THE MUSLIM WORLD AND THE WEST
( By Tayyab Siddiqui)

No century in human history has witnessed as cataclysmic events and catastrophic developments as in the first five years of the 21st century. The symbols of these changes are terrorism, inter-faith hostility, and unilateral actions in violation of the entire corpus of international laws and conventions. These have combined to create a new world order with the increasing tendency to subvert the established norms of inter-state relations and force as the only arbiter. The UN has become largely impotent and has proved that it is incapable of any restraining influence on the flagrant violations of the sovereignty of states, in furtherance of the interests of a superpower.

The invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan on the flimsy pretext of fighting against terror, and now the escalating pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme, with the threat of an impending military action, has generated extreme insecurity among the weaker nations. Resistance and violent acts of terrorism have multiplied, rendering the policy of coercion counter-productive and self-defeating.

The most sinister aspect of these unfortunate developments is that the victims of this aggression are Muslim. Discrimination and humiliation meted out to them both at individual and state level has intensified this hatred and put the West and the Muslims on a collision course. The situation has changed with militancy and extreme reaction as symbolized in suicide bombings. The rapidity and frequency of such violent acts, whether in Iraq or occupied Palestinian territories has ushered an era of chaos and instability bordering on apocalypse.

The starting point of the current phase of indiscriminate killings and vicious cycle of spiralling deaths and destruction started with 9/11. However, US policies in the Arab world and its blind support to Israel’s expansionist greed have had an impact on the collective psyche of Muslims in most negative terms. The horrible stories of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay laced with most inhumane practices and torture have only added fuel to the fire.

These developments have led to clearly defined lines of resistance, often expressed in senseless bloodshed to counter the policies pursued by the West and the US. The fact that such violence has failed to achieve the desired objective has, in turn, led to frustration and nihilism.

The insensitivity and what most consider deliberate provocation by ridiculing Islam and its Prophet (PBUH), as manifested in the episode of publishing the caricatures of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Muslims’ outrage throughout the world against this insult, is not a passing phenomenon. Indeed, this has driven a wedge between the West and the Islamic world that will not be easy to overcome. The suspicion and mistrust, even hostility emitted against expatriate Muslims in Europe settled there for more than a generation has further undermined the goodwill and the friendly image of Western democracies.

The European leadership and intellectuals, with their extremely myopic and biased outlook, hold the Muslim leadership’s failure to address the stagnation of their societies responsible for fuelling the tensions between Islam and the West. Instead of hard analysis, which thrives only in a free society, Muslims are generally brought up on propaganda, which is often state-sponsored. This propaganda focuses on Muslims’ humiliation at the hands of others, instead of acknowledging the flaws of Muslim leaders and societies, the argument goes.

This line of reasoning is partially valid. The conduct of most Muslim leaders and the internal crisis and contradictions in Muslim societies do contribute to anti-West sentiments. Yet, the fundamental truth is that the same leaders are being hailed and supported by the West itself. The forces of democracy and factors of stability are being undermined to keep the Muslims depressed and dispossessed.

Despite declaring democracy as the avowed goal of Bush’s second term, the manner in which the majority’s voice has been stifled in the recent elections in Egypt, and the hysterical reaction to the mandate given by the Palestinians to Hamas reveals a pathological obsession against Muslims challenging the status quo. The criminal silence, indeed abetment, in the inhumane policies of Israel against the Palestinians and their elected leaders reveal the West’s contempt for them and feeds Muslim anger.

All kinds of interpretations are being made to explain and justify the current onslaughts against Muslims. Appalling atrocities and barbaric attacks against innocent civilians in Iraq are being justified as acts against fanatics and Islamic terrorists. Ignoring the total failure of the US policies in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bush claims that Iraq and Afghanistan are on the path to democracy and freedom and that these two nations will be a model for the broader Middle East. These claims are laughable in the face of the US and the West’s refusal to accept the Palestinians’ verdict in favour of Hamas in the recent elections.

The US policy has been formulated and justified in the context of 9/11. The truth, however, is that 9/11 is used as a reference point to violate international law, ignore the UN and to pursue strategic advantages.

How then can one argue against those who hold the view that Muslim countries are being identified, isolated and prosecuted as part of a concerted campaign by the US and the West to weaken and neutralize them? Additionally, their religion Islam is being systematically demonized as an intolerant religion, encouraging its adherents to turn to violence against other faiths.

The US administration has been following contradictory policies in its battle for the hearts and minds of Muslims. Millions of dollars are being spent on such projects, concurrent with support for Israel’s increasingly inhuman and brutal policies of occupation and apartheid against the helpless Palestinians. Bush’s roadmap for peace in the occupied territories has remained stillborn, and there is no silver lining on the Palestinian horizon. Coercive policies and intimidation against Syria and Sudan have further exacerbated the Muslims’ sentiments.

The images of Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, indiscriminate bombings in Fallujah and support to Israeli policies of target killings, closures, curfews, demolition of houses in occupied Palestine — all these need a sensitive and empathetic consideration by the West, if continuing carnage is to be avoided. Insulting the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and defending it in the name of press freedom is not the way to win the Muslims’ hearts and minds. Unless the West and the US demonstrate a visible change in their attitudes and policies, no amount of inter-faith dialogue will succeed. The world will be even more insecure, violence-prone and unstable.