What Mr. Obama should do to preserve remaining Syria?

no-reply@blogger on Wednesday, February 27, 2013

If you are not familiar with geographical facts about Syria, let’s explore some basic and important facts about Syria. It’s a country that was hacked by French and Briton from the cadaver of the Ottoman Empire. But after the World War II, the country succeeded in winning its independence. However, it is sad to see how raging fight in a country can lead to an massacre.

Syria is surrounded by the states of Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Israel. It is the home to diverse religious and ethnic groups including Armenians, Kurds, Assyrians, Druze, Christians, Arab Sunnis and Alawite Shias. The Sunnis and Shias make the majority of Muslim population in the country.

How did the country enter this condition of discrepancy and militancy? It was March 15, 2011 when the wave of Arab unrest reached Syria. This wave was influenced by the Tunisian revolution. It was the day when some residents from the southern cities took over the streets to protest against the government for torturing young students, who had been dressed in an anti-government graffiti. In response to these peaceful protests, government reacted with heavy force. Such a brutal response urged people all over the country to stand against the government. Within few days, demonstrations spread across the geographical boundaries of Syria. President Bashar al-Assad, who was currently leading the country, is a British trained doctor who inherited dictatorship from Hafez al-Assad. He first tried for some reforms but failing to do so, in the month of April, 2011; he set off withering crackdowns against demonstrators by sending armed forces that opened fire on the civilians. It transformed these peaceful demonstrators into violent respondents. The condition continued and in the summer 2011, thousands of armed soldiers revolted against the government. These conditions allowed United Nations to call Syria as the on the verge of civil war. In the time until 2013, some agreements were signed, National coalition was formed but it could not bring peace to the country. By the end of 2012, United States called it as an “overly sectarian” conflict that has become reason to attract fighters from North Africa and Middle East. It was approximated in the start of 2013 that more than sixty thousand people have lost their life and tens of thousands civilians had been arrested. Thousands of refugees had migrated to neighboring countries and millions need aid in the country. According to estimates, about 1.2 million people are displaced domestically.

United States is set silent on all these happenings and it looks that Mr. Obama’s policy of coming up for the bushfire in Syria to blaze itself out is fading. It seems that now, it is the time to act rather than waiting for the things to deteriorate further. He should aim at preserving the left over Syria. It means that USA’s policy makers should convince Mr. Assad and family to stop violence against rebels. Moreover, they should be convinced for talks with the rebels.



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Taking a Long, Hard Look in the Mirror

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Two years ago, after a long day of classes, I was looking forward to mindlessly scrolling through my Twitter; however, I was immediately alarmed when I saw that several of my friends had posted a YouTube video entitled “Hate Comes to Orange County.”

I was horrified with what I saw.

A family of four exits their car on their way to a charity dinner to raise money for women’s and homeless shelters. They had been looking forward to a lovely dinner and an opportunity to catch up with friends; instead, they are met with hatred. A few hundred protestors have shown up, harassing those attending.  As families walk into the event hall, protestors scream insults, including “Get out of here. Go back home!”

Despite the vitriol that was spewed at this protest, I was heartened by the support the Muslim community received days later. Many local politicians and residents of the area said that they were embarrassed by the protestors’ actions. Others condemned the protestors for implying that Muslims are inherently un-American.

But there was another aspect to the protestors’ insults other than questioning Muslim patriotism.

As Muslim men walked by, many of the protestors screamed, “Why don’t you go beat up your wife? It’s what you do every night!” Not many politicians seemed bothered by this assumption about Muslim men. It seems, when it comes to portraying Muslim men, the image of the misogynistic tyrant is dominant.

As an American Muslim woman, I find it terribly frustrating that my brothers in faith have been labeled as “oppressive” simply because they are Muslim. For years, I and countless others have worked to combat the negative images of Islam and Muslims. Frequently, it is a story of repeated frustration and disappointment. Whenever it seems we make headway in our struggle against the misunderstanding of Islam, we get a news story about a gender mutilation case or an honor killing in which the perpetrator is a Muslim man.

