Hardly had the tempers cooled down over the desecration of the holy Quran by American troops at Bagram military base in Afghanistan, when a mischievous film blaspheming the holy Prophet (pbuh) appeared on the internet triggering another round of mass protests in the Muslim world.
Regretfully, in many places the people got violent; in Libya the US ambassador and three other diplomats were killed, while in Pakistan there was heavy loss of life and destruction of property in angry protests. More than two dozen persons including three cops were killed when police resorted to firing at the mobs trying to move towards the American consulate in Karachi. There were also big demonstrations against the US in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia and some other Middle Eastern countries.
Such violence is not in keeping with the best traditions of Islam. While people would naturally condemn sacrilege in any form and protest against it, they are not supposed to spill innocent blood or damage property. But unfortunately, in a fit of rage, many people tend to indulge in such destructive and suicidal actions.
However, looking at the matter in the larger perspective, it was not just this single act which enraged the people so much. There is a method in this (western) madness. The Islamophobes have been striking at the Muslims where it hurts them the most. They have come to know that nothing provokes a Muslim more than anybody insulting the holy Prophet, peace is upon him. They therefore seem to be going according to a plan. First there was the Danish cartoon, then there came the Dutch film; that was followed by the antics of the maniacal American pastor, Terry Jones, and burning of copies of Quran at Bagram. One is also reminded here of the desecration of the holy book by the wardens of Abu Ghuraib prison in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay, not to mention about the American colonel at the Pentagon who had prepared a training lesson for a total war against Islam by dropping atomic bombs on Makkah and Madina.
The pet explanation of the American and European leaders for these repeated acts of provocation against the Muslims is that they have freedom of expression in their countries. But is a big farce; freedom of expression does not mean a license to do as you will; one's freedom stops where it starts hurting others. The western countries need only to be reminded of their own laws against anti-Semitism, according to which one cannot question the Jewish version of the Holocaust; even expressing 'strong anti-Israel sentiment' is disallowed. Why cannot there be similar laws to respect the sensitivities of the Muslims and followers of other religions about their prophets, and their holy books?
After all, when President Obama calls the anti-Islam movie disgusting, he can well imagine what the Muslims must be feeling about it. Why should such disgusting activity be allowed in the United States or in any other country?
American leaders must also realize that all such provocative actions go to strengthen the extremists' fringe in the Muslim countries and weaken the moderates who stand for peaceful resolution of the disputes between states. Unbridled freedom to the mischievous elements and the Islamophobes would seriously obstruct the resolution of various disputes bedeviling world peace.
The Muslim countries, on their part, should take up the issue of blasphemy in the various international fora like the United Nations and human rights bodies through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation or other international organizations like the Arab League. The Muslim countries collectively control the bulk of the world's energy resources. They can use their clout to good advantage, at least to secure their basic rights.
