Dangerous majoritarianism

[newb3e]

And what century was that? Are we going back in time somehow? Did somebody invent a time machine that I seem to not know about?

Quran is timeless Islam is for all times!

 

[VCheng]

Quran is timeless Islam is for all times!

Indeed it is, but all it provides are the bedrock principles. How does one translate that into an applicable code of laws is the issue I am referring to.

 

[newb3e]

Indeed it is, but all it provides are the bedrock principles. How does one translate that into an applicable code of laws is the issue I am referring to.

how did Islamic society run after Prophet SAW?

 

[VCheng]

how did Islamic society run after Prophet SAW?

It ran as many other 13 century societies did.

 

[newb3e]

It ran as many other 13 century societies did.

how did Islam expand from desert of arabia then eventually taking on Persian and Byzantine empire?

 

[VCheng]

how did Islam expand from desert of arabia then eventually taking on Persian and Byzantine empire?

Just like all the empires that expanded before it, and after it: by playing the geopolitical game better than their competitors, until someone outplayed them at the same game.

 

[newb3e]

Just like all the empires that expanded before it, and after it: by playing the geopolitical game better than their competitors, until someone outplayed them at the same game.

okay Muslim empire was 80% non muslims and 20% muslims and it expanded everywhere how? how such minority expanded from desert and spread everywhere? how desert dwellers took on two empires? they had a system they followed they only bowed down to creator and not some random mullah or a wardi walla general!

imo we need to go back to basics build our foundation again this so called extremis is politics and nothing to do with Islam this recent wave is wardi made they just want an excuse to drop bombs and murder and expand their occupation they are using religion and their tools molvis and ttp to get to their objective! i remeber when faujis came back to power in 2022 i told my friends in whatsapp group just wait now terrorists will be back and voilla they are fking back! it doesnt take a genius to figure out what these bastards in uniform are planning to do who their tools will be what propaganda they will play!

 

[Developereo]

Absolutely agreed, it's a new-speak term coined by leftist losers who lose elections across the countries.

Wrong.

Democracy is just a fancy name for mob rule if doesn't protect basic human rights for all citizens.

 

[JaneBhiDoYaaron]

Condemn anyone you wish all you want. But know that a solution can only come from the people themselves, and no one else. If they accept what is being done, they will show it by their inaction. As we can see.

Ain’t that the truth, applies to individuals and nations alike.

 

[JaneBhiDoYaaron]

Excellent solution, but who gets to decide what is the "true" way to follow Islam? Does anybody know what is this "true" way to follow Islam?

I am saying this for so long for every religion who decides real interpretation. Also why we tie everything to religion. Keeping things clean is responsibility of government and people combined.

 

[PakAl]

Wrong.

Democracy is just a fancy name for mob rule if doesn't protect basic human rights for all citizens.

There is no democracy, in the western world if the PM or President goes ahead the state narrative, he/she will be finished. The real rulers are pulling the strings behind the scenes.

 

[EugeneP]

Dangerous majoritarianism​

Muhammad Amir Rana

PAKISTAN is unable to follow the path of Saudi Arabia or Indonesia, which are progressing slowly and steadily with religious reforms. Both countries present contrasting visions of religious reform but are ultimately opening up their respective societies, enhancing governance, and improving their international image.

In both countries, the leadership promotes religious reforms. In Saudi Arabia, the reform process is slower than the one in Indonesia, primarily because Indonesian civil society supports the state’s efforts in this direction.

In contrast, the Pakistani leadership needs to be more aware of the importance of religious reforms in navigating a changing world. Instead, it aligns itself with extremist forces, gaining ideological and political power while empowering these groups to use violence against communal and sectarian minorities.

The nexus between the power or ruling elite and the establishment in Pakistan is not new. It has been studied extensively by local and international scholars. However, what remains constant is the elite’s appeasement of extremists and their inclination to use them for political purposes. While social factors have contributed to the extremist mindset in Pakistan, the power elite’s actions are often criminal, eroding the societal fabric.

Incidents like the one in Madyan, Swat, lynchings in Punjab, and vandalism against the Ahmadi community during Eid indicate that extremism in society is reaching dangerous levels. Taking the law into one’s own hands has become standard practice for charged mobs and activists of radical religious groups. The administration hardly attempts to restrain them, and simply registers cases against the suspects. People with clout then come forward and help the suspects and their families financially and with legal aid. Once they are released, they become heroes in their communities. This has become the norm after every blasphemy-related tragedy that involves lynchings and mob violence.


A majoritarian mindset is at play, with the state a mere spectator. In Punjab and urban Sindh, the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan is fanning the flames of extremism. Although other religiously motivated actors have acted in a similar fashion in the past, the TLP’s rhetoric is now so powerful that they cannot compete.