That is not to say that these sickening stories are simply “inconveniences” to our efforts. Instead, they are powerful reminders that there are some Muslims out there who—because of existing cultural norms or other factors— have a misconstrued conception of Islam. A look into the life of the Prophet Muhammad, however, reveals that these horrible crimes against women have absolutely no place in Islam.

Prior to the advent of Islam, women in Arabia were treated no better than chattels. Men could marry and divorce women with little regard to their wives’ consent. The Prophet completely overturned existing customs regarding the treatment of women. On countless occasions the Prophet instructed his followers to treat women with kindness. He declared “The best of you are those who are best to your wives.”[1]

The Prophet not only preached kind treatment, but he himself left a high standard for Muslim men to emulate. Muhammad always helped his wives with household chores and looked after his own personal needs, mending and patching his clothes and tending to the family goats.[2] He frequently sought the council of his wives even in political matters such as the signing of treaties. He had a particularly playful relationship with his wife Ayesha, challenging her to footraces and similar games. Although it was not the custom of the time, he was never shy about expressing his love for his wives. One tradition relates that as the Prophet was cobbling his shoes one day, Ayesha complimented Muhammad on his bright and happy expression. Muhammad got up to kiss Ayesha on her forehead and said, “Oh Ayesha, may God reward you well. I am not the source of joy to you that you are to me.”[3]

In light of the Prophet’s example, I cannot help but wrack my brain in despair whenever I learn of such terrible crimes committed by Muslim men against women.  Don’t they know the example of the Prophet Muhammad? Don’t they know that he was nothing but kind, compassionate, and merciful to his wives? Don’t they realize that he helped his wives with their housework, took their advice on important matters, and treated them as his partner rather than his subservient? Don’t they know of the scores of hadith that begin with “Treat your wives kindly…”?

Unfortunately, the sins of these misguided and cruel men are a stain on all Muslim men. If we are to transform the overwhelmingly negative image of Muslim men, change must come from the within Muslim community. Muslims today must reject this distortion of Islam that is used to violate the most basic Islamic rights of human decency. The Quran says in this regard:

O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: For God can best protect both. (4:135)

Confronting the problem of honor killings, forced marriages, female excision and other crimes that affect women requires that we more closely examine, question, and challenge the sources that support these heinous crimes. Even if certain scholars have attempted to provide religious justification for them, numerous Quranic verses included the one cited above prove that these practices are simply un-Islamic.

To treat others, whether male or female, with compassion is a Prophetic challenge that we all must work hard to achieve.

[1] Shaikh Muhammad Iqbal, “The Rights and Virtues of Women in Islam,” www. As-Sidq.org. Accessed 16 December 2012.

[2] Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Times (New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2006), 127.

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Güzel Ahlak Nedir?

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“Hiçbir baba, çocuğuna, güzel terbiyeden daha üstün bir hediye veremez”.  (Tirmizî, Birr, 33)

Sözlükte Ahlak; Huy, tabiat, insanın davranış tarzı, tutum ve tavrı, bir cemiyette makbul ve iyi sayılan davranış kuralları olarak tanımlı.

İslâm ahlâkı ise ahlâkın temeli olarak Allah’ın emrine uygunluğu ve gaye olarak da Allah rızasını almakla insanı şahsi veya toplumsal bencillikten kurtarmıştır. Ahlâkı da cemiyetten cemiyete ve zamanla değişen keyfî ve tesadüfî kaideler yığını olmaktan çıkarıp Allah’ın emirlerine uygunluğu esas almakla, birlik ve beraberliği ve devamlılığı sağlamıştır.

Güzel kelimesi ise; Hoşa giden, beğenilen, iyi, doğru bir biçimde olarak anlatılmış sözlükte.

Güzel Ahlakın ise tek bir tarifi yok, tabi ki İslami açıdan ele alıyoruz konuyu.

