Grassroots Or, Short of That, Middle Class Roots
To both Pakistanis, and outsiders, the country can look like one daunting, seemingly unsolvable puzzle.
The formula for democracy is certainly no mystery. If all Pakistanis are to live in a country in which they have the opportunity not just to survive, but to flourish, then they need access to resources and capital (both financial, and social, i.e. education), free and fair elections, an independent judiciary, the right to air grievances against the government (and any other authority, for that matter), and a crackdown on political corruption. The government must lead by example, if we want an open society based on meritocracy on all levels.
Naturally, that requires a head of State who is not corrupt. A crackdown on government corruption is only possible if the leader of this campaign is him or herself incorruptible. Given the cliche that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” then not only are true checks and balances necessary on the head of State necessary, but must apply across the board to all authoritative bodies. If all are not equal before the law, the law is useless.
So how do we determine who is incorruptible and fit to lead? The classic answer is also plain and well-known – moral authority. This often translates as charismatic authority.
In Pakistan, this generally means brandishing one’s Islamic credentials by showing how passionately devoted one is to Muslims, and showing how strict one is in following Islam, say with hajj photo-ops, or public denunciations of personal immorality (one’s actual private behavior not withstanding). Also, it means dressing up, on the right occasion, in traditional clothing, donning the karakul, pakol or any other topi, and of course the shalwar kameez. A populist Sufism, that which is supposed to be based on love and humility, can be brought into it, which translates into fiery displays of passion and piety towards Muslim figures and the Ummah. The age-old urge to brandish charismatic leaders with a supernatural aura – being blessed by divine powers – is mixed in with Sufism as well.
One does not have to be a Muslim to avoid financial corruption or work for a fairer, more open society. A good leader can follow the five pillars of Islam, or the moral injunctions of another religion. It does not matter what clothes they wear, or what family they come from, given that they don’t put their family loyalty above the good of the country. A good leader can pray in a mosque, a church, a gurdwara, or mandir. All that is needed for a leader of such integrity is rationalism, transparency, and a deep-seated belief in fairness.
Further, the campaign to rid the society of all corruption (let’s just say financial corruption, and not questionable matters of personal morality) can no longer rely on top-down leadership. There has to be a ground swell. The poor are, well, too dis-empowered and demoralized to attempt such a campaign. The wealthy elite are often too apathetic, or corrupt themselves, to do it. The middle class, who have the means, and the power of the ballot, seem to hold the reigns.
And the middle class is rather conservative, socially and religiously. Campaigns against corruption will have to be tied to an Islam that is strict and politicized. The broader values and spirit of the religion can be subverted in the name of an Islamic revolution.
The way out is a liberal reform of education. The very thing the conservatives, such that they allow education at all, fight tooth and nail against.
This puzzle might not be unsolvable, but it’s not hard to see what so many find it daunting!
Repeal Blasphemy Laws Now!
Let’s examine the laws, shall we.
“§ 298-B and § 298-C prohibit the Ahmadiyya from behaving as Muslims behave, calling themselves Muslims, proselytizing, or ‘in any manner whatsoever’ outraging the religious feelings of Muslims. Violation of any part of § 298 makes the violator liable to imprisonment for up to three years and liable also to a fine.”
This refers to a small unorthodox Muslim sect in Pakistan who are highly discriminated against because they believe in an extra prophet. During the floods, for example, many starving Ahmedis were not allowed to get aid. During the terrorist attack on a Sufi shrine this summer committed by hardline Islamists who are against all “devient” forms of Islam, including the Ahmedis, the locals falsely accused the Ahmedis themselves. They are regularly threatened, harassed, and even attacked by hardline Islamic students in universities (a few years ago they were forceably kicked out and had their property confiscated at a university, and the school did nothing to stop it). Hateful propaganda against them is common.
What this law means is that mainstream Muslims can proselytize, which they regularly do, but the Ahmedi cannot. And what, exactly, constitutes the “feelings” that can be “outraged”? Anything that Muslims deem “offensive.” It’s just a poorly written, biased, bigoted law. If a Muslim doesn’t like that another person has different religious beliefs, for example, they can cite this law and say that the accused “hurt my feelings,” leading them to be fined, or even put to death.
There is no law to specifically stop Muslims from outraging the feelings of others, although “§ 295-A forbids outraging religious feelings.” Yet, I’ve heard them say the most vile, untrue, offensive things about Jews, Christians, Hindus, even Buddhists, on a regular basis – on the streets, in the schools, in work places, in the media, in mosques – and yet I know of no case in which Muslims have been punished for this. And if you think blasphemy laws don’t unfairly punish Muslims too, think again!
