Home Media Reports 2008 Sickening example

September 20, 2008

Saturday

Ramazan 19, 1429

Sickening example

THERE are many people today who think of Muslims as intolerant barbarians.

Unfortunately we, in Pakistan, seem determined to provide them one sickening example after another to prove their point.

As if honour killings, suicide bombings, public beheadings, women being buried alive were not enough, we now have a TV anchorperson openly encouraging murder.

According to Asia Human Rights Commission, in a programme aired on Sept 7 the anchor of the religious programme ‘Alam Online’, Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain — also former federal minister for religious affairs — declared the murder of Ahmadi sect members to be necessary (Wajib-ul-Qatal) according to Islamic teachings.

Dr Amir urged fundamentalist Muslims to kill without fear, and this statement was repeated by him and two other Islamic scholars several times during a popular television show.

This was not a one — off. On Sept 9, Mr Hussain answered a query with the comment that blasphemers are liable to be put to death.

According to information received by the AHRC, within 48 hours of the broadcast two Ahmadis were murdered in cold blood — one a physician, another a district chief of the sect.

No one has been arrested so far. The point here is not that the victims were Ahmadis, but that they were firstly human beings and secondly citizens of Pakistan.

What is shockingly disappointing is the channel’s decision to continue to retain this anchorperson and run his programme.

Unless we all play a part in straightening the course of this country, we must accept the guilt of contributing to this perverse and violent culture that is being created.

A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Islamabad

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2008 Source : www.dawn.com/2008/09/20/letted.htm#5