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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Religious Freedom Is Indivisible: Muslims Should Seek it in Islamic Societies Too, Islam and Pluralism, NewAgeISlam.com

Islam and Pluralism
Religious Freedom Is Indivisible: Muslims Should Seek it in Islamic Societies Too
By Sultan Shahin, editor, New Age Islam

The Swiss ban on minarets is having an echo in India. Abdul Sami Bubere of the Mumbai- based Sahyog Cultural Society is reported to have said: “The extremely provocative decision undermines the freedom of religion and principle of co- existence. The referendum is akin to tyranny of the majority. It will only encourage fundamentalism. The ban should be immediately lifted as it would serve the purpose of jihadis who misinterpret Islam.”

Though I won’t use such strong words, I fully agree with the sentiments and thoughts expressed in the above sentiment. The analysis that “it will only encourage fundamentalism” is also correct. It is actually happening. The fundamentalists are taking advantage of the situation created by the Swiss ban on minarets and the French ban on burqas (veils). But then the question arises in my mind, how come we get agitated only when our own religious freedom is at stake in non-Muslim societies. We do not worry when Muslims themselves, not to speak of non-Muslims, are not allowed religious freedom in Islamic societies.

We were permitted to defend ourselves with arms (a form of Jihad, albeit a lesser form) because if we had not done so, people may not have been able to worship in temples, monasteries, churches, synagogues, etc., all those places of worship were God is remembered and God’s praises are sung.

http://newageislam.com/religious-freedom-is-indivisible--muslims-should-seek-it-in-islamic-societies-too/islam-and-pluralism/d/2451


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