Articles
Terrorism, Religion, Nationality and Civilization
Dt: 2/11/22
Terrorism, Religion, Nationality and Civilization
Dr T.H.Chowdary*
The UN’s Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee consisting of 15 Member Nations met in Bombay and Delhi on 28 & 29 Oct. Its Delhi Declaration states inter alia , “ terrorism should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group”. These are very high sounding and lofty words. But the reality is quite different. This declaration maybe politically correct but factually incorrect, especially in relation to religion.
2. For instance the terrorist and murderous actions of some Muslim groups in Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Pakistan , Somalia Nigeria etc., pompously and proudly assert that it is in fulfilment of the obligations of every truly believing Muslim that they are carrying out these murderous activities . They relate their actions to jihad as proclaimed in the Holy Koran and exemplified by jihads waged by Muslim armies in history. When they are so proudly invoking Islam in justification of their actions never once has the 62 Member countries of Organization of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) nor any famous university like Al Azhar in Cairo or any other intellectual or religious organization of Islam has condemned these actions. Is it not necessary that when the
terrorist and murderous actions are carried out in the name of Islam including the sectarian terrorism within Islam ( Sunnis against Shias Ahmadiyas…) those who say that the terroristic actions are not inspired by or associated with Islam, should create international armed forces in order to detect and hunt down those like the Islamic terrorist organization and put an end to terrorism ? In the absence of such united action, assertion of Islam as a religion of peace, sound hollow and misleading . Is it not appropriate to recall the pronouncement of William Gladstone, three times Prime Minister of United Kingdom in the House of Commons. Waving the Holly Koran, he declared “ as long as there is this Book, there will be no peace in the world” (P 59, Muhammed and The Quran by Dr Rafiq Zakaria). The UN Security Council must not indulge in misleading declarations .
An UNESCO declaration states,
“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men
that the defenses of peace must be constructed.”
3. The Counter Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council must inspire nations by telling truths and not make merely politically acceptable declarations. (392 words)
END