something. You have not my friend!!
facebook protests are all tht we can pull off. not even 20 came for the call
Thank you for your comments. I agree religion and morality aren't synonymous. But in Pakistan it seems to be hence many of our laws are discriminatory against women minorities. But how do we rise above this culture of violence as Nadir El-Edroos pointed out are we not the same as those who terrorize us if we think violence is a solution to violence and criminality?
Its not really about liberals or conservatives, left vs. right or religious vs. secular. Its about those who oppose violence and those who don't.
So do we really want to be a society that supports and promotes violence and hails those who use brute force or we want accountability, assurity that our rights as citizens are protected and that those who enforce law and order abide by it as well.
I agree with Abbas we need to invest ourselves in the political process and protesting is the first tool a society has to exert pressure on on leaders to do right by us.
We were disappointed by the number of people that showed up today. But there were many brave souls who did come out in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. A space is being created for people to speak up and I an hopefully that many more will come out in the future.
@muhammad irfan aziz:
Religion and morality are not completely synonymous. Religon was used by deep thinking societal reformers in the guise of prophets to bring progressive changes deemed necessary in the name of the supernatural. This was one way to convince thier followers of required changes, and in turn give them a sense of morality thru the fear of retributive supernatural/s. The outcome is a sense of religious morality that cannot be changed once it becomes part of the belief system. Since having emanated from the supernatural/s it is their word and resists change from oridinary mortals. Leading to stagnation in society such as it exists today in societies that are trying to cope with rapid change observable externally in global societies. In the United States, in the State that we reside, Thinking people can participate in periodical meetings of the local chapter of the Humanist Society. One can observe fine upright citizens who make significant contributions to society both on a professional level as well as a social level. Advocating social, political and local developmental change without the need for the Judaic/Christian beliefs or the need to evoke any supernatural to intercede on their behalf or on the behalf of society. Some of these Humanists are visible on a national level making huge contributions to society. In fact there is a concensus amongst these people that President Obama who sometimes invokes Christian beliefs for poltical reasons may be a very evolved individual who lives beyond beliefs of being struck by lightening for sacrilege.
No.
Our obsession with religion mirrors the state much of Europe was in during its dark age. We now seem to be moving in the same direction. So long as we let our behavior be dictated by traditions and norms and 'laug kya kehan gey,' instead of exercising critical thinking, we will sadly remain as we are, or perhaps our situation will only worsen. We only needs to look at the amount of superstition that permeates all levels of society and not just the uneducated masses. We believe in peers and sufis, magic and other hocus pocus, give respect without reason to alims, maulvis, maulanas and other relics of the bronze age and expect to progress in a world where only science and reason can be behind the uplifting of social and economic well being of the people.
One does not religion to be a moral person. The social progress exhibited in Scandinavian countries despite being majority atheists stands as a testament. It is unfortunate that all the so-called secular parties, including the army, who have ruled the country have failed to formulate a vision for the country and steering it in the direction of a modern democracy where rule of law prevails. This apparent vacuum has allowed religious parties to gain some ground by offering a panacea in a form of theocracy/caliphate. Ziad Hamid, a charlatan who mirrors Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh, is filling the mind of our youth with conspiracy theories. Everything wrong in this country is blamed on Israel, America and India. Our political parties are full of zamindars, wadairay, sardars and maulvis. What sense of justice can we realistically expect from such people. How can a well educated person participate in the political process when people give votes on the basis of baradri and zaat. It is our responsibility, for those of us who understand political theory and economic to at least try to get some representation in the political system. Otherwise the laws of this country will continue to be dictated by patriarchs.
//rant over
Regular peacefull PROTESTS is the way. Egyptians showed the way. The army and the people are one ........ creating a sense of unity. Muslims (secular & with the brotherhood) & Christians together at TAHRIR SQARE. PAKISTAN .... move forward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MS-Mariya: "The ladies from organization ‘A’ came to this man and started with the bidah thing(claiming we get punished for doing bidah)..later asked him to seek forgiveness as he must have committed a sin to have his legs cut!!” The poor guy still under the influence of anesthesia started shivering and crying :-(((" My instant reaction to this piece of info was that may be someone should have slapped the woman preaching in the face and then asked her to seek forgiveness as she must have committed a sin to have her face slapped! ( sounds crude but would drive the point home)
Excellent article and agree that something should be done even if it is a toothless symbolic demonstration in front of the Press Club. I disagree with those those who advocate holding the high moral ground and principles of justice and fair play because it will get you nowhere. If results are required then sacrifices will have to be made but this audience like their comfort and your opponent knows this.
