The Rt. Rev. Bishop Alexander John Malik
Lahore, Pakistan
Dear Bishop
I have no words to express my grief and anguish at the
recent tragedy of Christian persecution at Gojra. Insignificant as my humble
effort might be, I have spent the last two days with various TV channels to
lodge my protest against this inhuman and irreligious atrocity. I have also
expressed my outrage in interviews to Los Angeles Times and the daily News. I
really wish I had the power to do more. I am scheduled to leave for Montréal on
the 11th, but I have already suggested many friends and NGOs to launch a
movement for the protection of all Pakistanis who have been or are likely to be
persecuted in the name of religion. In my interview to the News, I pointed out
that even though it is the ethical and moral right of people in any country to
enact laws through their representatives in the parliament that ensure that the
sanctity of religion is not violated, the present blasphemy laws do not
appropriately reflect any pertinent directive of the Qur’ān or preclude the
strong possibility of causing injustice through misuse. These laws are based on
human constructs of interpretation that are not infallible and therefore, in the
light of pertinent foundational texts, sources and principles, can be reviewed
in the parliament and/or suspended by the courts until they are replaced by laws
that do not carry the potential of detriment to the basic principles of justice
and religion. I have also pointed out that there are a number of meritorious
Muslim scholars who believe that the Qur’ān has not prescribed death punishment
for blasphemy. Furthermore, I have emphasized that lynching is considered a
major violation by all mainstream Muslim scholars of classical and mediaeval
times, which violation itself deserves the strongest punishment. Therefore, the
apathy and indifference of so many Pakistani Muslim scholars is appalling. Above
all, the way religion has been misused by our “religious” political parties and
agencies of our government and of the international community is the primary
cause of ever-growing trend of lynching in the name of religion. Therefore, the
acceptance, atonement and rectification must begin from the top. Furthermore,
serious, intense and intensive discussion and debate must continue at high pitch
to critique popular notions of violence and to bring out their flaws in front of
the public. Finally, as a Muslim, I should like to relate this story to my
Muslim brothers:
I was in Canada when 9/11 happened. In a discussion with
some Muslim colleagues among others, I found out that, in a city in the US, a
large group of non-Muslims had encircled a mosque to keep it safe in the rather
volatile environment that prevailed at that time. At the same time, I heard that
a number of Christians were massacred in a church in Pakistan.
If it is fights that the Muslims must win, it must first
and foremost be fights for superiority in ethics, morality, humanity, justice
and compassion. I should be very happy if my Muslim brothers could point out
even one example of benevolence of the kind I have mentioned above to convince
me that we have not completely lost in this arena. While I assure my Muslim
brothers that I too love and respect the Prophet (sws) more than I love or
respect anybody else on this earth and while I too take the strongest exception
to any disrespect of the slightest degree to him or my religion, religious
persecution of those who do not agree with me in my beliefs is most certainly
not what I have learned from him or his teachings. I am amazed at how apathetic
so many of our ‘ulamā have been in this regard. Isn’t showing such utter
disregard for his teachings also blasphemy of sorts?
Beware! He who oppresses a mu‘āhid (someone granted
protection under State agreement) or does him injustice or burdens him with what
is more than what he can bear or takes anything from him without his consent is
a person against whom I shall plead myself on the Day of Judgment (Abū Dā’ ūd,
No: 3052)
It is my hope that recipients of my message, my audience,
my readers, and, above all, my students will not sit back on this occasion and
join me in making this feeble voice a crescendo against injustice and negation
of Islamic teachings.
To you sir – and, through you, to all Pakistani Christians
--, I can only say that I really do not have words to express my grief. My
tears, my efforts, my writings, and my voice are a testimony to the fact that I
have felt the hurt as much as one human being can feel another’s. And I can also
assure you that, as a very humble well-wisher, I remain firm in my resolve to
continue my efforts to convince those with authority that meaningful steps be
taken to ensure that religion is not misused by those with ulterior motives or
little understanding. May God grant Pakistanis the sagacity and the strength to
live with each other in harmony and peace and with justice and love. May we also
learn not to judge others wrongfully lest that we be judged by God Himself.
Many prayers
Asif Iftikhar |