Peygamber Efendimiz; “İnsanlara güzel ahlakla muamelede bulun” (İbni Kesir, Sire, 4:194-195) buyurmuşlar. Üç kuruşluk menfaat uğruna “Sözleriniz benim için emirdir” der bazıları, peki bu söz Allah’ın Elçisinin sözleri olunca ne demeli? “Emriniz başım, gözüm üzerinedir” demekten başka?

Bir gün Efendimize neyin Cennet’e daha çok yaklaştıracağını soruyorlar, cevaben; “Allah’a takva ve güzel ahlak” buyuruyorlar. (Tirmizi, Birr 62, Kutub-u Sitte, 16. Cilt, sf. 329)

Yine, “Ruhumu kudret altında tutan Allah’a yemin ederim ki cennete sadece güzel ahlak sahipleri girer.” (Tirmizi; Huccetü’l İslam, İmam Gazali, İhya’u Ulum’id-din, 2. Cilt)

Sanırım konunun ehemmiyetini anlatmak ve kavramak için yeterli.

Peki, Güzel Ahlak nedir? Nasıl kazanılır? Nerede kazanılır?

Peygamber Efendimizin “İlmin Kapısı” dediği Ali (r.a.) diyor ki; güzel ahlak üçtür,

1. Mesuliyeti gerektirecek işlerden uzak durmak,
2. Helalinden kazanıp yemek,
3. Çoluk çocuğunun geçimini temin etmek.

Her konuda olduğu gibi bu konuda da önderimiz Efendimiz. Rabbimiz Kur’an-ı Kerim’de Peygamber Efendimiz için; “Gerçekten sen, büyük bir ahlâk üzeresin” (Kalem Suresi 4. Ayet) buyurmaktadır.

“Ben, ancak güzel ahlâkı tamamlamak için gönderildim” diyor Efendimiz. (Mâlik, el-Muvatta, 2/904) Eksik olan şey tamamlanır, değil mi? Dolu bardağı dolduramazsınız. Hiç varlığından söz edilmeyen bir şeyin tamamlanması da söz konusu olmaz. O halde, ortada güzel ahlâkın bazı esasları mevcut, ama noksan demektir.

“Güzel ahlâkı tamamlamak” üzere gönderilen Peygamberimizin terbiyesi altına girmeliyiz.

Müminlerin annesi Hz. Ayşe’ye (r.a.) sorarlar: Resulullah’ın (sav.) ahlâkı nasıldı? Cevap;

“Siz Kur’an’ı okumadınız mı? Resulullah’ın (sav.) ahlâkı Kur’an’dı.”

Evet, önderimiz belli. Rabbimiz ise önderimizin ahlakını övmüş. Önderimizin ahlakının ne olduğu da ortada. Öyleyse nedir güzel ahlak?

Şöyle diyebilir miyiz? Güzel ahlak = Kur’an ahlakı.

Kur’an elimiz ayağımız olmalı, çıkmalı artık kılıflardan, inmeli raflardan.

Kur’an ve Sünnet ışığında, taklit olan yani dedemizden atamızdan konu komşumuzdan, twitterdan facebookdan gördüğümüz dini bir kenara bırakıp, en baştan başlayarak gerçek bir imana sahip olalım, yaşadığımız gibi inanmayı bir kenara bırakıp, inandığımız gibi, olması gereken gibi, Efendimiz gibi yaşayalım. Unutmadan;

“(Ben) cinleri ve insanları, ancak bana ibâdet etsinler diye yarattım!” (Zariyat Suresi 56. Ayet)

 



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Fakirlik, Yardımlaşma ve İmtihan Üzerine.