@MS - Mariya:
Things go in mess when drawing experts like you start giving opinion about religion and others matters which you are not even aware of
Morality is subjective. There never has been a universal morality up to this day. It is religious morality and the laws enacted in it's light that invade a person's private life. Most of the people do not comprehend the concepts of democracy, rationalism, privacy, ....
@Adelaidean: It's a philosophical/social debate that we should go for truth/reality (or a closer approximation of it as much as possible and as we understand it) or try to rewrite history (painting a picture of prophet that he was probably not) to minimize violence or hurting people's sentiments. My own personal religious views currently are that of an agnostic, so I was actually going for the opposite effect than you understood it to be :-)
@ adelaidean, are there any bahais in pakistan? i was not aware of the existence of bahais in pakistan.as it is we have lost too many of our parsi citizens,the jews left a long time ago,it would be nice to have diversity in pakistan,be it jewish,bahai or zoroastrians.
a person can be an extremely good and hones person without being a religious person.This sick obsession of ours that it is religion that makes a person good or bad is ridiculous.Some of the best, honest,hardworking,morally upright people i know are atheists.
First of all are we a free society. Our morals are dictated by our parents.
@asdf: How silly is your opinion. What is wrong with accepting this story of depiction of the prophet as a good and forgiving man even though it comes from in Bahai literature. This is the problem is with followers of Islam who believe and preache that theirs is the only religion and other religions are not. Until this attitude is abandoned and other faiths/beliefs are recognised as equal and good things of in them are accepted the barbaric things in Islam (violence against women, eye for an eye attitude etc) will remain.
@MS - Mariya:
The story about Prophet Muhammed and the lady that you mention doesn't appear in any Hadith. It first appears in the Bahai faith literature which is considered a heretic religion by mainstream Islam.
The fact that in general society encourages retribution and reprisal, violence to thwart violence as a solution to criminality suggests that we are no better than those individuals that hope to terrorize us. Isnt the nation supposed to rise above the petty criminality of individuals? The idea that a petty criminal should be gunned down, those who raise arms gunned down, that that is in fact justice, is an abomination to the very ideals on which this nation was formed.
Will be there for sure plus wearing a western dress.
Your below lines just sums up why we are in a mess:
''We’re so obsessed with piety, religion, morality and other people’s sins that we forget the injustices that this may lead to''
Getting obsessed with others sins and morality is now preached at 'Dars for rich ladies'. The frequent use of word 'bidah' by these pious ladies is sad & shocking. Everything is a bidah because others are doing it. Everyone is committing bidah except the ladies belonging to an organization whose name starts with letter 'A'. Clearly pointing fingers and accusing others is acceptable in their version of Islam.
I was once present at a government hospital ICU and was standing next to the bed of a man who had lost his legs in an accident. The ladies from organization 'A' came to this man and started with the bidah thing(claiming we get punished for doing bidah)..later asked him to seek forgiveness as he must have committed a sin to have his legs cut!!" The poor guy still under the influence of anesthesia started shivering and crying :-(((
How can we forget the story of lady who use to throw garbage on Prophet PBUH everyday till the day she fell ill. Our Prophet went to see her and asked if she needed help!! Prophet PBUH went to her house everyday to clean it, to feed her and to pray for her, till she was on her feet again. THIS IS OUR RELIGION.
Lets stand up against cruel people in our society regardless of which organization they belong too. I know there is a silent majority of great loving pakistanis..this majority just need to stand up and demand justice for ALL.
we seem to have confused morality with religion.One need not be a religious person to be a moral one.It would be great if our people didn't confuse the two.
Its better thank sitting home and doing nothing...what's your solution??
I agree...protesting is NOT a solution....the thing is...during the protest, some people will again get killed...and then there will be another protest for that reason...and so on...what Pakistan needs is the 'Kamal Ataturk' treatment!!
How is protesting a solution?