Recently, inter communal violence erupted in Bangladesh. Temples and puja pandals were vandalised and the celebration of the auspicious festival of Durga Puja was disrupted following the alleged “insult of the holy book of Quran” which was seen to be placed under the feet of a Hindu deity in a viral picture.
Several Hindu and Muslim protestors clamoured for justice and retributive punishment against the culprits for vandalising the temples and defaming the Quran respectively. At least 4 people have been reported dead and innumerable people were injured.
Bangladesh communal violence pre-planned, attempt to destroy harmony, claims country’s home minister
The country has witnessed a spell of violence over the last few days. https://t.co/7csoeVeW0E
— Scroll.in (@scroll_in) October 18, 2021
It Is Not Just Bangladesh
A Shiite mosque in Kandahar province in the southern part of Afghanistan was attacked by a group of suicide bombers. More than 40 people died and nearly 70 people were wounded by the triggered explosion.
The Islamic State (IS) acknowledged its involvement in the recent blasphemy. The IS which claims itself to be a Sunni group have repeatedly targeted Shia Muslims and fomented sectarian violence in Afghanistan.
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bomber attack at a Shi'ite mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar which left dozens killed and injured.https://t.co/1fzl6Bd7iD
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) October 16, 2021
In India, last month, a video went viral in social media displaying a frightened and helpless little girl trying to defend her father who was being incessantly assaulted and lynched by a Hindu extremist mob.
The 45YO rickshaw driver hailing from the state of Uttar Pradesh was intimidated vehemently by the bigots to chant “Jai Shri Ram” (Victory to Lord Ram) and “Hindustan Zindabad” (Long Live India).
The irony is that these people commit these heinous crimes to justify their claim of being the ‘saviour’ of their respective Gods. My question is if their Almighty is too feeble to protect himself, how can he protect them from precarity and danger?
Their actions imply that the Almighty depends on us for the protection of his reverence. On the other hand, some people fail to comprehend that they can’t impress ‘their God’ by forcefully intimidating someone who follows another sect of believe in or hail ‘their God’.
Critique And Reform
It’s high time they comprehend that they can’t take law into their hands. Committing hate crimes in the name of religion and in the era which believes in the notion of ‘one almighty’ requires collective condemnation and ought to be berated.
Until and unless communities across the globe instead of blaming and abusing each other draw themselves into self criticism and self reformation, the reign of hate will continue to shake the world.
Remember, “Change is the only constant.” So, if there is any radical and irrelevant belief in your religion which doesn’t pertain to the current society and can disrupt social peace, just eradicate it from your heart.
If we want the world to prosper, we need to put in collective endeavour to build a conducive environment and the foremost social factors required are peace and integrity.