#StopKillingMuslimsInBurma (In The Name Of Religion)

“You shouldn’t divide the world by using the Muslim slogan,” was the response of an unidentifiable Tweeter on observing a trend I was following on the slaughter of Muslims in Burma.

There was some dialogue whereby he/she tried to help me understand the need to hold strong value for life whether Muslim or not. The reservation was related to religion being used as a dangerous tool to create a divide in the world.

In any argument, I like to follow the common sense and what appeals to reason or reality. I seldom engage religion as a means to convince or rationalize my side of the story. This does not go on to suggest that my faith is lacking in any manner, but just the simple belief that a clean conscience is the best learning achieved out of any religious scripture.

Religion is an integral fact of life for believers who tend to go by it logically and at times quite emotionally. Either ways, it gives them the inner peace to follow a code of conduct and gather a sense of achievement.

Going back around 3 decades, I don’t remember any religious discussions or strong Muslim debates in my home or around the world. There was news on Palestine which held strong focus or Kashmir which was more of a political issue with India. Off and on I would hear of the Indian Army atrocities against the Muslim population there and the horrendous crimes being committed despite UN intervention. The UN appeared as ineffective then as it appears today with an ever intensified need to play a powerful role in the World Peace Process.

9/11 shook the entire world and quite definitely divided the world in the name of religion. Much controversy followed regarding the involvement of the US Government in playing the Master mind in this dirty game. While the centre stage was set up for the ‘Muslim Terrorist’, much was to be achieved in the years to follow by the puppeteers who successfully created much hatred between all communities keeping alive the Muslim focus.

Afghanistan was bombarded. Iraq was invaded in the name of being a Nuclear Terror. The entire infrastructure was brought to the ground. A running country was chased to a complete full stop. Till date Drone attacks remain controversial in their purpose, killing innumerable innocent civilians in Pakistan.

Even though, all the above moves are purely Political in nature, they are enforced with the ugliest label ever, “War on Terror”!

Whether it is Afghanis, Iraqis, Libyans, Syrians, Pakistanis or Palestinians for that matter, is it just co-incidental that they happen to be Muslims and are somehow at the receiving end of this pitiful war?

My grandma once told me that no matter how much love you give to your pet, if cornered, it will pounce on you to bite you off. I understood her at the age of 10 and the philosophy is actually quite simple. However, greed blinds those who seldom realize that creating a monster could be self-destructive! Osama Bin Laden was an American Product that back fired. The aftermath was the perfect minefield to strike gold!

The sad reality lies in all Political Heads using the Religion Card to score in their areas of interest including the Islamic States.

The only losers in this War on Terror have been the innocent people who neither invited nor voted for the bombardment and destruction. For those whose family members were killed, raped or whose bodies were dismembered the so called progress or democracy of the country holds no meaning. To them, it was the British soldier whose bullet took their 4 year old son’s life or the American Drone that burnt the entire family while they hid in their humble four wall shelter. They do not envision them as saviours or friends. Some of them will never forget the inflicted pain and wait for their turn to get back.

When the screams become louder, it is a moment to stop and think. Injustice induces anger, pain and revengeful spirits. When human life loses worth and comes down to becoming a news statistic, it is time to raise your voice and acknowledge the presence of strong grief.

The American leaders articulate their doubts and concerns to the Asian states on safeguarding their Nuclear Bomb programmes having used the much more damaging and catastrophic explosion in the name of religion.

I value every single creation of Allah. Muslim or not. But just because I raise my voice for the Muslims being butchered in Burma does not and should not label me as a fundamentalist. Would I raise my voice against any such sectarian brutality other than Muslim, the answer is Yes.

I would conclude my article with the thought that Religion is a reality in this world and those in power often manipulate its energy to their own advantage. It is important to acknowledge the mindless slaughtering of the innocent Burmese men, women and children. Not because they are Muslim, but because they are being killed in the name of Religion.

I feel no shame in declaring that I am a Muslim. I stand for peace. I believe in the sanctity of all religions and their followers. I shall raise my voice in solidarity with the victims of such brutal crimes committed in the name of Religion. Therefore:  #StopKillingMuslimsInBurma