Religious extremism & fundamentalism & radicalism Archive
Basant ka Matam -by Arshad Mahmood: Basant (Jashn-e-Baharaan) in Pakistan The festival is limited in its celebrations in Pakistan. Instead, the celebrations of spring known as ‘Jashn-e-baharaan’ in Urdu, are carried on in the entire country for almost a month. Basant, in particular, is celebrated
How a new film may help popularize fundamentalism in Pakistan: Editor’s Note: We are cross posting the following article sent to us by one of our valued supporters. The following article from the Christain Science Monitor highlights the support for Islamofascism in a segment of society that is traditionally
Islamic liberalism vs. digital fundamentalism – by Farman Nawaz: It is not a difficult task for any Muslim or non-Muslim to understand the true spirit of Islam. Though it is very difficult even for educated Muslim to study in detail the first 50 years of Islam or to
Religious persecution threat high in Punjab: Analysts and officials said Punjab’s extreme poverty, as well as lack of education, makes people in the region more vulnerable to the lure of militancy. The militants in Punjab had a good infrastructure on the ground, with many organizations
Lawmakers call for ensuring minority protection: The issue of minorities was raised through points of order, by PPP’s Nawab Moammad Yusuf Talpur and Ms Palwasha Khan, and PML-Q’s Akram Masih Gill particularly in the context of kidnappings for ransom in Sindh province and the resignation
The liberal fiasco in Pakistan – by Suleman Akhtar: "Mocking the religious beliefs of others is not necessarily the emblem of liberalism. To assert on the liquidation of all pluralistic cultural as well as social traits cannot escalate an individual from braggart to liberal. To castigate the nasty
International Minorities Conference III: International Minorities Alliance demands Pakistan to be run according to the vision of its founder. International Minorities’ Conference 2011 was organized by International Minorities Alliance on “Equal Citizenship, Equal Rights” at Avari Hotel, Lahore, Pakistan on Jan 23, 2011.
This is not a clash of civilizations but an internal conflict between moderates and extremists: A recent report in Time explains the huge significance of Salman Taseer’s killing. “The manner of his murder reveals a truth that many Muslims still deny: This is not a clash of civilisations between Islam and the West but
Scared of mullahs? Civil Society needs to ally with the PPP for survival – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi: Related articles: Taseer’s murder and the call for a ‘broad-based alliance’ between PPP and the ‘civil society’ – by Ahmad Nadeem Gehla Some myths and realities about the self-labelled civil society – by Shahid Khan To say that we
Rose petals for a killer -by Shehrbano Taseer: My father’s assassination could teach us something. My father, Salmaan Taseer, governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab, was murdered on Jan. 4, shot dead in broad daylight by the policeman tasked to protect him. Acting out of a
Salmaan Taseer: the content soul —Dr Mohammad Taqi: Source: Daily Times, January 13, 2011 To let these hordes be the judge, jury and the executioner would be the exact opposite of what Salmaan Taseer stood for. They have succeeded in killing Salmaan Taseer but must not be
Salman Taseer’s assassination: can Pakistan survive as a viable state?: After Salman Taseer murder Pakistani Society seems very much divided. A cold and calculated assassination, not only highlights political turmoil in country but it also raises very fundamental questions related to the viability of state. And it appears the
Did the media play a role in Salman Taseer’s murder?: Who killed Salman Taseer? Did Mumtaz Qadri, the assassin who sprayed the bullets, kill Salman Taseer? Did he really kill Taseer or is it a prevalent mindset in our mainstream media and it’s business interests alike exploiting religion for
Salman Taseer’s assassination exposes ‘the cancer of religious fanaticism’: A few days ago, Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, president of the catholic Bishops’ Conference of Pakistan, said, “it is clear that anyone that opposes the blasphemy law is at risk.” Mgr Rufin Anthony, bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi, told AsiaNews that
What will become of Pakistan’s moderates now? -by Daud Khattak: It has been three days since the killing of Salman Taseer, governor of Pakistan’s largest federal unit, Punjab, by a lone assassin in the country’s fortified capital of Islamabad. While the high-profile killing leaves a serious question mark hanging
Salman Taseer’s assassination: religious minorities live in mounting fear: “Salman Taseer fought for the release of Asia Bibi and spoken out for the repeal of the blasphemy law. I think this was the main reason for his murder,” said Mgr Lawrence John Saldanha, archbishop of Lahore, president of
Blasphemy Law rocks Pakistan once more – by Tahir Aslam Gora: Is Pakistan governed and controlled by religious forces? The answer is yes. No matter who is the incharge of the government, be a government run by secular leaning Pakistan Peoples Party, be a government comprised of middle class business
Death of a hero: the aftermath -by Waseem Altaf: Salman Taseer, the lone ranger was a pure soul, unlike most of our politicians who are scared of speaking the truth. He stood for the right cause and sacrificed his life for whom nobody dares to come forward–the downtrodden
