The general response is that we make noise for a few days, promises are made, oaths are taken and then life is back to normal until the next time and the cycle repeats itself. Sadly, this cycle has been given the name of resilience.

Immediately after the attack everyone for a change agreed on dropping the distinction between ‘good and bad Taliban’. Everyone agreed that there is no longer any room for the apologist narrative. Many of us took a sign of relief with the hope that this time around maybe just maybe the powers to be were going to take the much awaited direction of forming a counter terrorism strategy.

The moratorium on death penalty was lifted and welcomed by the majority. Those responsible for such brutality would be and should be hanged. Very few voices were raised against the death penalty and they were booed, being labelled as liberal fascist, pseudo of every category and what not. We wanted revenge and we wanted blood. Unfortunately, that is all we got. Counter operations were conducted and a few pawns were hanged, to save face in the growing anger and protest. While this process also grabbed victims like Shafqat Hussain, the main convicts were being released on bail, with one explanation or the other.

All in all, as far as the official efficiency is concerned we are back to zero and as some would say, we never moved away from point zero in the first place.

What is different this time?

A place where amnesia is a dominant feature and it can be assumed that it is a sort of defense mechanism people use to survive the chaos they live in; people have opted to not forget this incident. These are not just the people who have suffered personal loss in the incident. If there ever is a window of hope, then this is it.

Civil society in Islamabad led by Mohammad Jibran Nasir started a campaign aiming to reclaim our mosques from those representing our religious ideology. The narrative from our religious institutions has been promoting the self-interest of political Islam which is negated by the majority of the people. Another aspect that needs to be focused on is the indoctrination coming from these institutions which is crippling for our future generations. The protests started outside the infamous Lal Masjid in the capital of the country in reaction to the statement of Maulana Abdual Aziz aka Mulana Burqa calling to forget the Peshawar attack as a small sacrifice for a bigger cause. The peaceful protesters were able to register an FIR (first information report) against him and subsequently in getting arrest warrants from the court.

The mainstream media has by far not given the coverage that this movement deserves. Their word has spread through social media, which Jibran Nasir has used as an alternative form of press release. The fundamental message being that it is time that the people stand up and reclaim their mosques and demand that those entrusted with our religious representation should stop voicing the extremist narrative and further imbedding it in the vulnerable minds of our children.

People from other cities joined in solidarity, gathering at coordinated points in their respective cities, showing that a large section of our society still believes in humanity and supports the basic fundamental concept of co-existence in harmony.

Given the record of movements in our country, it is not easy to put one’s faith in any movement but given the grassroots nature of this one it feels right to invest in this one. The team that has developed here, came out with a charter of demands which they took to various authority figures. The demands presented are justified and what many have been asking for a long time without any heed from the powers that be.

Melody Beattie said, “The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals”.

It can only be hoped that the shock of the Peshawar school attack is strong enough to send tremors through the walls that have to date refused to address the elephant in the room. There is no room to debate the ifs and the buts of the situation and use the past decisions as a scapegoat. In order for us to have any chance at a better future, it is important that we admit our mistakes and role in creating a Frankenstein, and right a chapter that secures the future of our children and transpires the dream of our elders who gave up everything they had to create this homeland.

The post Reclaim Your Mosque! appeared first on Laaltain.

Facing racism during his teenage years and struggling to assimilate in Southend’s predominately Anglo residents, the ingredients of a reactionary in the making were all there. Initially he took to hip hop music to make sense of things around him. The infamous rap group Public Enemy was one of those with which he could identify the most. This phase gave a new meaning to his faith; it became a symbol of resistance and defiance.

The next part of the book takes the reader to the inner workings of Hizb-ul-Tahir, an extremist organization actively recruiting members in a very skillful manner. Nawaz was made to believe in what he calls the ‘Narrative’; the idea that the troubles he faced as an individual or saw his group of friends go through, were not isolated incidents but a part of a major conspiracy of the West against Islam. Once sold on this narrative, Nawaz not only became a loyal member but scaled up the hierarchy to become one of the lead recruiters for the organization. His talents were not only used within UK but in Denmark, Egypt, Palestine, and even in the country of his family’s origin, Pakistan.

Radical is also a tale of personal redemption that came after Nawaz was imprisoned and put in the torture cells in Egypt under the rule of Hosni Mubarak. This section of the book is also the most chilling one, as the excruciating details of the prisoners while waiting for their turn for torture, leaves the reader in haunting anticipation. Amidst all of this, Nawaz’s engagement with other fellow prisoners from all sort of backgrounds and viewpoints, brought him the realization that ‘Islamism’ had not much to do with the teachings of Islam; instead it is a political ideology given the face of Islam.

Once a free man again, Nawaz took it as a personal task to go around spreading the ideas of moderation and democratic polity through establishing an organization named Quilliam Foundation. In his own words ‘Ideas are like water, they take a while to reach a boiling point, but as soon as they do, they erupt’. One can therefore appreciate his personal effort in bringing about the change through the debate of ideas.

Though fascinating read as far as an individual’s personal journey is concerned, the book falls short on the expectation of the debate on the big picture about the issues highlighted in the book; the involvement of the major political players at the global front and given this scenario the practical solutions to solve the problem of extremism. Someone who has been a part of the inner workings of the system, it was expected that some part of the book towards the end touches these issues that usually go unanswered and the discussion ends around the tip of the ice berg only.

The post Radical by Maajid Nawaz — Book Review appeared first on Laaltain.