Understanding Militant Extremism
Unfortunately the definition of and discourse on militant extremism in Muslim world in general and Pakistan in particular is being defined by the same elements who are this extremism's biggest proponents. With Pakistan and the society facing the existential threat at the hands of militant extremism, understanding the true element of militant extremism is an exercise worthy.
The most popular conception is that extremism stems from poverty and injustice. However there has never been given any empirical evidence to prove either. For all the arguments around, the argument of injustice is the most bizarre. Never even once have we been shown that the suicide bomber who detonated himself was actually related to someone directly affected by war. Neither was any of the executioner of 9/11 or any later attack in the West a Palestinian, Afghan or Kashmiri. Saying that injustice causes those affected to seek revenge is biggest divergence for commoners to identify the root cause of extremism.
Same goes for poverty and illetracy, just when they are labeled as causes of extremism, the reality is a little bit contrary. Before I move on, let me clarify that I in no way am saying that poor or illiterate do not indulge in militant extremism. On the contrary, they too do. But the real cause of them indulging in such activities is not poverty or illiteracy but something we will discuss from here on. If poverty would have been the reason for this, how come the men at the helm of this "terrorist jihad" rich and famous?
An objective review of the situation and we will realize that the rise of extremist tendencies in Pakistan is because of educated, well-to-do individuals. If one tries to profile these individuals most of them will be in seek of recognition, mostly confused about their individual as well as national identity, and with the tendency to be assertive without any objective knowledge. Their quest for recognition gets fully exploited by Religion Inc. and in the process they get the importance they so desperately seek. Piety becomes their tool for recognition and in the process they start treading a path to become holier than thou. In the process, they seek a schizophrenic state where they start considering them divinely ordained to do God's work. These people, often educated and wealthy, use their influence to rope in the have-nots in their circle of influence.
To ensure that it hooks them to fullest, Religion Inc. indoctrinates the disciples fully with a world view where they find themselves the most wronged and also the ones with the divine ordeal to right the wrongs. This indoctrination inculcates biases and hate that is the root-cause of the ills of religious terrorism. No amount of military operations or economic support can root out the menace of terrorism till this indoctrination in the name of hate is stopped. World will need to review the doctrine of free speech in the light of this emerging reality. A balance needs to be created between protecting the sacred ethos of free speech and curbing the inculcation of hate in the name of free speech.
For our part, the menace that we are facing requires us to adopt stronger anti-hate speech and anti-enticement to terrorism speech laws than any of the anti-hate laws the world has ever known. We need not be confused with all the rhetoric of exploitation of anti-hate laws to curb the free speech. For me the line is clear. One has the right to criticize anything and everything but using the criticism as a tool to justify acts of violence or terrorism or inculcating hate against a race or community must not be tolerated. This is where the devil will be chained.
The most popular conception is that extremism stems from poverty and injustice. However there has never been given any empirical evidence to prove either. For all the arguments around, the argument of injustice is the most bizarre. Never even once have we been shown that the suicide bomber who detonated himself was actually related to someone directly affected by war. Neither was any of the executioner of 9/11 or any later attack in the West a Palestinian, Afghan or Kashmiri. Saying that injustice causes those affected to seek revenge is biggest divergence for commoners to identify the root cause of extremism.
Same goes for poverty and illetracy, just when they are labeled as causes of extremism, the reality is a little bit contrary. Before I move on, let me clarify that I in no way am saying that poor or illiterate do not indulge in militant extremism. On the contrary, they too do. But the real cause of them indulging in such activities is not poverty or illiteracy but something we will discuss from here on. If poverty would have been the reason for this, how come the men at the helm of this "terrorist jihad" rich and famous?
An objective review of the situation and we will realize that the rise of extremist tendencies in Pakistan is because of educated, well-to-do individuals. If one tries to profile these individuals most of them will be in seek of recognition, mostly confused about their individual as well as national identity, and with the tendency to be assertive without any objective knowledge. Their quest for recognition gets fully exploited by Religion Inc. and in the process they get the importance they so desperately seek. Piety becomes their tool for recognition and in the process they start treading a path to become holier than thou. In the process, they seek a schizophrenic state where they start considering them divinely ordained to do God's work. These people, often educated and wealthy, use their influence to rope in the have-nots in their circle of influence.
To ensure that it hooks them to fullest, Religion Inc. indoctrinates the disciples fully with a world view where they find themselves the most wronged and also the ones with the divine ordeal to right the wrongs. This indoctrination inculcates biases and hate that is the root-cause of the ills of religious terrorism. No amount of military operations or economic support can root out the menace of terrorism till this indoctrination in the name of hate is stopped. World will need to review the doctrine of free speech in the light of this emerging reality. A balance needs to be created between protecting the sacred ethos of free speech and curbing the inculcation of hate in the name of free speech.
For our part, the menace that we are facing requires us to adopt stronger anti-hate speech and anti-enticement to terrorism speech laws than any of the anti-hate laws the world has ever known. We need not be confused with all the rhetoric of exploitation of anti-hate laws to curb the free speech. For me the line is clear. One has the right to criticize anything and everything but using the criticism as a tool to justify acts of violence or terrorism or inculcating hate against a race or community must not be tolerated. This is where the devil will be chained.
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