Questioning Ahmed, but not John
Should John, Murdoch and all Christians be blamed for the clandestine (not) Christian extremism?
If John kills a man, John gets blamed. But when Ahmed kills a man, Ahmed’s faith gets blamed. Think about the validity of that statement and the strong grounds it stands on today. Today as we stand, all Muslims are blanketed as extremists and promoters of violence.
The recent Charlie Hebdo attack is a blaring example of this global mind-set. A French satirical magazine, famous for courting controversy through satirical attacks on religious leaders, was attacked by assailants, killing 14 people. While I deeply condemn this barbarity, let’s take a quick walk down memory lane. This is the same magazine which published sacrilegious cartoons of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) due to which their office was fire-bombed in November 2011. This is the same magazine which published controversial cartoons as violent protests were taking place in several countries over a movie insulting the Prophet (PBUH) in September 2012. And now, after the gruesome attack, this is the same magazine whose latest cover has another offensive cartoon. This is not free speech, but outright provocation. To further prove their defiance, or “bravery” as they would like to call it, their circulation figure has reached 700,000 copies instead of the regular 60,000 copies.
As a Muslim, I am deeply appalled by the magazine’s disregard and disrespect for my religion. But as a journalist, working for a newspaper in Karachi which has been attacked by militants thrice in two years, while a part of me would commend their continuing freedom of expression and limitless power of the pen, a bigger part of me would also question their offensive defiance, as we, journalists in Pakistan, have realised the cost that one ends up paying for a few words inked on paper.
In the aftermath of the attack on the magazine, rationality went out the window and people started attacking Muslims present in the country. More than 50 anti-Muslim attacks have taken place across France, including shootings, attacks on mosques and restaurants with Muslim affiliations — all in less than a week since the attack.
If media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and the likes can hold Ahmed and all Muslims responsible for the terror attacks around the world, then can John, Murdoch and all Christians be blamed for the clandestine (not) Christian extremism? How does it feel to be tarred by the same brush?
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2015.
The recent Charlie Hebdo attack is a blaring example of this global mind-set. A French satirical magazine, famous for courting controversy through satirical attacks on religious leaders, was attacked by assailants, killing 14 people. While I deeply condemn this barbarity, let’s take a quick walk down memory lane. This is the same magazine which published sacrilegious cartoons of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) due to which their office was fire-bombed in November 2011. This is the same magazine which published controversial cartoons as violent protests were taking place in several countries over a movie insulting the Prophet (PBUH) in September 2012. And now, after the gruesome attack, this is the same magazine whose latest cover has another offensive cartoon. This is not free speech, but outright provocation. To further prove their defiance, or “bravery” as they would like to call it, their circulation figure has reached 700,000 copies instead of the regular 60,000 copies.
As a Muslim, I am deeply appalled by the magazine’s disregard and disrespect for my religion. But as a journalist, working for a newspaper in Karachi which has been attacked by militants thrice in two years, while a part of me would commend their continuing freedom of expression and limitless power of the pen, a bigger part of me would also question their offensive defiance, as we, journalists in Pakistan, have realised the cost that one ends up paying for a few words inked on paper.
In the aftermath of the attack on the magazine, rationality went out the window and people started attacking Muslims present in the country. More than 50 anti-Muslim attacks have taken place across France, including shootings, attacks on mosques and restaurants with Muslim affiliations — all in less than a week since the attack.
If media mogul Rupert Murdoch, and the likes can hold Ahmed and all Muslims responsible for the terror attacks around the world, then can John, Murdoch and all Christians be blamed for the clandestine (not) Christian extremism? How does it feel to be tarred by the same brush?
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2015.