“On 4 August 2009, a Muslim mob attacked a factory-owner by the name of Najeebullah and others at Sheikhupura in the Punjab. The mob killed Najeebullah and two others, and set fire to the factory. The mob complained that Najeebullah had placed an outdated calendar, which contained verses from the Quran, on a table. For that offense, a worker accused Najeebullah of blasphemy. The workers may have been in a dispute with Najeebullah over wages.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10696762
“In October 2000, Pakistani authorities charged Younas Shaikh, a physician, with blasphemy on account of remarks that students claimed he made during a lecture. The students alleged that, inter alia, Shaikh had said Muhammad’s parents were non-Muslims because they died before Islam existed. A judge ordered that Shaikh pay a fine of 100,000 rupees, and that he be hanged. On 20 November 2003, a court retried the matter and acquitted Shaikh, who fled Pakistan for Europe soon thereafter.” http://www.mukto-mona.com/news/shaikh_free.htm
The former incident is just not absurd on its own merits, but probably stems more from an issue having nothing to do with religion, one that could be simply settled by a workers union. It was “offensive” because the qur’anic calendar was outdated and was placed on a table! That notion of respect borders on idolatry, which Islam is supposed to reject.
I’ve yet to hear a well-thought, compelling argument in support of these laws. I’m done trying to patiently reason with otherwise normal, educated Pakistanis who defend them. It’s time for the liberals in Pakistan to pick up the slack and make their case. If this happens, more will probably die for it. I don’t want that. I want the liberals to be protected and to have a strong voice, so at the very least they can bring about a larger, more mainstream culture of enlightenment that isn’t restricted to an elite, cloistered few.
Yes, major changes in education, both in terms of greater access for the poor, and a major overhaul over what’s taught (and not taught), must happen for this enlightened culture to emerge, but that will take decades, if at all. The change has to start somewhere, and it’s overdue.
On Salman Taseer
It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here. I don’t know how many people are even reading my blog any more. I’m not even in Pakistan right now – back in the States on vacation – and yet, as soon as I read about Salman Taseer’s assassination I felt like I was right back in the thick of it.
When I first read the story I was shocked. What will happen with the coalition government? Will this only empower the far right parties?
The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Worse still, many of the so-called moderates I saw online were excusing it. Actually supporting the most unfair, illogical, poorly crafted laws in Pakistan, the “blasphemy” 295 laws, right up there with Hudood Ordinances.
I remember much of my time in Pakistan wondering why no one would even talk about the existence of such barbarity in the law books. Not once did I hear it! In the discourse – in public, amongst colleagues, in the media – one constantly heard about lesser crimes and legal contravinces in countries like Israel, India, or America (the three favorite targets) and narry a word about systematic abuses like the blasphemy laws. Even the equally bad problems Muslims face in other countries, which are worth talking about, get much greater weight than what happens closer to home, such as hate crimes against sects like the Ahmedis (even flood victims!). Or the treatment of Christians. Or the discrimination in work places against non-Muslims (or those not belonging to the right political parties). Or the constitutional statute against non-Muslims becoming prime minister or president. Or the bill three years ago calling for the death penalty for apostasy. Such obvious insanity is frequently looked over, while every outrage against Muslims is drummed up endlessly.
I won’t get too much into Salman Taseer, except to say that I didn’t know him, but knew people who did, and I generally respected him. I don’t know what will happen with the Asia Bibi case now. This is a good piece on him: http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/wajahat-s-khan/the-governor-of-us-all/190724227610816.
As I tweeted yesterday, enough is enough! I’m tired of trying to debate people, people who should know better, on why this crime and this law need to be stopped. Pakistani moderates need to fight back. I want to see more people challenging this law, and others like it. I want Pakistanis to shout as loudly as they can about the injustices against their fellow Pakistanis, especially women and non-Muslims, in addition to other marginalized groups.
The time for polite discussion is over. I want to see dedication and a real civil rights movement worthy of the name. I want to see the “silent majority” become outspoken and shout about it until they drown out the bullies who are shouting them down. I want to see people get tired of being scared, tired of feeling sorry for hurting the feelings of those with no conscience, and instead act as bravely as Taseer did.
The fanatics want a fight, and the moderates will only be their cannon fodder if they continue to be meek. Most people don’t want to end up like Taseer did, and who can blame them? Therefore the moderates must intelligently use all tools at their disposal to outlast and subvert the bigots. By any means necessary.
No Man-Istan 