Traditional Beliefs of Islam: the Existence of Other Religions and Human Rights - Essay Example

Islam politics and culture Islam is currently undergoing a difficult phase in its recent history, especially after 9/11 World Trade Centre attack. America declared war against terror immediately after 9/11. Even before 9/11 incident, America attacked many Islamic countries. At present, America is conducting war against terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are trying to open another war front in Iran over the issue of Iran’s ambitions to become a nuclear power. Apart from America, Israel and India are some other countries which engage in some kind of fight against Islam. Israel fights against Palestine whereas India has many disputes with Pakistan. It should be noted that Israel is a Jewish state where as India is dominated by Hindus. In short, in different parts of the world different cultures and religions are engaged in fight against Islamic culture which forced many scholars to argue that Islam is on a collision course with other cultures at present. This paper analyses whether the Islamic world is at the surge of clashes with the West or otherwise and the issues which should be explored or followed by the Muslim societies to bring pragmatic changes. Whether the Islamic world is at the surge of clashes with the West or otherwise? Some of the recent incidents in global politics definitely prove that Islamic world is at the surge of clashes with the West at present. It should be noted that war on terror is currently going on against Islamic countries. Moreover, many of the Islamic dictators in Arab world were expelled by the agitators with the help of the western world. Gadhafi and Mubarak are the latest Islamic leaders who failed to overcome the pressure exerted by the public with the help of locals. An external political observer may definitely blame these Islamic dictators for their downfall since these dictators failed to rule their country based on the interests of the public. America attacked Iraq and Afghanistan for their alleged involvement in terrorist activities. America blamed Saddam, Mullah Omar, and Bin Laden for the recent terrorist activities all over the world and they were successful in killing Saddam and Laden. However, the war on terror has not been over even after the killing of these prominent leaders of terrorism which clearly suggests that America has some hidden agenda behind war on terror. Many Muslim people do believe that America is trying to destroy their religion in the name of war on terror. The ongoing conflicts between America and Iran have nothing to do with terrorism. Iran says that they are trying to acquire nuclear power solve their energy crisis. On the other hand, America and Israel believe that Iran is trying to make nuclear bombs. Nobody knows the reality. Even if America’s arguments are right, how can America ask Iran to stay away from making nuclear bombs? It should be noted that countries such as America, China, France, Israel, Germany, Britain, India etc do possess nuclear bombs. Under such circumstances, how can America ask an Islamic country to stay away from making nuclear bombs? Muslims do believe that America is trying to prevent Iran from making nuclear bombs since Iran is an Islamic country. On the other hand, they have no problems with the nuclear bombs of Israel other non-Islamic countries. These double standards in American foreign policies are unacceptable to the Islamic world. At this critical period in the Islamic history what issues should be explored or followed by the Muslim societies to bring pragmatic changes? A neutral observer cannot blame Islam alone for the clashes between Islamic world and other countries. At the same time, it is a fact that some Islamic names are behind every terrorist attacks in the world. It should be noted that apart from 9/11 incident, Islamic terrorists are responsible for attacking Mumbai city, Indian Parliament house at Delhi etc. Moreover, it is a fact that Islam is intolerant towards any attacks against their religion. In fact killing of enemies of Islam is considered as a sacred act by many of the Islamic fundamentalists. Take the cases of Salman Rushdie and Taslima Nasrin. Both these two prominent literature writers have their origin in Islamic culture. However, they are currently struggling to save their lives. Salman Rushdie is a British author who was born in India. In 1988, he wrote the highly acclaimed book, The Satanic Verses. Shortly after that, India banned the book. In the U.S., the publisher received bomb threats. The book was then banned in South Africa. Soon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia, Bangladesh, Sudan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Qatar banned the book. There were book burnings in England. In Pakistan, six people died and 100 were injured in demonstrations against the book. Then on Feb. 12, 1989, the Ayatollah Khomeini, leader of Iran, declared that the book was blasphemous, and called for the death of Rushdie. Rushdie went into hiding, with protection by the British government. An Iranian charity offered a million dollars reward (later raised to 2.5 million) for Rushdies murder (Loy, 2002). The case of Bangladeshi literature writer Taslima Nasrin is also not much different. She was a doctor by profession and she forced to take shelter in India because of life threats from Islamic fundamentalists from her home country. The reason for such life threats were some of the controversial statements she made against Islam in one of her books. Both Salman and Taslima are living in exile at present. These two incidents indicate the attitudes of Islam towards freedom of expression. Freedom of expression is not allowed in any of the Islamic countries at present because of the totalitarian administrations prevailing there. At the same time it should be noted that there are many criticisms labeled against Jesus Christ and Hindu Gods like Shiv, Krishnan etc. However, no Christian leaders or Hindu leaders ever issued any instructions or commands to kill people who oppose Hindu or Christian beliefs. In short, Islam is not ready to make necessary changes in its beliefs unlike other religions. They are too adamant in their beliefs and for a civilized world like ours; such adamant beliefs are not good for the society. “The general belief among Islamic scholars is that "all men are not created equal, and democracy eventually lets the fortunate over-run the less fortunate. The idea of a caliphate is only now beginning to take hold in the Arab world” (Many Faces of Islam). In other words, Islam considers some people superior than others. That is why in Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia or UAE, only the children or relatives of the present King can lead the country after the death of the current King or ruler. Same way Islam never allows women to hold equal status with men. “Koran says girls must stay home and that it is right to beat women if they disobey their husbands” (Many Faces of Islam). The story of a teenage Afghan girl called Bibi Ayesha, aged only 18, is relevant here. “At the age of 18, Aisha had her nose and ears hacked off by her husband as a punishment for trying to flee the arranged marriage, before being dragged to a mountainside to die” (Brave Bibi the Time cover girl whose nose was cut off by the Taliban takes the New York subway). It is hard to believe that such brutalities are taking place still in fundamental Islamic societies. Islam should change many of its traditional beliefs in order to make it more acceptable to the global community. Islam should realize that both men and women are equal. Same way, it should recognize the existence of other religions and human rights. Freedom of expression should be allowed in Islamic communities and democracy should be welcomed. Islam should realize that people have the rights to believe in their own life philosophies and they should show more tolerance towards it. To conclude, Islamic world is currently at the surge of clashes with the West. Both westerners and Islamic world are equally responsible for these clashes. However, Islam needs to be changed a lot in its beliefs and traditions in order to construct a peaceful world. Works Cited 1. Brave Bibi: The Time Cover Girl Whose Nose Was Cut Off by the Taliban takes the New ork subway, (2011). Web.07 December 2011. 2. “Many Faces of Islam”. 2002. Time CNN Sunday, Dec. 08, 2002. Web.07 December 2011. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,397459,00.html 3. Loy Jim. “Salman Rushdies The Satanic Verses”. 2002. 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