Pakistani Hindu families seek political asylum in India: According to the report published in various national ‘Dailies’ and in international media with regard to the Pakistani Hindu families seek asylum in India. The Times of India report says Kidnapping, killing force Pak Hindus to seek political asylum
LUBP Interview with Olaf Kellerhoff, Resident Representative Pakistan at Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom: Related Interviews: LUBP Exclusive: A critical interview with Nadeem F. Paracha LUBP Interview with Kamran Shafi LUBP Interview with Dr Ayesha Siddiqa (Part I) LUBP Interview with Dr Ayesha Siddiqa (Part II) Brief Introduction: LUBP is pleased
An open letter to the leadership and workers of the PPP – by Shuja: With the drop out of the JUI from the ruling coalition, the PPP government suddenly looks vulnerable. And the fact is that it has become vulnerable. The possibility of the revival of defunct MMA has already been raised. The
Christians will observe Christmas as a ‘protest day’, Sandul prays for Aasia Bibi: President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday said that his government would not allow the blasphemy law to be used for the settling personal scores. “The government,” he insisted, “will take all appropriate measures, whether administrative, procedural or legislative to stop
Can the Left become relevant to Islamic Pakistan? – by Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy: The left has always been a marginal actor on Pakistan’s national scene. While this bald truth must be told, in no way do I wish to belittle the enormous sacrifices made by numerous progressive individuals, as well as small
WASHINGTON DIARY: We hypocritical Muslims —by Dr Manzur Ejaz: Aasia Bibi’s case does not make much sense. Having lived with many rural Christians — who are mostly very poor and are considered untouchables — I know that these poor souls are incapable of committing the crimes they are
Pakistani media coverage of Daniel Pearl’s abduction and assassination in Karachi – by Kazim Aizaz Alam: American Journalist Daniel Pearl, beheaded in Karachi, Pakistan. American journalist Daniel Pearl was killed in early 2002 in Karachi. This essay will review the coverage of the abduction and assassination of the Wall Street Journal’s South Asia bureau chief
Wikileaks cables: US worry over UK homegrown extremism: According to the BBC, US concerns that the UK was struggling to cope with homegrown extremism have been revealed in new Wikileaks cables. One cable said the British government made “little progress” in engaging with the UK’s Muslim community
Pakistan’s Institutionalized Discrimination Against Religious Minorities -by Rebecca Buckwalter Poza: In June 2009, a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, brought water to Muslim women working in a field with her. They rejected the water because a non-Muslim had touched it, and an argument ensued. In the aftermath of what should have
AHCR campaigns to prosecute Maulana Yousaf Qureshi: Related News Stories: “No one will let her live. The mullahs are saying they will kill her when she comes out.” And Chief Justice Justice Khwaja Sharif of the Lahore High Court barred the government from introducing any change
Nawa-i-Waqt is promoting religious extremism – by Muhammad Amjad Rashid: Related article: Extremist Deobandi mullah offers a reward for anyone who kills Aasia Bibi: Nawaiwaqt joins the jihad Nawaiwaqt is a pet of Nawaz Sharif – by Muhammad Amjad Rashid In daily Nawa-i-Waqt, on the left above corner of
Pakistan government urged to halt anti-Christian hate campaign on television: Related Article: Blasphemy law and the attitude of journalists and anchors -by John Bosco Pakistan’s predominantly right wing media’s hostile propaganda against Non Muslims and misrepresentation of events and interpretation of discriminatory laws serve as a breeding ground for
In Pakistan, Christianity Earns a Death Sentence -by Omar Waraich: It all began a year and a half ago, with a quarrel over a bowl of water. A group of women farm workers were suffering in the heat near a village in Pakistans Punjab province. Aasia Noreen, an illiterate
Blasphemy law and the attitude of journalists and anchors – by John Bosco: I watched a programme on Asia Bibi and the amendments in Blasphemy Law on 30th November at News Beat and the programme host was Mehar Bukhari of Samaa TV. It is interesting to note that she has invited 2
Salman Taseer says Islam religion of peace, mercy and justice: * Punjab governor says he knew he would be opposed * Taseer censures those opposing him on Aasia Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer on Monday said that Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance, and denounced those who opposed
Free Islam from Pakistan – by IJ Qureshi: A nation was born in 1947 name Pakistan. It was created on the basis of 2 nation supposition Muslim and Hindus. Muslims of sub continent under the leadership Quaid-e-Azam liberated Pakistan from British Raj. Since 1956 this Country, that
Extreme politics -by Waqar Gillani: The Punjab government, surprising many, has withdrawn the prosecution charges of riots and vandalism at The Mall, Lahore, against different clerics. On February 14, 2006, two persons were killed during looting and plundering by a mob protesting against blasphemous