On Friday, July 8, the Pakistani government announced a special day to commemorate the protest against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. This may surprise those living in a globalized world, as it raises questions about how a nation-state can organize and call for action against another country. However, for citizens of Pakistan, this is not a new phenomenon. Protests are common and often fueled by a strong desire for justice, or mob justice. While individual actions may not have immediate consequences in other countries, they can significantly influence the citizens of Pakistan, especially when it comes to any relationship to their faith and religious values. However, staging peaceful protests is a democratic right that should be exercised in letter and spirit. It is important to remember that human rights should always be upheld, regardless of the circumstances.
Pakistan’s history of human rights violations, financial corruption, and poor governance is deeply concerning and has had a significant negative impact on its citizens. The country’s political and economic performance has been poor, resulting in a tradition of financial mismanagement and low accountability, particularly among the political elite. As a result, citizens have been unable to reap the full benefits of democracy, and attempts to Organize protests and other forms of symbolic resistance have been met with diversionary tactics by those in power.
Recently, Pakistan entered into a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that will provide the country with $3 billion in loans to help stabilize the economy. This marks Pakistan’s 23rd bailout package from the IMF, and while it may not benefit the common citizens directly or indirectly, rest assured that they will likely bear the burden of financial debts incurred by the government.
Promoting the involvement of ordinary citizens in sensitive religious matters can be a means to divert citizens’ attention from issues of weak political systems and bad governance. Additionally, engaging individuals in religious affairs may give a sense of religious unity that goes beyond political differences and divided international borders. However, it does not ensure the prevention of such issues in the future unless there is a stringent global framework for respecting all religions. Therefore, universal religious values of harmony, respect, benevolence, and acceptance must be promoted, as the desecration of religious beliefs has become a widespread issue globally. The desecration of Islam or its values may have become a growing phenomenon in the West. This is indeed highly condemnable. However, Muslim-majority countries are not different in mistreating their religious minorities, such as Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and other small religious communities, who often face stark intolerance and social suppression by the states and society. This also needs to be discussed and condemned equally.
It is unfortunate that Pakistan’s political leaders and religious advocates have consistently taken the wrong stance. Rather than advocating for global dialogue and coordinated diplomatic efforts to prevent disrespect towards religious beliefs, the current government is encouraging street protests and potentially violent activities. This approach may fuel animosity and aggression towards marginalized religious groups. In the past, such protests against cartoons in France and Denmark have led to violent attacks on the worship places of religious minorities across the country. The government’s call for protests raises serious concerns that they could incite religiously motivated outbreaks that could harm the places of worship and properties owned by these vulnerable communities. Therefore, it is crucial for the government to ensure strict law enforcement and devise a robust security plan to protect the lives and properties of these marginalized religious communities.
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