The TLP has transformed itself into an extensive phenomenon, reflecting a mindset shared by perhaps most of society. This majority is religiously and politically disillusioned, falling into the trap of political populism and growing increasingly resentful of the power elites. Paradoxically, state institutions endorse this majority mindset and side with the extremists when issues of religious sentiment arise.

The common man cannot fully comprehend the dichotomy of the state, and his anger against the latter is increasing. However, the TLP and other religious parties have their constituencies in the semi-urban areas, and among low-income groups, while a significant portion of the middle class, too, exhibits the same mindset. While the middle class tends to avoid direct involvement in violence, they fully support the actions of the fanatics. These radical religious groups draw their core strength from middle-class youth, who serve as keyboard warriors, developing political strategies and evolving organisational tactics.

The power elites do not feel much threat from the core leadership of extremist groups because they maintain open communication channels and often interact with them. They are more concerned about the keyboard warriors and seek to regulate virtual spaces. They have similar fears about social media activists from populist political parties and nationalist political parties in the peripheries.

The power elites believe that more control over social media, building firewalls, and tightening legal regulations will eliminate dissent in all forms. Social media is merely a medium, but despite reviewing its policies and practices vis-à-vis extremism and extremist parties, the establishment is more interested in controlling it. Apart from controlling social media spaces, the state has taken cosmetic policy measures to deal with extremism. Until the power elites do not end their appeasement approach and address the core issue and encourage religious reforms as Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are doing, extremism will continue to shape an ugly majoritarian mindset.

The whole system seems paralysed once it encounters the challenge of religiously motivated mob violence. The federal and provincial governments avoid even commenting on such incidents and leave it to the establishment and local administrations to deal with such cases on their own. The governments are scared that their involvement in such cases would divert the public’s anger towards them. This attitude encourages the extremists.

The police and lower judiciary deal with such cases carelessly and, in many cases, leave loopholes in their decisions that ultimately benefit the culprits. The higher judiciary has taken such issues more seriously, but its reviews and decisions have failed to trigger any major change in society.

The state institutions need to break the support system of the extremists. Apart from the power elites’ appeasement policy and the system’s flaws in dealing with the menace, two major sources of support are encouraging the people to take the law into their own hands.

First is the influential class. Mostly, they are local businessmen and lawyers who provide financial and legal aid to the criminals on behalf of the rest of the community. Second are the mosque imams, who are directly or indirectly affiliated with the extremist groups; once such incidents happen, they invite these groups for their help. The extremist groups take this as an opportunity to increase their influence and take command of matters ranging from negotiating with the administration to dealing with legal matters. The extremist groups have lawyers’ wings, influencing the courts during the proceedings.

In such a society, where the state and society nurture and protect an infrastructure of extremism, who can hope for change? Religious reforms in Pakistan will remain a dream for a long time.

The writer is a security analyst.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2024

Why is it the job of the Government to 'Reform' the religion? Government should only focus on swift and fair justice and law enforcement. If the Governments follow strict Islamic law as in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan and mete out beheadings, stonings and amputations for criminal convictions, the crime rate may come down fast.

 

[SecularNationalist]

Only solution is enforce rule of law, unwind some of Zia’s crazy policies like blasphemy and make people more tolerant and focus on real math and science education. If things works out Pakistan can be back on track in decade or two. It takes generation to change behavior else I don’t see solution.

Yes exactly only education can change the mind of a radical man.
The problem is if you try to educate the current radicalised generation they won't listen to you instead they will accuse you for blasphemy or a foreign anti islam agent. Only the upcoming educated generations will bring the change.
It's simple it's easy to tame a pony than a full grown horse.
Though in our pakistani urban areas the young lot specially born after 2005 are very different and kind of way less religious.

 

[Indos]

There is no so called religious reform in Indonesia. For Saudi it is true as we see MBZ move.

What we see in Indonesia is the increase of religious conservatism starting from 1998 as the collapse of New Order that has the root from liberation of civil society to speak as Indonesia become democratic with freedom to speak is protected.

So we see Islamic Dakwah increases both in mainstream and non mainstream media. Just see that before 2000, rarely you will see woman with Hijab in Indonesia

Thr writer started with the wrong premise. Big Mistake

 

[Indos]

There is no so called religious reform in Indonesia. For Saudi it is true as we see MBZ move.

What we see in Indonesia is the increase of religious conservatism starting from 1998 as the collapse of New Order that has the root from liberation of civil society to speak as Indonesia become democratic with freedom to speak is protected.

So we see Islamic Dakwah increases both in mainstream and non mainstream media. Just see that before 2000, rarely you will see woman with Hijab in Indonesia

Thr writer started with the wrong premise. Big Mistake

If any one see Islamic conservatism bring backward to nation, it is due to the nation culture, not Islamic real teaching.

Islam in essence will bring modernity, tolerance to any society who follow it in its true essence