Crisis in Islamic world: Heads of states, clerics have failed; Muslims desperately need statesmen now

(C) INDSCRIBE

A group of terrorists commit an act in a city but Muslims across the world, in towns and cities in faraway countries bear the consequences.

They are expected to condemn it (everywhere--online and offline), worry about hate crimes or Islamophobia and face even more trouble in finding rented accommodations or getting jobs.

This is an unprecedented situation today. The argument is that these terrorists commit crime in the name of Islam.

Yes, they might, but Muslims repeatedly say that terrorists are defaming the Islamic teachings and their acts have nothing to do with Islam.

A man holds a few persons hostage in a city in Australia and because he is a Muslim, the images are shown live across the world, and it becomes a global problem. However, crimes of much higher magnitude are often not reported outside particular countries.

But when a crime qualifies to be 'terror', it becomes an international issue. And when does a crime become 'terror'? It is when the perpetrator is a Muslim. So when a 'terror' releated report breaks out, TV channels and media lap it up, shows it round the clock, and this in turn leads even more scare and 'terror' for society.

Terrorism COULD BE TACKLED and contained if crimes aren't distinguished i.e. crime remains crime irrespective of perpetrator's faith and if terrorist aren't given publicity, which they badly want. There is no dearth of loonies in our society.

Many commit such acts because they know media would fall in the trap. So the incidents keep happening. Muslims feel that why 1.6 billion people are stigmatised because of acts of a few individuals. But the other argument is always ready, 'the commit the act in the name of Islam'. Huh.

So what's the solution? After 9/11, the Us Vs Them stand has brought the situation to such a passe that no one wants to listen. This is a terrible situation where the entire Muslim world find themselves in. And it's even sad that we have no VOICE.

WHERE ARE THE STATESMEN?

The entire Muslim world hasn't produced an intellectual voice, a statesman, a leader of leaders in these years, why? That's a crucial question.

Though I am not a big fan of Saudi monarchs, but they could have taken the lead, given their celebrity status and their being custodians of the holy mosques.

But they don't utter a word or shown any interest in this regard. The truth is that if they speak, despite the sectarian differences, everybody would pay heed.

They have excellent rapport with the Western rulers, but have remained content with the relationship as long as West doesn't interfere in their internal issues, especially, their poor human rights record and their treatment of women and minorities.

Further, they seem more interested in containing Iran's influence or maintaining their regional supremacy, rather, than taking up a stand. It is such an irony that none of the countries in entire Middle East, has a leader whose voice is heard. Or even who is willing to speak.

The Saudis have a privileged position and could have used it to issue diktats over Islam's liberal tradition, and for shunning fundamentalism. Millions of Muslims go for Haj and throughout the year too for pilgrimage, and appeals or messages by Sheikhs would have worked.

Had they taken a stand to urge Muslims and reminded them about Islamic tradition of tolerance and good treatment of minorities, it would have been heard, and also message would have gone to rest of the world too.

But they are happy living in their ivory towers and managing 'order' in their nations. If not rulers, the religious personalities like Imam Haram could have issued a diktat. Sad. Nothing of that sort is even expected.

Why don't we hear a strong word from them against Boko Haram, Al Shabab or regarding the mindless sectarian violence in many Muslim countries. It is simply beyond comprehension why Muslim world doesn't have a leader today?

MUSLIMS WORLD HAS LEADERSHIP VACUUM

There is a need among Muslims to hear a leader, a statesman who can have DIALOGUE with the West. It is not that you always end up blaming US attacks on Iraq or Afghanistan, for problems in Muslim world.

There is restlessness among Muslims, who want someone to take up the position.There is a vacuum, but no leader is stepping in to the shoes of the statesmen of the past. No one is taking the lead.

Someone who can urge Muslims to do inward looking too. Someone who can also talk to France over the ban on Hijab, if not resolve it, but put this point across. Someone who can tell the world to stop the practice of terming particular crimes as terror, and then putting the entire community in the dock.

Someone who can remind Muslims about the Prophet's teachings regarding tolerance, how Muslims treated their minorities fairly, how to stop the barbaric practices, how to stop misusing laws on blasphemy, give call to make Muslims focus on education rather than sectarian divides, reviving intellectual tradition.

Muslim world should have many statesmen today. Sadly, it has none. Why there are no public speakers, motivators, statesmen who could have come from countries like Turkey, with its cultural affinity to both East and the West.

In the early part of 20th century, we had visionary leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad in India. Even Agha Khan was a major figure in British India.

In those days no one thought which leader belonged to which sect.If today, the current Agha Khan, speaks, won't the world listen? 

I have taken his name just as an example. The point is that there is a space, a huge vacuum. We want to hear someone take intellectual leadership.

