A strong case can be made against the JI leader for fomenting aggression and religious persecution under the country’s laws regarding hate speech and incitement to violence. - Photo on file
Dawn Editorial : Monday, 21 Jun, 2010
The street power and political clout wielded by Pakistan’s religious right have resulted in the state and society being held hostage by extremist elements. The latter stop at nothing to further their agenda of inciting hatred, divisiveness and violence. The latest example is that of the Jamaat-i-Islami chief, Syed Munawwar Hasan, who during a sermon in Lahore on Friday threatened a fresh movement against the Ahmadi community if it “did not accept their minority status” and the government kept silent about “their blasphemous and unconstitutional activities”.
Mr Hasan did not specify any particular instance substantiating his charges, leading one to read his comments as hate speech and also as an attempt to blackmail the government into further victimising an already persecuted community. Given the incendiary passions the issue arouses, any call by religious parties in this context is certain to be attended by violence. A strong case can be made against the JI [Jamaat-i-Islami, a leading religious organisation in Pakistan] leader for fomenting aggression and religious persecution under the country’s laws regarding hate speech and incitement to violence.
Even beyond this particular case, it has now become a matter of urgency that the government shows an active and uncompromising stance on the issue of hate speech and incitement to violence or other sorts of criminal activity. Pakistan’s polity is already rent by religious, ethnic and sectarian divisions. Allowing irresponsible and divisive opinions to be aired publicly will deepen these fissures. Once it begins, the process of religious, ethnic and other communities being pitted against one another will prove difficult to bring under control. Spiralling violence, particularly in view of other issues being faced by the country such as militancy and terrorism, can then be expected. It is in the interests of both the state and citizenry to take a stand against inflammatory hate speech and lobby for the prosecution of those who break the law.
JeI warns of launching fresh movement against Ahmedis
LAHORE, 20 JUNE: Pakistan's fundamentalist party Jamaat-e-Islami has warned it will launch a fresh movement if Ahmedi sect does not accept its minority status and the government keeps silent about its so-called “blasphemous and unconstitutional activities”.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawwar Hasan said the recent terrorist attacks on Ahmedi mosques in Lahore were condemned by all sections of society.
Terrorists last month wearing suicide vests and armed with grenades and assault rifles stormed two packed mosques of the Ahmadi sect in this eastern Pakistani city, killing about 100 people, including a retired Lieutenant General and a journalist, and injuring scores more.
These attacks, Hasan claimed, had been carried out not by Muslims but by enemies of Islam. After these attacks, the Ahmedis projected themselves as an oppressed community and were not prepared to accept their minority status, Hasan contended.
According to Hasan, this is being done at the behest of foreign powers and a section of the press is supporting the Ahmedis. He warned that the people will be forced to launch a fresh movement against Ahmedis if the current situation persists.
The Jamaat-e-Islami chief also condemned targeted killings in Karachi and Balochistan and asked interior minister Mr Rehman Malik to name “foreign powers” involved in these attacks.
http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=331854&catid=37
[Mr. Munawar Hassan is the Head of Jamaat-i-Islami, a leading religious organisation in Pakistan]
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