The ‘L’ Word
By Syed Kamran Hashmi
Not too long ago, many Pakistanis would have used the ‘L’ word to describe their religious and political inclinations. It did not carry a stigma since ordinary people were more tolerant and less judgmental in those days. As a result, it was not unusual for people to first lock horns with their conservative opponents, and then invite them over dinner to enjoy a meal together.
Emerging from a combined family system, in a way, our whole society, was groomed to be more tolerant; and that was exactly how we were brought up in our homes as well. We were taught to respect and look after each other in a joint family, even when we found our kith and kin to be immensely intrusive and extremely annoying. But lately, the mood of the people has changed and the society at large has decided to immerse itself into a parochial form of religious extremism, leaving behind a progressive, tolerant and a rational culture to fall pray in the hands of some semi-illiterate religious clerics.
Initially, it was just an innocent rediscovery of the religious ideology for some who started following the Sharia law closely. However, woefully though, after observing the Islamic principles for a short time, they also built a habit of keeping people around them under their strict religious surveillance. Not only were they punctually offering the prayers and strictly fasting in Ramadan themselves, they were also holding a sword of judgment in their hands, denouncing other people’s faith and deciding on their own who was a Muslim and who was not.
In those circumstances, it was visible that sooner or later, peaceful co-existence of all the religious minorities-shiites, Qadyanis, Christians and Hindus - with a bigoted majority would soon be jeopardized. On the one hand, all the minorities would be under tremendous pressure to convert to Islam to satisfy the thirst of a preaching ‘brother,’ and on the other hand, they would also be uncertain when they could be declared as a heretic, an apostate or blasphemous by a fanatic group of nameless clerics through a religious decree, with or without realizing the deadly consequences of such an accusation.
Generally, the group of people that has been continuously struggling to oppose these tendencies are the Pakistani liberals. Although, it is also true that most Pakistanis who proclaim themselves to be liberals are far from the extreme left where God defies His own existence and Socialism rules to redistribute the wealth. At best, the majority of Desi Liberals lie at the left of the center. Most of them truly believe in Islam, its principles and all the virtues proposed by Qur’an to become a better person. Nevertheless, they also believe in religious pluralism, freedom of speech, cultural diversity and an uninterrupted democratic process through free, fair and timely elections. What makes them ‘Liberal Fascists’ - as some people would malign them as - is their firm and nonnegotiable stance on these core issues. Because, they also believe in a friendly relationship with all the neighboring countries including India, Afghanistan, Iran and China, a relationship that is not based on paranoia and hidden agendas, they are also often labeled as Indian, CIA, Mossad or RAW agents.
Moreover, as probable RAW agents, it is remarkably easy to misrepresent their stance on the idea of a secular state. Liberals, as we all know, stand firmly on their assertion that a just state cannot define the accuracy of the faith of her citizens. They also believe, as a matter of policy, if a country attempts to do that, it invariably favors the view of the majority, ignoring the rights of the minority and leaving behind the principles of justice for all. For that reason, liberals, over the years, have been slandered for not being religious enough by the right wing activists, or as being ‘non-practicing Muslims’ and many times they are even defined as immoral people holding animosity against Islam. This is the crux of the matter. Regardless of these accusations, which are mostly unfounded, on the issue of protecting the rights of minorities, liberals do not bend; they do not falter; and hold the concept of religious freedom for everyone close to their hearts. With their firm stance, the progressives provide ample ammunition to their opponents - people with dark skeletons in their closets - to defame them and often times spread ludicrous rumors about their private lives.
In these circumstances, when mud-slinging has become an admirable strategy, right and wrong has blended with each other. Facts become hard to be separated from fantasy, and the lines become so blurry that sometimes the decapitating Taliban are portrayed as freedom fighters and the soldiers of Pakistan Army are depicted as mercenaries. Exiled and incarcerated politicians are shown to be treacherous and the powers lurking behind the cloaks and caps are eluded as the saviors of the nation. To raise questions becomes dangerous and to follow blindly is thought to be a virtue. To be tolerant is cowardice and bigotry becomes mystical. Good is painted dark and bad disguises to be really good. Liberals are shown as the enemy within and the enemies within (Taliban) are considered heroes.
Today, I wish I could safely pronounce myself as a liberal in Pakistan. But, since paranoia defines our ideology, a simple declaration of my political inkling can lead me into social isolation and if stretched religiously it can cost me my life. It can also close some important doors for me, including the doors of some of my old friends, few relatives and close associates. I cant afford to do that right now!
(The writer is a US-based freelance columnist. He tweets at @KaamranHashmi and can be reached at skamranhashmi@gmail.com)