No one would prop you up, rather, you have to take up the leadership. But no one is willing to speak to the large number of Muslims and also on behalf of them.

Why?


CLERGY HAS FAILED, MODERN VOICES MUST EMERGE

Islam doesn't have a system of institutionalised clergy. It was once a boon, as there were no separate class of Monks or Gurus.

Unfortunately, it is the clergy which is today seen as the voice of Muslims. But clerics have failed us. BADLY. Another tragedy is that motivational and articulate 'Islamic' speakers who have a huge following, rather than talking of reason, turn towards bigotry and sectarianism--thereby harming the community.

There is need for modern, educated, sensible, liberal Muslim to come forward and claim his religion from the clergy. There is dire need for this. Muslims in countries where they are in a majority, especially, in Middle East, probably don't realise this as much.

The reason could be that they don't face religious prejudices (or Islamophobia) on a daily basis, in their own land, but across the world, Muslims are fed up of the situation. They do feel the need for saner voices.

They won't come from the skies. It's we who have to speak and fill this void.

READ: Media's excessive, hysteric coverage of Australia hostage led to worldwide panic

Indians in Gulf countries: Book on Indian expatriates, their issues in Middle East

For long, the Middle East, which is commonly termed as 'Gulf', has been considered an El Dorado for Indians. 

The first wave of prosperity came in many parts of India, particularly, in South India, when lakhs of Indians got jobs in Middle East in 70s and 80s.

It is a fact that despite 5-7 million Indians working in Gulf countries, there is not enough focus in India on either their contribution to our economy or their problems.

For the record, the number of Indians in West Asian countries is at least four times the number of NRIs in America. 

Mohammed Saifuddin's book Expat Ride sheds light on the issues pertaining to Indians in Gulf.

Contrary to the belief that every person who goes to Gulf, manages to make moolah, it tells us how large number of people fail to save adequate money.

The semi-skilled workers face pathetic conditions, work hard by spending more hours in duty but don't get as much return for their efforts. From facing extreme weather and psychological issues due to living away from families, the book tells a lot about the situation on the ground.

The book tells us about challenges faced by expatriates in getting good education to their children. That they have to pay exorbitant fees to get admission in colleges in India and the quota initiated by AB Vajpayee-led BJP government remains limited to just a few educational institutions in India.

Saifuddin also touches the issue of taxes apart from exploitation by money-lenders and depression among Indians working in the region. As many as 70% of those who commit suicide in Dubai, are Indians! This is a shocker for everybody.

The author suggests that India should conduct surveys and take more steps to redress the issues of expatriate community. Another myth is busted in the book. Muslims are not favoured in Gulf countries. In fact, in key positions non-Muslims outnumber Muslims.

Mohammed Saifuddin

The number of Muslims among powerful Indians in GCC countries is just 18%. There are other serious issues like problems faced in repatriation of dead bodies to India.

These things need to be taken up on priority. It is true that Indian newspapers and Television channels seldom pay attention to these important aspects which affect a large number of people.  

But when it comes to sudden disappearance or crime against an NRI in America or Britain, our media forgets all sense of proportion and lap it up, showing it for hours.

But there is no such interest visible in Gulf. This is despite the enormous regular contribution in terms of remittances--sending money back home on regular basis, that runs millions of households in India.

Saifuddin, who hails from Hyderabad, has over the years penned articles for Yahind.com portal. The book comprises these articles. One hopes that the book would draw the attention of policy makers towards Indian expatriates in the GCC countries--United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabic, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. 

Saudi Arabia & Israel becoming 'friends' to contain Iran

Mai Yamani's article in Times of India has surprised a lot of Muslims.

He has written about the meeting between top intelligence officials of Saudi Arabia and Israel.

The situation is that Saudis are wary of growing Iranian influence. And after their failure to annihilate Hezbollah, Israel knows that it can't bank upon United States of America for its survival in the Middle East where Mishal, Ahmedinejad and Nasrullah are heroes of street.

So the common enemy is Iran and its growing influence. At the beginning of the recent clash between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, Saudi Arabia was the first country to criticise the Hezbollah, writes Yamani, in his quite long article that appeared on editorial page.

It's no big issue for Saudis as they consider Shias apostate. However, Muslim street is now tired of the Royal family that changed Arabia to Saudi Arabia. Israel-Saudi bhai bhai! After all, doesn't Saudi rhyme like Yahudi [Jew].

Forty years after they lost to Israel in the 1967-war, Saudis seem to have grown quite 'pragmatic'. (May be they feel that when the slayer of Jews, Hitler was a Christian, and Jews shared no ill will with Muslims until mid-20th century unlike their relations with Christians

So it is better to make them friends than the Persians with whom the Arabs have the real fight for supremacy in the region for over a millennium. Read the article at this link.

