Religion is the most personal and closest identity for devotees because it essentially molds their lives with values that make human society more benevolent and less savage. However, this is not always the case, as seen in states that have fallen into the grip of Islamic fanaticism, with Bangladesh as the latest example.
This piece delves deeper into the case of how Bangladesh is not alone but the latest in the string and how the pressing issue of radicalised Islamic mobocracy is haunting many nations while only a few nations may have learned their lesson timely.
Bangladesh going downhill on the path of Islamic fundamentalism
It remains no hidden truth that the student protest in Bangladesh was a disguise to foster fundamentalism as state policy as these so-called protestors gradually took the authorities for a ride by getting top brass including, PM Sheikh Hasina and the Chief Justice resign.
The obsession with the Islamic regime and against Hasina’s non-radical approach was so fervour that the so-called student protestors tried to paint the coup d’etat as a revolution and went on a rampage demanding a new Constitution in light of this “revolution”. It is horrific for an idealised society that the regime change is being glorified when the jihadis are being released from jails, minority Hindus are getting persecuted and the country’s economic condition is faltering. They do not even realise that the Constitution is a living law for the ideal societies that the savage Islamic mobocracy does not need.
The country’s economic condition has worsened to an all-time low. The garments industry which was the backbone of the Bangladeshi economy has suffered significantly. According to reports, the so-called protests have cost the industry some $400 million. Surprisingly, no step has been taken to revive the ailing sector as the regime finds itself busy whitewashing the crimes of jihadis and legitimising what has continued to unfold in the anarchy-gripped nation since 5th August.
Meanwhile, the burning of resources in fundamentalist practices and financing jihadis has made the economy so fragile that it can’t even pay for electricity dues. The coal-firing industry, which was already hit, and import was nearly shut, Adani Power has more than halved the power supply for not clearing the outstanding dues.
Case in Pakistan
Bangladesh’s case is not unique as Pakistan exists as another testament to the ramifications of fanaticism as state policy.
Pakistan’s detriment to fundamentalism started on the day of Independence with the current condition as the worst. At the behest of the Pakistan Army a crusade of converting minorities, especially Hindus, is running across Pakistan. The extent of fundamentalism in Pakistani society can be understood by the fact that there is capital punishment for blasphemy. This law provides free moral ground for public execution. More recently, a man was killed over blasphemy charges by a policeman who was accorded with grand welcome upon getting bail.
The state-sponsored, or state-approval, to say the least, killings highlight the failure of the society in Pakistan. The use of terrorism as state policy is another heinous face of this Islamic Republic. Suffice it to say that this cladding of extremism leaves no room for the state to become a normal society and hence the economic and social situation remains grim in Pakistan.
Similar cases in West Asia
Such cases are also easy to find in West Asia. The example of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and how fundamentalism has led to the growth of only the elite. In contrast, the commoners’ lives remain devastated. Interestingly, Bangladesh’s case is similar to Iran’s in many aspects. Both countries yielded regime change with agitations and contemporary leaders of both erstwhile regimes fled the country. In both cases, the triggers were issues like employment and financial conditions.
Nevertheless, the Islamic takeover of Iran by Shia clergy initiated a trend of ideological expansion which Khameneis utilised to unleash Islamic terrorist organisations in the neighbourhood.
Talking about Lebanon. It was a well-known Christian majority but a diverse and secular nation. Mostly peaceful, the country witnessed a violent transition to an Islamic regime and everything changed within 15 years of civil war (1975-1990). The religious extremist ripped apart the entire secular fabric of the country making it an Islamic haven full of fundamentalist and Jihadi groups. Without a doubt, these seeds have fructified in the form that the country became the birthplace of Hezbollah, a dreaded terrorist group.
Yemen is also no exception. The fundamentalist Houthi started a civil war that sent a major chunk of land to the clutches of terrorism.
From Pakistan to Yemen and whatever such case is left, the first and foremost reason for the present condition of these countries and the threat they pose to the world is Islamic fundamentalism. However, it is a bitter truth that most people neither accept it nor want to be confronted with it because of their ideological compulsions and petty short-sighted political gains.
What’s the way out?
The most important question that lies ahead of us is– Has this stopped with Bangladesh? The answer to this question is negative. This must be noted that what happened in Bangladesh was not because of any momentary stimulus, rather it was a jihadi desire of the radicalised mind that was under the veil until it got the garb of the quota system as a trigger.
Currently, a similar dire situation can be seen in most countries of Europe where the native population is on the decline and the immigrant Muslim population is contrastingly rising. Their radical mindset can be understood by the fact that they came as an immigrant because they do not have access to basic amenities like food but are demanding Sharia in Europe.
The rising Islamic population, the takeover of the streets in religious precessions, survival on state support while hurting it, attacks on the native population and open mic threats of imposition of Sharia are some of the most common problems in Europe these days.
A case in point was the emergence of grooming gangs in the UK. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman had categorically singled out Pakistani Muslim men as part of the grooming gang that used to harass minor natives. But there was no action till then because of the lack of willpower and apprehensions of being tagged as Islamophobic and racist. However, Rishi Sunak later took some strong measures after which such incidents were reduced.
But is it over? Quite the opposite. The threat of rising Islamic extremism remains intact. Taking the case of Germany, thousands of Muslims, mostly immigrants, hit the streets of Hamburg in April this year echoing ‘Allahu Akbar’ ‘Caliphate as the only solution to Germany.’ They voiced for imposition of Sharia law in Germany. Despite the startling sloganeering, it may seem to be a casual protest by a community, unless one takes note of the fact that the protest was called by the ‘Muslim Interactive’, an offshoot of the banned Hizb-ur-Tahrir terrorist organisation. Protests like these, which are fueled from the outside are the ones that topple governments.
To present it in facts, according to the OIDAC’s 2022/2023 report, there was a 44 percent increase in crimes against Christians in those two years in Europe, making it very clear how things are going in Europe.
How to tackle it?
The way out of this menace is to understand that political correctness in dealing with such delicate issues is similar to an emotional doctor during brain surgery. There can be no scope for leniency while dealing with fundamentalism. The extremism in any form needs to be rooted out at the outset.
It is interesting to note that despite Islamic fundamentalism being the prevalent cause of misery in these countries, some of the earliest Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE, among others are on the path of prosperity. The reason for that is their understanding of the demands of the contemporary world and clarity about the potential of Islam as a tool for fanaticism. A peaceful nation can only survive when it is flexible towards religion. In the process of becoming one these predominant Islamic countries rooted out the fanatical and extremist elements from their society.
Unfortunately, India’s condition is also not very good. It is time that India and Europe learn their lessons before it becomes too late.
