Re: Pakistan's reaction on Rushdie knighthood
Haris: agree to your opening lines
but we muslims must ask ourselves a simple question here. Is this the only way we know to react every time an idiot (just s*d him) tries to desecrate our religion in some way?
The best response I believe would have been to ignore the offender (Rushdie in this case) and to not read his book.
By burning effigies, issuing unnecessary fatwas and calling death to people left right and centre, crying foul and resorting to violence at the smallest opportunity presented to us - I am ofcourse referring to the masses here not the truly educated amongst us - we come across as irrational, over-emotional, intolerant and uneducated folk.
If the Prophet pbuh were alive today, I am pretty sure he would not approved of how muslims in general overreact these days with violence, rioting, calling death to people etc. (prime example being how the Prophet pbuh coolly dealt with the offenders in Taaif)
It's so sad that our masses these days often see violence (or atleast it comes across like that) as the only appropriate response in such circumstances.
Yes we have a right to protest but it should take the form of peaceful demonstrations, intelligent debate etc. not this...
On top of that Ijaz-ul-Haq's (Zia's son) statement glorifying suicide bombers was completely unacceptable, inappropriate and irresponsible IMO.
Hence Education is so important. That's the only way we can fight intolerance and extremism within our societies.
Very very well said Asif!