Chavez : USA is like Count Dracula hunting for Blood & Petrol, compares Israel to Hitler

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez has recently said:

1. United States of America is like Count Dracula always is search of blood and Petrol.

2. Israel is doing what Hitler did to Jews.

3. My heart beats with millions of Arab hearts

4. I could have been an Arab. I have crossed deserts, I have ridden camels, and I have sung along with the Bedouin. 

I have learned in those years to love and respect the Arab people

5. I consider Al-Jazeera as a great liberator

All this must have come as music to Arab ears. 

Chavez, whose stature has grown fast over the years as a flagbearer of American imperialism,

His statements and his politics suggest that he is an heir apparent to Latin America after the ageing Fidel Castro. He has irked Israel with his interview that was telecast on Al-Jazeera. Venezuela has already pulled up its envoy from Israel and the latter has also temporarily called its ambassador.

Now contrast it with what the Arab monarchs and 'leaders' of Middle-East like Hosni Mubarak. No wonder in 'chaai-Khaanas' you hear such harsh taunts on Arab leaders and even Arab populace.

Saudi nahiiN Yahudi kahiye, that is the statement I have heard so often lately. Comparing Saudis (read monarchs) to Zionists reflect the anger and frustration at these undemocratic states and their consistent failure to diffuse any crisis in middle east. 

The similar knee-jerk reactions, calls for Arab league summit, emergency meetings, urging UN for action and the same dithering response every time. A neighbour quoted an Urdu couplet that is not quotable at all.

Of course, Muslim world must realise that it is not when Palestinians and Lebanese are suffering that they should temporarily feel angry at the Arab leaders. Otherwise also there are tremendous contradictions in the conduct of Arab states and their leaders.

At least such conflicts can open the eyes of people. The lesson drawn is that dozens of 'Muslim' states together can't stop this injustice to their fellow Muslims. And it's a Chavez who bats for them. The parameters should be justice and injustice. Arabs need real reforms and their leaders should stop their absurd theatrics.

Do Jews ever recall the historic role of Muslims in saving, protecting them?

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reportedly made certain comments about Israel and its right to exist, apart from saying that Holocaust was doubtful and that Israel ought to be shifted to Europe.

These are not simple comments indeed but the figure of deaths attributed to Holocaust has been disputed for long.

Head of states are, perhaps, not supposed to issue such statements, more so when it concerns Israel. It is not politically correct!

The Western powers [Europe] perpetrated Holocaust and six decades later the mention of the word unsettles them. What a moral guilt! They created Isreal, the occupation state on the Palestinian land. Muslims who for centuries gave refuge to Jews fleeing the excess of Christian west have been paying the price. 

But see the shock on the faces of many self-styled intellectuals in countries who have nothing to do with either Israel, Holocaust or Iran. The collective guilt of Europe has brought tremendous suffering for Palestinians. 

At least, Ahmadinejad has the courage to call a spade a spade. Europe didn't want Jews and after getting rid (sic), they sent them to Arab land. Jews of our generation must know that it was Muslim community that had safeguarded their interests and rights for centuries.

When there was hatred for Jews in the Christian world [that perpetrated atrocities on the followers of Judaism], especially, in those days when Jews had been hated, burnt alive and targeted in different countries across the Europe.

Examples of intolerance towards Jews in Christian world:

1. In Spain, every child born of marriage between Christian and Jew was to be baptized. Later at the height of inquisition all Jews were given the option to convert or leave Spain. Thousands were burnt alive and many lived as crypto-Jews.

2. When epidemics like plague spread, the Jews were always blamed and charged with the spread of diseases. Like in 14 th century when thousands of Jews were held responsible for Black Death and killed.

3. In 1215 Jews were ordered to wear distinct dress from Christians so that they could be identified. At many places they were made to wear yellow badges or specified dress.

4. Almost 13,000 Jews were burnt in Spain alone during inquisition for not converting to Christianity in 15th-16th centuries.

5. Popes through out history condemned Jews. Pope Julius III publicly condemned their holy book Talmud.

6. For two millennium (2,000 years) Jews were persecuted in one form or the other in Europe. Always harassed and thrown into ghettoes.

But forgetting all this the Jews after getting the state turned against the new enemy--Muslims, who had always welcomed the Jews who fled the European persecution.

I wonder if Jews ever think about it or they are really too selfish and driven by avarice to have forget the humiliation of centuries!

Also read the post on this blog. Jews suffered holocaust, now Israel inflicts the same on Palestinians.

[Photo courtesy: Historical Pics. Its Twitter LINK]