The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Debate or denial

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Tuesday, Jul 24, 2007
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Debate or denial

Hasan Suroor in the article “Debate or denial: the Muslim dilemma” (July 17) would like Muslims to stop blaming the west for the violence caused by the jihadists. He feels Muslims are in a state of denial. George Bush will agree with the author. While I strongly oppose Al-Qaeda, I cannot overlook the role of the west in the havoc caused in Muslim lands. Wise western leaders such as President Jimmy Carter had opposed any regime change in Muslim countries.

The example of Iran is too obvious where, in 1953, a duly elected Prime Minister, Mossadegh, was overthrown and later killed in a CIA coup. His crime: he opposed the Anglo Iran Oil Company paying more taxes in Britain, and much less royalty to Iran. The reaction eventually led to the theocratic revolution of Khomeini. Similarly Iraq was invaded in spite of worldwide protests and over 6 lakh civilians have died in the war so far. Yet there is hardly any reference to these horrors today. But an unexploded bomb in Glasgow can so disturb Mr. Suroor. Muslims do not need the west to run their own affairs. In particular, they must stop patronising autocratic Muslim rulers. Our true path is independent of both Osama bin Laden and George Bush.

J.S. Bandukwala,

Vadodara

* * *
I agree that the real challenge to Islamic society comes from the despotic regimes of most Muslim countries that are aided and abetted by the west.

Any sensitive person should be angered by the U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Iraq. Everyone cannot be expected to be a mute spectator while a handful of business interests orchestrate war and butchery under false pretexts. It is amply clear from Dr. Mohammed Haneef’s ordeal that the west has a fairly clear cut agenda — if you aren’t in the Salman Rushdie frame of mind you may as well be a terrorist. Terrorism is a natural by-product of the top heavy world order that doesn’t lend an ear to the weak and despairing.

Sanjay Ghosh,
New Delhi

* * *

The article says there are verses in the holy Koran that justify violence. Islam and violence are two extremes. The ultimate jihad in Islam is jihad against oneself or the jihad-e-akbar — the struggle of a t rue believer against his or her own vile instincts.

Syed Abbas Haider,
New Delhi Struggle against aggression and persecution is a legitimate endeavour and not “legitimate violence” as mentioned in the article. Such legitimate struggle was resorted to by Islam in its infancy. Similarly, the Mahabharata is a narration of legitimate struggle (not legitimate violence) against the forces of evil. The killing of innocent people by some ill-advised Muslim youth is against the Koranic dictates and Islamic traditions.

There are, therefore, no pernicious roots in Islamist ideology that propagate terrorism.

Mohd. Masood Ali,
Chennai

* * *
It is unfortunate that a Muslim has called some of the verses in the Holy Koran irrelevant in today’s times. Such statements lead right-wing Muslims-bashers to demand that the verses be deleted.

Agreed, Muslims should condemn acts of terror more vociferously. But is the author unaware of the conditions of Muslims in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine?

Zaki Mohammed Sameer,
Hyderabad

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