We are all familiar with Pastor Martin Niemoller’s frightening comment about life in Nazi Germany, as group after group was targeted and the failure to speak out for fear of endangering other people’s lives. Today, are we also falling into the same trap? Certainly, it seems that more and more groups are being brought into the crosshairs of extremist guns. The peaceful Dawoodi Bohra community, which has for decades kept a low profile, remaining chiefly focused on business, is the latest such group. Two members of the community were shot dead in Hyderabad on November 3 and a third, brother of one of the victims, was shot and wounded as he tried to reach the hospital where they had been taken. This was obviously a planned, carefully contemplated strike.
This is not the first time that such an attack has taken place. September saw twin blasts taking place in Karachi, in a predominantly Dawoodi Bohra area of the city that killed seven, including an infant. At least two other persons belonging to the community have been killed since then in Karachi, in what appears to have been targeted killings, though the police have given no final verdict on the motives involved. It makes one wonder, who will be next? There are many minority groups, as well as Muslim sects and sub-sects, living in our country. All or any of them could be next. A number of them — the Christians, the Shias, the Hindus, the Hazaras and others — have already faced such attacks. It is possible that in time, other groups will also be picked out for such targeted attacks.
The fault for this lies with us. We simply cannot afford to allow such death, such sectarian and ethnic cleansing, to be carried out without raising our voices against this phenomenon. The silence only aids the killers. We are, in fact, clearing the way for them to use their guns more often against groups unable to defend themselves. The time has come for us to read Niemoller’s words once more with care and remember what happened in the time he spoke those words. We need to heed the advice he gives, which may have been too late for him, but may just still save us.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2012.
COMMENTS (20)
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And the blood lust continues. One more person killed from bohra community and three others injured.
Bohras have played an important role in development of trade and commerce in the country and have been a most peaceful community - ideal citizens really. It is pathetic that they are being targeted in this manner.
Khoja Muslims Next?
Shame on us.
Government should ensure security to all citizens. Evidently the government has failed. Sad but true
Unfortunate!!!!
The legend poet late Faiz Ahmad Faiz says that" BOAL KEY LUB AZAD HAIN TERY--BOAL KEY JAAN UB TAK TERY HEY." Speak before it is too late. You have just one life which you do not control, so why to remain silent and not condemn the terrorists and their bigot supporters. Do it and do it now.
The least people can do is to hold public "absentia" prayer meetings or Ghaibaana Namaaz-i-Janaaza for such victims, rejecting the sectarian lines so being drawn and enforced by the killers. All over the city. All over the country. In schools and colleges. In public parks and neighborhood mosques. Will it happen? I doubt it.
@Amir:
Are you joking !!!!. Buddy, it is Islamic Republic of Pakistan and not simply Republic of Pakistan.......to be a secular country you have to remove the label of religion from the republic which will not happen in Pakistan.........
@Pir Bulleh Shah: You are right. May be people who hate white color could have killed them for wearing white dress. Obviously this has nothing to do with religion.
I wish I had applied for immigration when I had a chance 10 years ago.....
Every community or sect will suffer in this country except who follow , sympathize and idealize saudi version of islam. Mark my words.
Any one who wears his pyjamas lower than the knee seems to be fair game.
@Pir Bulleh Shah: " How do we ‘obviously’ know that these people were killed for being Dawoodi Bohra?"
please don;t use word we as you do not represent others. And you can know it if you want to know .
Coming events cast their shadows before!.I'm hundred % sure that their (right wing extremists) turn will come.Diamond cuts diamond.Had I not read Quran I would have lost my hopes.But this beautifull books gives me rays of hope that beautifull morning will come after a long dark night.
How do we 'obviously' know that these people were killed for being Dawoodi Bohra?
In the Land of the Pure, to practice the religion of peace, why oh why do we hear of killing, shooting, targeted attacks, ethnic cleansing etc.?
We need a secular Pakistan - nothing less. Enough is enough. Get rid of mullahs.
When the "They" is the majority, and the "Me's" are dwindling day by day, it is only a matter of time before the "They" turn on the "They". Then there isn't much hope left, is there?
They already came. Only death and destruction is remaining.