On Saturday, Aug. 1, after several days of rioting and violence over allegations that Christians had desecrated the Quran, an estimated crowd of 1,000 stormed a Christian neighborhood in Gojra, Pakistan. The mob killed eight, including six women, and burned and looted dozens of houses.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that the riots were pre-planned, including announcements in some mosques the day before at the Friday congregational prayer. The government and National Assembly were quick to condemn these actions as contrary to Pakistan's constitutional tradition and reiterated Pakistan's commitment to ensure protection of the minorities as equal citizens. Christians and many Muslims called for the repeal Pakistan's blasphemy laws. However, this was not an isolated incident in Pakistan, where blasphemy against the Prophet and the desecration of the Quran which have often been used against Christians. Religious conflict and violence have also occurred within Islam between Sunni and Shii Muslims.
Religious minorities in the Muslim world today, who are constitutionally entitled to equality of citizenship equality and religious freedom, increasingly fear the erosion of those rights -- and with good reason. Interreligious and intercommunal tensions and conflicts have flared up not only in Pakistan but also in Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia, varying from discrimination, violence, and the destruction of villages, churches and mosques to murder and slaughter.
In a widely covered 2006 apostasy case in Afghanistan that sparked international outrage, Abdul Rahman, who had converted to Christianity while working with a Christian aid organization 16 years prior to his arrest, faced trial as an apostate in a case brought against him by his ex-wife in a custody battle over their two daughters. Abdul Rahman was to be tried under the new Afghan Constitution, which combines secular law with aspects of Sharia law, as an apostate, facing a possible death sentence if he did not repent or was not determined to be mentally unfit by the court. In the end, Abdul Rahman was granted asylum by the Italian government and is in hiding in Italy. The case brought up questions about the Constitution of Afghanistan, which aims to combine secular law as well as pay tribute to the Shari'a.
Muslims are challenged to move beyond older notions of tolerance or co-existence to a religious pluralism based on mutual understanding and respect. Regrettably, a significant minority of Muslims, like very conservative and fundamentalist Christians and Jews who strongly affirm their faith, are less pluralistic in their attitudes towards other faiths and their co-believers. Muslims in the 21st century are challenged to incorporate an internal pluralism, a generous space in their religious discourse and behavior for alternative opinions and dissenting voices within Islam.
A key Islamic issue and debate today regarding pluralism and tolerance is the relationship of past doctrine to current realities. Many call for a reinstatement of the "protected" (dhimmi) status in the past, which however progressive in the past would amount to second class citizenship for non-Muslims today. Others insist that non-Muslims be afforded full citizenship rights. They maintain that pluralism is the essence of Islam as revealed in the Quran and practiced by Muhammad and the early caliphs, rather than a purely Western invention or ideology. They emphasize that the Quran envisions a pluralistic world, mutual understanding and religious tolerance. Jews and Christians are regarded as "People of the Book," people who have also received a revelation and a scripture from God (the Torah for Jews and the Gospels for Christians), a recognition that in later centuries was extended to other faiths.
Reformers turn to Quranic texts which reveal a pluralistic vision: "O humankind, We have created you male and female and made you nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another." (49:13) Additional Quranic recognition of the religious diversity of the human community supportive of religious pluralism rather than exclusivism is found in Quranic texts like:
"To everyone we have appointed a way and a course to follow'' (5.48), and ''For each there is a direction toward which he turns; vie therefore with one another in the performance of good works. Wherever you may be, God shall bring you all together [on the Day of Judgment]. Surely God has power over all things." (2.148)
Prominent Muslim scholars like Nurcholish Madjid maintain that the Islamic law on apostasy, which prescribes the death penalty, has no basis in the Quran. Rather, it was a man-made effort in early Islam to prevent and punish the equivalent of desertion or treason during time of. Times have changed, he argues, and so must the law. Citing Quran 3:85 and 18:29, Nurcholish argues that punishment for leaving the faith is not a matter for the state but God's decision on the Day of Judgment. Similarly, Shaykh Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt when asked "can a person who is Muslim choose a religion other than Islam?," responded "The answer is yes, they can because the Quran says, 'Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion,' [Quran, 109:6], and, 'Whosoever will, let him believe, and whosoever will, let him disbelieve,' [Quran, 18:29], and, 'There is no compulsion in religion. [Quran, 2:256]."
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Statement by The Co-Chairs:
His Excellency Dr Ali Gomaa
Grand Mufti of Egypt,
&
The Rt Revd. and Rt. Hon. Richard Chartres,
D.D. F.S.A, The Bishop of London
On behalf of the C-1 World Dialogue we deplore the recent terrible events in Gojra Pakistan where at least seven Pakistani Christians were killed and many more wounded in a terrible attack.
We stand with those whose lives and property have been damaged and we grieve with those who mourn. The taking of innocent lives, including those of children is deeply shocking.
Murder, arson and theft committed in the Name of God is both a crime and sacrilege. The
perpetrators of this attack have committed a crime not only against Christians but against
Pakistan and beyond even that, against the honor and dignity of Islam.
We call upon all to join us in prayer for those affected and for a better and peaceful future for all the communities of Pakistan.
What matters now is not merely that those who did this are brought to justice, but also that longer term problems are addressed. Security and protection for all religious minorities everywhere is a basic requirement that must be fulfilled.
It would seem that false rumours were used to inflame those who launched the attack. It is
important that what is sacred in religion should not be abused, but it is also vital that there is proper protection from false and malicious allegations and such formal protections as this may require. We call upon all pastors and imams in every mosque and church to speak out against these deeds and to spread the true message of cooperation harmony and peace.
We urge too, that schools and all places of education must teach the message of tolerance and cooperation so that we can overcome differences and together build a more secure future for all.
The Common Word Open Letter highlighted two principles that all people of good will can
share, whatever their religion is, namely that we must love God and our neighbour. We call upon everyone everywhere to ask themselves if they are living out these commandments and to explore how they can do so more fully.
The Director General of the C-1, Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff has been able to make a visit to Gojra and has given us a first hand account and we are grateful for the help he received from the Governor of the Punjab and others in Pakistan to make this possible.
On behalf of the C-1 we stand ready to assist in any way that can help the government and people of Pakistan spread the message of peace and cooperation between all peoples and communities whatever their religion is. We hope we shall be able to make a visit to show practical solidarity in due course.
We welcome in particular the statements of religious leaders, both Christian and Muslim, in Pakistan that condemn the perpetrators of these evil deeds and call upon all in leadership to speak with one voice and to act in unity to halt those who sow hatred in place of the love of God.
John L. Esposito is University Professor and Founding Director of the Centre for Muslim-Christian Understanding. He is co-author of Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think.
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