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“Herhangi bir Müslüman çıplak bir Müslüman’ı giyindirirse, Allah da ona Cennetin meyvelerini ikram eder. Herhangi bir Müslüman susuz bir Müslüman’ı suya kandırırsa, Allah da ona ağzı mühürlü (el değmemiş) Cennet meşrubatından ikramda bulunur”. [Ebu Davud; Tirmizi]

Dünya imtihan dünyası. Yaşadığımız yeri, kişileri, şartlarımızı kendimiz seçmiyoruz. Bunlar bize veriliyor ve biz bir sınava tabi tutuluyoruz. İmtihanın bir diğer yanı da herkes aynı veya benzer şartlara sahip olmuyor, kimi fakir kimi zengin, kimi yetenekli, kimi değil, kimi zeki, kimi sıradan. Dünyaya gönderilişimizin ise amacı tek:

“(Ben) cinleri ve insanları, ancak bana ibadet etsinler diye yarattım!” (Zariyat Suresi 56. Ayet)

Fakat var olan her şeyin tek bir sahibi var; Allah.

İnsanlara verilen imkân ve özelliklerin farklılığı nedeniyle insanlar birbirlerine ihtiyaç duyarlar, imtihanın bir diğer yönü de bu. Hiç bir zengin, “Benim kimseye ihtiyacım yoktur.” diyemez. Çünkü servetini çalıştırdığı insanların gücü ile kazanır; “Benim param var, kimi istersem çalıştırırım.” demesi bu gerçeği değiştirmez. Zira kimi çalıştırıyorsa ona muhtaç oluyor demektir. Ne tarafa bakarsak bakalım bütün sosyal ilişkilerde böyle durumlarda karşılaşırız.

Bu birbirine ihtiyaç hali doğal olarak yardımlaşmayı ortaya çıkarıyor. Rabbimiz Kur’an-ı Kerim’de, “İyilik ve takva üzerinde yardımlaşın. Günah işlemek ve aşırı gitmek üzerinde yardımlaşmayın. Allah’tan sakının, muhakkak ki Allah’ın cezası şiddetlidir” (Maide Suresi 2. Ayet) buyuruyor.

Madem dünya imtihan dünyası, bize düşen bu imtihanı kazanıp, cennete ulaşıp, Rabbimize kavuşmaktır. Bu ise oldukça basit ama sıkıntı şu ki, basit olanı yapmak zor.

Rabbimiz Kur’an’da: “(Ey ehl-i kitap!) Yüzlerinizi (ibadet maksadıyla) doğu ve batı tarafına çevirmeniz iyilik (için yeterli) değildir; fakat iyilik o kimsenin (iyiliği)dir ki, (o kişi) Allah’a, ahiret gününe, meleklere, kitap(lar)a ve peygamberlere îmân eder; ona (o elindeki mala) olan sevgisine rağmen malı akrabalara, yetimlere, yoksullara, yolda kalmışa, dilenenlere ve köleler uğrunda verir; namazı hakkıyla eda eder ve zekâtı verir. Çünkü (onlar) söz verdikleri zaman sözlerini yerine getirenler ve sıkıntı (fakirlik), hastalık ve savaşın şiddetli anında sabredenlerdir. İşte onlar, doğru olan kimselerdir. Takva sahibi olanlar da işte ancak onlardır”. (Bakara Suresi 177. Ayet)

Peygamber Efendimiz ise “Bir hurmanın yarısı ile bunu da bulamazsanız güzel sözle ateşten korununuz.” (Müslim, Zekât, 95), “Herhangi bir Müslümanın diktiği ağaçtan yenen, çalınan ve eksilen şey, o ağacı diken için sadakadır.” (Riyazü’s-Salihîn, I, 168).

Biri, Abdullah bin Abbas’a gelerek bir şeyler istemiş. Abdullah (ra.) ona:

“–Allah’tan başka ilâh olmadığına, Hazret-i Muhammed’in Allah’ın Resulü olduğuna şahitlik ediyor musun?” diye sormuş;

“–Evet!”

“–Peki, Ramazan orucunu tutuyor musun?”

“–Evet!”

