Lessons from Shia Processions

As history states that after 7/7 bombing in London, people living in this great city refused to give up to demands and propaganda of militants. They continued their way of life, greater part of London remained open, public services remained accessible and the message was life goes on with slight marks of terror. I am not a big fan of Tony Blair who was prime minister at that time but the message he gave in his speech requires appreciation. Without any doubt our rulers and political leaders should learn from this. He stated and I quote:

“I think we all know what they are trying to do. They are trying to use the slaughter of innocent people to cow us, to frighten us out of doing the things that we want to do, trying to stop us from going about our business as normal, as we are entitled to do and they should not and they must not succeed. When they try to intimidate us, we will not be intimidated. When they seek to change our country or our way of life by these methods, we will not be changed.”

When military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq who we can give credit of sowing seed of religious extremism in our society and creation of madressas for producing brain washed religious animals in Pakistan. And he was supported equally by our Pious Saudi Brothers.  Persecuting other sects and faiths (Shias, Sunni Barelvis, Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus etc) begun and after 30 odd years now we are hiding ourselves from the devil which was given birth by equal efforts of Zia and Saudis.

 Pakistani Shias since creation of our Holy Motherland have remained subject to constant discrimination, harassment, hate speech and violence by various jihadi and sectarian proxies of the State, i.e., the Sipah-e-Sahaba (ASWJ), Taliban, Jaish-e-Muhammad, Jundullah, Lashkar-e-Taiba (JuD) etc.  

What harm have they caused to society because of which they are frequently being targeted? Yes their only wrong doing is that they follow & practice a faith (belief in Imams instead of Caliphs) which is unlike from the majority Sunni faith. They decline to admire those “companions” of the Prophet Muhammad whom Sunnis consider as heroes while Shias consider as villains, specifically head of Umayyad Dynasty Abu Sufyan, his son Muwiyah and Muwaiya’s son Yazeed.

While if we look at last ten year of our history Shias who were first targeted in Imambarghas and Mosques now are also being targeted in their homes & workplaces. Now their children and their women are also subjected to this brutal killing. Yet Shias have stood by their faith and facing all dangers still they follow their path of faith. Every year when Muharam starts; knowing that they will be targeted they still are going to attend, or the juloos (procession) they are participating on Ashura, may be subject to a brutal assault by a suicide bomber.

As muharram nears every year, it is observed that everywhere from streets to workplace objections are raised against Shias and their religious rituals. It is to be noted that our so called liberals are also a part of group which raises objections. They forget that such processions even on political grounds are allowed in western countries. And such liberals are silent when hard core elements of our society attack Shias, bomb girls school, attack Christians etc. On face f it every year Shias take out their processions which clearly reflect that Pakistan is alive. Not only this it also shows that we are a resilient nation and can stand against a ruthless enemy.

Every year these Holy Guided warriors of Islam and their masters issue ultimatums that Shia gatherings specifically processions would be attacked. Yet the Shias of Pakistan have time after time refused to bow down as our government and political leaders have bowed to their demands. They have refused to cave in to the demands and tactics of terrorists. This point was highlighted by Batool Zehra:

…no one is really in doubt about how vulnerable the Ashura procession is this year. In their majalis, Shia clerics have been philosophic about the possibility of suicide bombing, acknowledging that while safeguards have been taken, the threat by its very nature cannot be eliminated by better security.

Come Ashura and each mourner or ‘azadar’ on the long stretch of M A Jinnah Road (in Karachi) is more than a mourner — he is a protester and also a fighter. When the azadar walk out of their homes and join the procession, it is with the understanding that, had they been present at the battle of Karbala, they would have formed part of Imam Hussain’s (RA) army. To a follower, there are no anachronisms.

The Ashura procession is a concrete recreation to the idea that evil, even if it were to hide behind piety, behind religious facades, must be identified and exposed. And if the procession today is Imam Hussain’s (RA) lashkar, then in many ways, the Taliban today in their excesses, rigidity and barbaric cruelty still broadly embody the characteristics — intolerance, cruelty and a penchant for barbarism — of the Imam’s enemies.

Those who suggest that the processions should not take place, are missing the essential point. The Taliban attack not just lives, but a way of life, and it is the latter which must be protected, and which needs to survive. As hundreds of empty schools in Fata and Balochistan testify, it is all too easy to relinquish a way of life in an ultimately empty bid to protect lives. While the fear of bombing is crystal clear, there aren’t many today who are debating whether or not to go to the procession this year.

By posting this, personally I would salute every Shia who has given his life fighting against the ideology of hatred. I would also praise all those who till this day stand by their faith and have not backed away due to terror threats. My salute to all Hindus Christians and Sunni brothers who practice their faith and face terror threats and activities every day.

A day will come when these forces will exhaust all their resources and their ideology would also die. That day will be the day of victory for all those who stood against tyranny.