Innocence of Muslims

A friend of mine, fretting over the maelstrom of news in media over the violent protests in Islamic nations, as well as our secular state of India, came to my room and started his tirade on the irascible temperament of Muslims, and the rationale of violent protests when their Quran proscribes it. I only had to point to his own affections towards his girlfriend that fueled a cataclysm of emotions whenever any derogatory or lascivious comment is made against her. How then could he expect a silent response from every member of a massive community whose entire faith has been mocked? It seems that placated his anger, but I don't expect his doubts have permanently subsided. Though put in abeyance for now, with the continuing surge of anti-Muslim articles in the media, it is definitely laying the groundwork for revisiting Islamophobia, in India and the world.

It seems it all started with the Channel 4's airing of the documentary, "Islam: The Untold Story"(ITUS). Protests were made, both online and in rallies, but this academic work was soon forgotten, as a new video, "Innocence of Muslims" (IOM) surfaced with scenes that intentionally deride the Prophet and Islam. In ITUS, the narrator expresses his doubts over the morality of his endeavors  Over and over he asserts that his conclusions are meant to be taken as an outsider's account and analysis of the Muslim history, and not of doctor prescribing a remedy. But with the ITUS being the harbinger of dissents, and the rapid dissemination of IOM, to an outsider like my friend who hasn't seen either of the movies and is only following the current affairs, the credentials of ITUS seem admixed with the derogations of IO, and thus the misgivings of the latter seem well founded. These aspersions seem so legitimate to him that he wouldn't heed a logical reasoning even if it danced around him naked. And I am afraid he might not be the only one!

All religious groups in an effort to protect and spread their faith engender radical cliques. Be it the Crusaders or Zealots of old, the Khalistan militia in the 1970-80s or the recent Kandhamal riots by Hindu hardliners. With the large followings of some religions, it becomes imperative that some of its members would take the violent path to sustain themselves. The importance and media glare given to the Islamic faction of this extremist collage has started to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy, with more protests being fueled and by the causal existing ones. Endorsing such violence in any religion is disparaging the beliefs of humanity, and thus no religion does that. But it has to be understood that the Muslim anger, even if aggravated and incommensurate, is not entirely misplaced. The death of the US Ambassador in the juvenile democracy of Libya is the work of an opportunistic terrorist group. But to portray it as a generic Muslim reaction is preposterous. Just as the US filmmaker has taken shelter under the broad definition of freedom of speech in the US Constitution, the protests against the movie should also be covered in the same category. Over the years with the continuous depiction of the violent protests of Muslim hardliners, such a response has become synonymous with any outburst of anger from the community. The media can help allay this pain, but it doesn't. When news of protests comes from every Islamic nation, the Muslim organisations in India also jump on the bandwagon to encash the sad affair. And these violent protests, no more than a mere political stunt, are mislabeled as encompassing a wider public belief. My friend came to me seeing such a protest in Srinagar take a violent turn. When I said it was called by Hurriyat chairman Syed Geelani, he refused to acknowledge the connection. To him a political agenda is a derivative of populist motives. To me such misgivings are partly the reason why religious fanatics even with their sad opinions are able to sustain their lives in the public glare, because people like my friend don't understand that these high religious and political leaders are alone in their tirades.

The recent turn of events has been regrettable. This obtrusive destruction of property and the loss of lives is certainly against the canons of humanity. But to perceive and blame the whole Muslim community, just because they protest is unfortunate. The real culprits are the opportunists who strive to disrupt normal life and foment masses for their own personal gains. Such people are not Muslims, not religious at all. But when media portrays them as such, it only helps to elevate the situation. As a complete outsider, it all seems much like how the fictitious time-travelers live in the same timeline they help create.

We have to stop these generalizations  these misappropriating events to the entire community. I believe in the innocence of humanity, no matter what is being portrayed!