By Kashif-ul-Huda, TwoCircles.net
We are in the last one third of the month of Ramadan, a period marked by increased time spent in worshipping and remembrance of the Lord of the worlds. Some Muslims spend the last ten days of this month in seclusion sleeping less and spending most of their waking hours in devotion. But this Ramadan, for the last few days a number of Muslims are spilling over on the streets protesting against Israel’s war of aggression against Palestinians in Gaza. The photos and videos from Gaza are indeed horrible and people have a right to show their anger by protesting in public places and social media. But as anti-Israel protests are being organized all over India we should also pause and ponder what is being achieved internationally with these protests and what are the local implications.
It was almost two years ago that a big protest in Azad Maidan in Mumbai turned violent and two Muslim youth ended up losing their lives and many were injured. That protest was organized to show anger towards killing of Muslims in Myanmar and Assam. What did these protests achieve? Lives of Muslims in Assam and Myanmar continue to be in difficult with no justice in sight and no improvement in their situation in coming future. And this is not the first time that protests have turned violent and will not be the last time either.
If you mobilize people on emotive issue coupled with religious energy and you have at hand a very explosive charge. It is for the leadership to consider whether they are capable of harnessing that energy for something productive.
About a hundred years ago, a religious issue of abolition of Caliphate was skillfully used by Ali Brothers and the Indian Muslim leadership of that time to launch an anti-imperialistic struggle and jump start India’s independence movement. There would not have been a mass freedom movement without the mobilization effort of the Khilafat Movement. Today, we lack the leadership who can harness the anger and frustration of our youth to turn them into something positive and productive. Indian Muslim leadership and organizations of this era keep the focus on international issues or non-issues that supposedly “threaten Islam” (Islam khatre mein hai) over domestic & local issues that threaten security and livelihood of Muslims (Musalmaan khatre mein hai). This could be because they know that they have no power or influence to bring about any change in daily lives of Muslims in India and focus on international issues is an escape from reality.
This Friday is the last juma of this Ramadan which Muslims refer to “Alvida Juma.” More than usual numbers of people attend this prayer in mosques where Friday prayers are offered. Many protests from Mumbai to Kolkata are planned that day right after the prayers. Let’s just hope that all protests remain peaceful and no property is damaged, no one injured, and no lives lost. Even if all protests remain peaceful one should ask what we hope to achieve with these protests. What these protests need to achieve to call these protests successful?
Organizers or their supporters will be quick to respond that we hope to stop Israel from its brutal killing of civilians including children in the ongoing attack on Gaza. Some might also say that we hope that Indian government stop supporting Israel.
First, let’s examine the affect of these protests on Israel- nothing. Israel has figured out that peace is not in their best interest so they keep creating situations which will lead to violence rather than peace. Israel is recipient of huge amount of funding from the US government and Jewish Diaspora because they present themselves as involved in conflict with “blood-thirsty Arabs.” In the recent conflict two American Jewish boys lost their lives serving in the Israeli Army. Defense of only Jewish country holds religiously and historically more emotions for Jews than Muslims caring about other Muslims getting killed in faraway lands. Movement of funds and people into Israel will dry up if and when this Jewish nation makes peace with its neighbors.
Israel need to have war or major conflict every few years to remind its supporters of their dues- a sort of fundraising drive. War is good for business as well. These conflicts become a good way of showcasing latest innovation in Israeli arms technology. Orders for Israeli booming arms manufacturing industry see a sharp increase after major conflict with Palestinians. Following Operation Cast Lead in 2008-09 that killed 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis, Israeli arms sales reached $6bn for the first time. Israel will do anything to maintain and promote the industry that provides livelihood for ten percent of the population.
Compare this multi-billion dollar business opportunity with the international condemnation and public shaming those world-wide protests brings and you will know why these protests will not work. In fact, Israel loves the attention as there is no such thing as bad publicity.
Let’s look at the history of Indian Muslim protests in independent India and ask ourselves when was the last time Indian Muslims were able to achieve something for the community? We were not even able to get all Sachar Committee report’s recommendations implemented by a government that may be called Muslim-friendly or at least friendlier than the present government. So to hope that these protests will make India go back to its earlier policy on Israel which had seen a U-turn many years ago is a pipe dream. Indian establishment has been working for several years to align itself with the US and Israel to pretend to be a super-power with association.
Israel doesn’t dominate India’s foreign policy but it is now closely tied to India’s security establishment. India is a major buyer of Israeli arms. Israel also provides training to Indian armed forces and police. Techniques perfected by Israel in controlling Palestinians are now employed by Indian forces in controlling its own citizens in Kashmir, Chattisgarh, North Eastern states, etc.
Just yesterday a Times of India new story quotes People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) documenting human rights excesses by Cobra Team, a special team of Rajasthan Police. Cobra Team members wear masks, raid at night, and harass whole village where they raid looking for criminals, a form of collective punishment- all learned from the Israelis on how to subjugate a population. It is no coincidence that most of the victims of raids by this Cobra Team are Muslims.
Those who look at distant land for atrocities against Muslims are somehow blind to what is happening closer home. Just a few months ago in Mumbra in Thane, hundreds of Muslims were forced out of their homes by the police. A combing operation in the suburb of India’s financial capital but here were no nation-wide protest on this issue. News about Rajasthan’s Cobra Team will also die down. We will reserve our condemnation and energy for international anti-Islam forces without realizing that noose around our collective neck is getting tight.
Muslims should be on the streets demanding their legitimate and constitutional rights by joining hands with other marginalized groups who are also facing neglect and discrimination by the ruling elites. Let’s build movements around those specific and achievable demands with measurable impact that has the potential to improve daily lives. Let’s mobilize but not on emotional issues but intellectually thought out demands.