Bunun üzerine Abdullah (ra.):

“–Sen bir şey istedin, isteyenin hakkı vardır. Sana yardım etmek de bizim boynumuza borçtur.” diyerek adama bir elbise vermiş ve Daha sonra da şu hadis-i şerifi rivayet etmiş:

“Herhangi bir Müslüman diğer bir Müslüman’a bir elbise giydirirse, kardeşinin sırtında o elbiseden bir parça bulunduğu müddetçe veren kimse Allah’ın himayesinde olur.” (Tirmizî, Kıyamet, 41/2484)

Efendimiz güzel sözle de olsa ateşten korununuz diyor, yani bu bile bir şey. Bu kadar kolaylıktan sonra kimsenin mazereti olmamalı, buraya neden geldiğimiz de belli iken başka şeylerle meşgul olup asli görevimizi unutmak neden? Neden mi? Dünya imtihan için de ondan. İyi ile kötünün ayrılması için bu gerekli de ondan. Rabbimiz bizi yarattığında bizi biliyordu, ne yapacağımızı ne yapmayacağımızı, şu an bize kendimizi gösteriyor, aslında burada kendimizi tanıyor ve kendimizle yüzleşiyoruz ama çoğumuz bunun farkında değil ve her nefeste yine Rabbimize geri dönüyoruz.



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A Bitter Attempt towards Legalizing Terror through Drone Attacks by CIA

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A Concise introduction and account of the Playbook can be presented as a function towards establishing certain rules and regulations, in relation to the mysterious and the stealthy Drone Attacks conducted by the CIA around the globe. It also functions to set rules that would legalize the actions of the drones mentioned herewith and to mitigate the rate at which these attacks are conducted.

This is something that the US Government needs to consider on a profound and intense note, in light of the heavy criticism and ridicule that it is facing and receiving from its many supporters and people, as well. This criticism is mainly directed towards the government’s uncontrolled and unhindered dependence on technological warfare. This outrage from different nations and people across the world towards drone attacks has culminated in the form of an immensely strong opposition by the world against drone attacks.

Perhaps this is an approach towards capturing the essence of what the nations of the world want in the future, in response to the unbiased and misdirected show of the US in terms of its might and military strength against defenseless and feeble third world nations.

These are countries where the war being fought is not even of conventional or traditionally recognizable tendencies. However, the most appalling and fascinatingly curious aspect of this Playbook by Brennan is that the Laws it entails are not applicable to Pakistan and Yemen in relation to Drone Strikes.

Why is it so, you asking?

You cannot inquire at all.

The leak of the Document by the Justice Department has led to much uproar and outrage from the public over the unjust killing of US citizens by the state itself. The case of “Al-Aulaqi” has been the recipient of much attention and coverage. As a side effect of the leak in question, the state has become the object of inquisition by the public regarding the definition that the former uses in relation to recognizing and branding terrorists.

All of this combined won’t put an end to Drone Strikes. In fact, the US is packing up its military operations in Afghanistan. But their absence is likely to be substituted with more of a technological offensive, meaning aerial strikes that are devoid of a mortal manning quality.

Ever since this year’s threshold has been crossed, there has been a sharp incline in the rate of these attacks. Bill Roggio from the Long War Journal reported the demise of 11 civilians in the four attacks committed in the first two weeks of January.

The incident involving the death of about 38 civilians in a single precision strike during March 2011 is also much appalling. It is impossible to ascertain the true toll of death and destruction as the areas decimated by the CIA are closed to journalists, government related functionaries and other such peers.

War of a conventional sort brings about much in the way of collateral damage, that is what the drone supports present forth as an argument.

But is this truly a War that is being fought?

Are we privy to the true identity of our enemy?

Is the demise of Osama actually hastening the march towards world tranquility and peace?

Will the decimation of further militants of the sort eradicate terrorism?

The truth is that terrorism is something that cannot be annihilated or destroyed through the means of military might alone.

Ever since the terrorist incident orchestrated by the Al-Qaeda, there has not been one single US Citizen death from terrorism. In contrast, about 150 children have perished in school shootings initiated since 2003.

Perhaps it is time for the US to quit is countering terrorism worldwide and pay a bit more mind and attention to its laws and regulations, regarding guns and weaponry.

