As processions planed to be staged against blasphemy; a group of intellectuals looked busy, as they always try, to open-up the ceased minds by showing other side of picture. In writers opinion this is so good given that it holds back an ordinary citizen to be a dumped kind of audience. So what is that other side of picture? They state it clearly by giving a very good example; “we must not react on blasphemy otherwise culprits shall tease us more. Same as an unaided kid in his school time would have been punched back more aggressively, if reacts to bad guys. Bad guys take a step back if kid starts ignoring them…so be a KID ignoring bad guys”. This sort of response on blasphemy is prevailing in Pakistan and being discussed on Media. Devotees of this idea condemning the people coming outside, blocking roads and making life tougher for their own citizens. Article below adds up the responses given in contrary. This converse point of view is also maintained by a group of intellectuals looked at this matter somehow from another angle. This divergent is also supported by some prominent Islamic personalities such Supreme leadership of Shia Muslims School of thought Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his followers Hassan Nasrullah; one who gave a widespread call of protests to Muslim world.
According to contrary point of view the matter is not as simple as teasing someone but like killing someone. They start with deliberation of word assassination and elaborate that there are two kinds of assassinations accepted by the modern world; physical and character. Both are subject to penalize as per civilized world’s protocol. Working on opponent’s pattern they quote two examples. Let’s see what those are;
If a noble Man (with senses) gets mocked by a group of claptrap kind of guys taunting to (and going beyond with) Man’s wife, would it be justified to advise him “let those nonsense do their work and don’t shout. If you will, rest assures, they will fire back and will do more…so be ok with it”. Would it be? BIG No….and if the Man let the claptraps doing (what they were) he would be called as pitiable poorer (BAYGHAIRAT). They (group of intellectuals) further explain the nobility (GHAIRAT) as a human value same like other values. From its kinds one is religious nobility (Deeni-Ghairat). They argue that like the other values- those snatched by West from Muslim world or yet trying to snatch by feeding unethical poison- this attachment, love and dignity for prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H, his progeny and companions is also attacked to snatch from minds & hearts of Muslims (even from non-Muslims) on the same prototype.
They then take you to another example by asking; “what a noble Man is supposed to do in a civilized human society if he is disrespected or dishonored?” Naturally he is supposed to file a suit against offender(s) to pay compensation because of the undue attack on his respect and dignity. On this apparent reply they immediately ask the same question for modern Corporate firms (claim damages if their goodwill is spoiled) to get the same answer. At this time they put a big why in front? If everyone has a right to say anything (Freedom of Speech) then Why not here? Why laws like contempt of court/presidency etc. are introduced and imposed? It means freedom of speech is not something being understood but, in fact, anything that is not in public interest at large must not be published or spoken! These are the rules made and abided by this civilized world in all matters. At this point allies of discussed point of view differentiate between mockery & assassination in a way that teasing or mockery may be ignored but for assassination compensation must be demanded. Why because mockery don’t snatch anything from once character but public humiliation takes away many high graded values from once character if not justified or compensated.
The faction of above discussed point of view defends their position with another approach. They start by asking a question why this happened? They then themselves answer with evident stance that this was an intentional disgusting attack on goodwill and character of our beloved Prophet (P.B.U.H) and Universe’s most illuminated personality why because His (P.B.U.H) character is a most significant mark to Allah1. A mark that is guiding masses towards Islam and enemy of Islam knew the fact. Now Islam’s enemy wants to close this door of guidance (i.e. Prophet) by distorting His (P.B.U.H) personality for this generation and upcoming generations (Muslims and Non-Muslim). If this generation remained silent on this blasphemous act, it means, this era vetted the illuminated character as distorted character and so no one will be ready to take on anything from prophet’s character. They further utter that Islam fundamentally has only two columns Quran & Sunnah. Both these columns for a common Muslim are nothing but an extension of Prophet’s (P.B.U.H) personality, rather prophet himself. If goodwill attacked left unanswered it will shake the foundations of Islam as wrongdoers tried by naming this picture “Innocence of Muslims”. So this case must be filed and fight by Muslim community in Universal court of Justice as also demanded1. Thus supporter of this point of view assert that there is no doubt that this act is clearly a “blasphemy” and we are filing a Suit against criminals within our capacity by asking to higher-ups “Go and discharge your duty…”(while a common man cannot go into UNO and ask for legislation). They end up with a judgment “Not to be a kid ignoring bad guys but be a grownup man, a sane & civilized man, asking for compensation……”
1- Ayatollah Khamenei public Message on Film.
