Dear Sir,
Extremism means to take an inflexible or rigid position on an issue - political, religious or social - when there is room for leniency or accommodation.
Most societies are infested with several groups which have distinct views from those of the moderate circles. They are in pursuit of a system or style of government which is authoritarian enough to tackle a situation on its own without taking other segments of the society or public on board. Their views are inconsistent with the existing norms guaranteeing ideal peace and religious harmony in society.
Extremism stands for intolerance, impatience, violence, inconsistency in views and harshness in approach. It advocates dictatorial rule to deal with various social, political and religious matters. It doesn’t believe in reconciliation, compromise or democratic principles to work out a solution to a problem. Extremists interpret religious affairs solely from their own viewpoints and don’t accept opinions held by other individuals or groups of individuals belonging even to their own faith.
Extremism is not confined to one society; it is manifest in one form or another throughout the world. The US is greatly suffering at the hands of a group of extremists who target doctors treating women in abortion cases. According to the latest statistics, more than 300 people associated with the medical profession have been victims of this group’s campaign. Though the US government has curbed the radical organisations involved in violence, it has failed to eliminate the extremist factor from the country.
Similarly, Boko Haram is dead against the Western model of education in Nigeria. This extremist organisation is estimated to have killed more than 80 teachers in Nigeria’s Borno state alone.
In Asia, Pakistan has been plagued by this menace for the last several years. The whole society is divided into two groups: orthodox and moderate. The hawkish group is vehemently against certain practices which are neither unIslamic nor unlawful even. For example, the anti-polio campaign, launched by the government in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has met with strong resistance from the extremist groups. Almost all doctors say that polio drops and vaccinations must be administered to children so that they are protected from the disease. But the extremist elements strongly oppose the anti-polio drive, saying that it is against the basic principles of Islam without giving any logical or rational base. They are of the opinion that through these drops or vaccinations, the Western community is trying to transfer virus to human bodies to make them impotent! Likewise, this group is also against using iodine salt almost on the same pretexts.
Now another group with the nomenclature of ISIS or ISIL has emerged which refutes all ideas or beliefs except the one being pursued by it. Some believe that ISIS comprises mostly supporters of the late Saddam Hussain and is funded by the US to create an impasse in the Muslim world.
But the execution of two US journalists and a British aid worker by the militant group has made the West furious. The US is now trying to form a joint front against the group to shatter their influence. Such an initiative must be welcomed. All governments must join hands to tackle militant forces to make the world free of violence and strife.
Guldar Ali Khan Wazir
(e-mail address supplied)
A worrying development
Dear Sir,
The ongoing push for independence in places like Scotland and Catalonia is a disturbing trend.
The ambition of some “nationalist” leaders to get the “top” posts in the government seems to be one of the driving forces of such movements. But those who are gunning for separation from the mother-country should not be lured away by these power-mongers.
They must understand the following :
*A newly-formed nation will have to deal with many security concerns, especially regarding various terror groups which are especially targeting the Western world.
*When the erstwhile USSR disintegrated into a number of countries, they became weak and lost their previous importance.
*The USA is powerful today because of the unity among its various states. People enjoy equal freedom, health facilities and employment opportunities. Smaller nations will be devoid of natural resources, infrastructure and administrative machinery.
*The new countries will need a new constitution. They have to develop an economic policy from scratch, devise guidelines on its foreign relations, find trading partners, etc. The developmental work will be affected as pro-independence leaders tend to ask for sacrifice from people to “develop” the new country. While these leaders will get all the plum posts and enjoy the economic fruits of the division, the common man will bear the brunt of unemployment, insecurity, chaos and mis-governance.
Countries like the US, China, India, etc., must not keep silent on this issue and speak out against such divisive trends to pre-empt forces of disintegration gaining ground in their own regions.
Rakesh Verma