 



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Analysis on PPP Government 2008-2012 part 1

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Here is a research analysis done on the political scenario in Pakistan; Article “Pakistan’s leadership vacuum” By Abid Mustafa (2008) The Nation, claims that Pakistan despite having a newly elected government still has a vacuum in the leadership sphere, military coup has shaken all the departments of the country, and the situation looks blurry and vague.

Politicians are the slave of US and Britian and follow up their orders frequently; this is creating heinous scenario inside the premises of Pakistan. The article also indirectly accuses current government of not doing anything different to change the system.

In the article “An insider analysis of Pakistans ‘memogate” by Mansoor Ijaz (2011) The Nation, throws the light on the accused Haqqani, the then Pakistan’s ambassador to US, one of the representatives of the PPP regime. He uplifted all the veils from the mindset of the PPP and blamed it for its sycophancy to the United States. PPP asked the US to save it from the military exertion in Pakistan and vice versa. A poor picture of the PPP has been narrated by Mansoor Ijaz.

In the article, “The best example of bad governance”, Nation (2011) describes how Pakistan People’s Party failed to win in all departments; ever since it has come into the power its nothing more than a stigma on the fate of Pakistan. No man is made comfortable, and his comforts are taken miles away from him by the evils of the leadership responsible for the fate of the people. Government is incapable of handling crucial matters such as electricity shortage, mishandling of the assets of Pakistan which includes institutions and our industries. It’s the total fault of the government for mishandling basic problems, incapable of foreseeing the issues and agendas. National GDP and per capita income have reduced miserably which is a clear evidence of how poor and bad the governance is of the current government. They are responsible for all the problems in the country.

Article, “Moot takes another crack at outages”, Sajid Zia, The Nation (2012) throws the light on the poor performance of the government in the energy sector where PPP is utilizing tried and beaten ideas and failing to overcome the energy crises. One after the other energy crises prevails, and meetings never bring fruitful ideas, therefore the government is pushing the country into the murky phase. Government fails to reach a decision at the first energy conference held in 2010 and analyzed energy requirements. Despite its alarming alert, the government didn’t take any measures to overcome the issue.

In this article “PPP failed people, we’ll change their fate”, Nazir Siyal, the Nation (2012) media again takes a toll on PPP by blaming it for poor working by all its workers. PPP has doomed the nation to disaster and has completely failed the people and turned into a rowdy- war. They made fake promises but delivered nothing but disappointment. People’s Party displayed a series of failures bringing poverty, energy crises and poor living standards. Corruption has boosted up since its power came into functioning. During crises such as floods of 2010, the government did not provide equipment and needs to the people who suffered from the atrocity.



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Removal of NATO Forces and Future of Afghanistan

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As a direct response to the September 11 attacks, NATO acted upon Article 5 of the NATO Articles for the first time in its history. An assault that would pan out for longer than a decade was started in Afghanistan, the basic aim of the initiative being the removal Taliban from power, finding Osama Bin Laden & destroying Al-Qaeda completely.

Troops from 42 countries were sent as NATO took charge of a mission outside north Atlantic area for the first time in history. After the initial attacks, prominently Torra Borra & Operation Anaconda, NATO was given control of ISAF (international Security Assistance Force), and by 2006 NATO forces had expanded the mission throughout Afghanistan.

In May 2011, after the US-NATO led undercover operation in Abbotabad, the death of Osama Bin Laden was confirmed. One major milestone was achieved, though at the cost of numerous lives. There on, a plan to evacuate NATO forces from Afghanistan was endorsed during the 2012 Chicago Summit, it was agreed that all the troops will be removed from the Afghan Region by the end of 2014.

The initial step towards removal of forces from the region was taken by US when President Barrack Obama announced to call back 10,000 troops by the end of 2011, shortly followed by Canada’s withdrawal of all their armed forces from Afghanistan. Following them, France, Belgium and other countries who have also announced the removal of their army. Though the United Kingdom has voiced to follow suit, they have not yet specified the figures or timing. The long term plan is to evacuate completely the region when the timing and situation allow and hand over control to Afghan National Army.

Though according to an article in Washington Post, NATO is seriously considering the retention of some 350,000 troops in Afghanistan till the end of 2018, the ultimate and complete withdrawal is eminent. The topic is being thought upon in lieu of the current unstable situation which the Alliance wishes to resolve before they leave.

The total strength of roughly 450,000 (as of October 2012) army men fighting against the Taliban has a fair share of ISAF and other Alliance forces, and it is being viewed that the removal of forces may leave the country in a state of mayhem. The expected general atmosphere is being viewed as dangerous, and some of the analysts are of the opinion that US & NATO together have failed to deliver.

For starters, Afghanistan has no air force and so forth they have been relying heavily on the external military aid for containing the insurgencies. Afghanistan on their own is hardly up to the mark in matters of wealth or expertise, shown evidently by the fact that out of the latest 68000 new Afghan recruits, 48000 have quit.

According to Pentagon, out of Afghanistan’s 23 Brigades only one is capable to work on its own. The situation is being taken as highly volatile as the country’s looming economic distress. Military slackness coupled with the looming fear of “re-talibanization” will hardly amount to a desired outcome.



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Sectarian Violence over Religious Issues

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Sectarian violence threats the security of the religious groups in Pakistan. Lahore, being the capital of Pakistan’s largest province faces such problems every now and then. Around 6 months of research has been conducted on the believers of two distinct sections of Islam. Although Pakistan is an Islamic state but it now engulfs number of sections or sub-religious groups.

We must look into this matter since the spark between the religious groups is creating turbulence in Lahore for quite some time now. The religious segregation has turned out to be very violent in Lahore other than many parts of Pakistan. Pakistan is dealing with the resurgence in sectarian violence, every now and then; violence is experienced between two prominent sections of Islam namely — Sunni and Shia. Lately, Lahore is also experiencing violent incidents between the Barelvi and Deobandi sub-sects of Sunni Islam, which are also on the rise.

Pakistan is the second largest in Shia population after Iran. Sunni are in the majority while Shia are regarded as the minority section of Islam. Sunni- Shia clashes are very brutal in Lahore.

Sectarian violence began to wide spread in Pakistan when the dictator Zia-ul-Haq when policies and legislation aimed at ‘Islamising’. He tried to transform Pakistani into a Sunni state and imposed certain laws that mobilized Shia Muslims such as in 1980 Zia imposed a zakat (wealth tax) and ushr (farming tax) ordinance that contradicted Shia ideologies. This incited mobs as for the first time in the history of Pakistan 100,000 Shia Muslims marched on the federal secretariat in Islamabad, forcing the general to alter the ordinance which are hurting Shia Muslims sentiments.

When Shia were not obliged they refused to pay taxes in the same manner, this prompted Deobandi Sunni groups to target certain Shia persons on the basis of religion. Since then, Pakistan has become a hub of violence between various religious groups. Religion is also being used as a tool to satisfy personal vendetta. Religious sections are growing every single day and creating problems for peace and security of the nation. The rate of fights is increasing among Muslims, and foreign forces are taking greater advantages of it. Pakistan is now being divided which is benefiting the enemies of Pakistan.

Pakistan’s inclusion in US war against terrorist has left it with a series of sectarian problems. Taliban are on the rise since the mid-2000s and their close links with militant sectarian organizations such as Lashkar-eJhangvi is helping the sectarian violence to grow. Sectarian violence has spread across the country, and major areas targeted by it are Baluchistan’s Hazaras (an ethnic minority) and worshippers at Sufi shrines.

Today, sectarian violence has wide spread its tentacles by challenging its internal security. The country has been divided into many religious groups who can’t stand each other; level of tolerance is going down. Taliban are also a greater threat to the sovereignty of Pakistan which are now inclining towards the sectarian problems, the spark is gaining more attention since the government has failed once again to overcome the issues.



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