ALLOWING EXTREMISTS A FREE RUN
K G Suresh, The Pioneer
Monday, 30 June 2014
The ongoing crisis in Iraq is a
result of militancy by the extremist brand of Sunni faith dominated by the
Wahhabi school. The ideology flourishes through petro-dollars pumped by Saudi
Arabia and the benign conduct of the West
Even as the crisis in insurgency-hit
Iraq deepens further, the primary concerns in India, and naturally so, are the
evacuation of its citizens, including hostages currently in the custody of the
ISIS/ISIL terrorists, and the possible fallout on fuel prices which would
further burden the country’s fragile economy.
A spurt in oil prices may widen
India’s current account deficit to 2.3 per cent of the GDP. India imports
nearly 80 per cent of its oil demand, out of this close to two million barrels
per day come from Iraq, making it the second-largest source of fuel for the
country after Saudi Arabia. Thus, it is equally important to understand a
crucial dimension of the conflict, which could have a far-reaching impact on
India as a nation — the growing tentacles of Wahhabism including within its
borders.
To begin with, it is important to
take into account some key factors which are being ignored both by the Western
and Indian media.
The conflict in Iraq is not a
Sunni-Shia sectarian war. The ISIS’s Saudi-backed Salafi-Wahhabi terrorists are
killing Sunnis, Sufis, Shias and Christians. In their eyes, all Sunnis, Sufis
or Barelvis (as we know them in India) in particular, are polytheists; Shias
are infidels whereas Christians and Jews are enemies of Islam.
It’s the Salafi-Wahhabis who are
attacking religious shrines in the war-torn country. Shrines in Samarra, Najaf,
and Karbala are equally holy to Sufi Sunnis and Shias. Imam Hussain shrines in
Karbala and Hazrat Ali’s shrine in Najaf are equally holy to all Muslims except
the Salafis. In fact, Sunnis and Shias are joint custodians of the holy shrine
in Samarra and other areas.
The ISIS, Nusra and Al Qaeda
terrorists, and their allies in South Asia, despite their minor political
differences are united in their hatred for Sunni Sufis, Shias and Christians.
Events in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Libya, etc confirm that it is not the majority
of Sufi Sunnis versus Shia, but it is Salafi-Wahhabis versus the rest of the
world.
Wahhabis are known enemies of
cultural heritage. The historic Buddha statue of Bamiyan had to face their ire.
They were icons of tolerance in a Muslim nation like Afghanistan for centuries
before the advent of Taliban.
The Arab Spring years witnessed some
most heinous crimes against humanity in Muslim states. Mosques were targeted
and very old Islamic manuscripts were destroyed by the Wahhabi elements. In
Syria, they destroyed the tombs of Hazrat-e-Zainab, Khalid bin Waleed, Hujr ibn
Adi etc. Mosques and monuments dedicated to tolerant peaceful Sufism were the
main targets.
India is known all over the world for
its composite culture, also known as Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb. Indian
Muslims have not suffered at the hands of the majority community in the
country, as has been the political propaganda. They are, instead, socially
protected by the tolerant Hindu society. What has made the world’s
second-largest Muslim population vulnerable is the advent of the ideology of
Wahhabism.
Efforts are on to attack and
eliminate this tolerant culture by foreign-led and funded Wahhabi/Salafi
elements who are at work with oil and gas money for last several decades. They
have gained access to administration, bureaucracy and political class by faking
Muslim representation. They are being handled through doles to religious
schools, student scholarships, coaching classes, vocational training etc.
The genesis of this development can
be traced to Saudi Arabia which became a power to reckon with, in the early 70s
after the discovery of hydro-carbons. The flourishing Saudi economy attracted
workers from poor countries. India was one of them. Indian Muslims went to
Saudi Arabia for work. They, of course sent remittance from Saudi Arabia and
contributed to foreign exchange reserves, but beyond this they came back with
the extreme infamous ideology called Wahhabism.
The petro-dollars came as
subscription to Muslim cause, which was disguised as charity. Now Qatar has
emerged as the main challenger to the Saudi dominance and its agents are
relentlessly at work in India. Earlier all Wahhabi individuals and their
organisations were supported by Saudi funds, but now some of them have switched
loyalties to promote the Qatar brand of Salafism.
These elements have penetrated
important Muslim bodies such as Central Haj Committee, State Haj Committees,
Central Wakf Council, State Wakf Boards and Government bodies requiring
Muslim participation, like the Maulana Azad Education Foundation, as also
organisations created to serve the Muslim community in language and literature
like State Urdu Academies and National Council of Promotion of Urdu Language
apart from pure Sufi bodies like Khawaja Gharib Nawaz Dargah Committee,
unwittingly with the support of ignorant Central and State Governments.
Jammu & Kashmir is a
Sufi-dominated area but its contact with Wahhabism hastened the process of alienation.
Wahhabi/ Salafi influence is growing in the valley since early 70s. They have
targeted Sufi clerics, politicians and intellectuals and their places of
reverence only to misguide public opinion, which is otherwise peace loving. The
separatist movement is totally backed and funded by Saudi, British, Pakistani
and Kashmiri Wahhabi organisations. Their prime target is the Sufi culture
which can bring peace and harmony in Kashmir.
The new Government should check
interference by Wahhabi elements in Muslim-related activities and encourage the
involvement of Sufi institutions such as the All India Ulama and Mashaikh
Board. Modern centres of quality education should be established in
Muslim-dominated areas which should be manned and managed by Sufi intellectuals
and clerics so that the students grow into patriotic, responsible citizens of
the country.
Instead of blindly handing over
Muslim affairs to existing Wahhabi-dominated Muslim outfits, a coordination
committee should be entrusted with the task of Muslim affairs, including
maintaining nationwide peace and harmony, identifying problems with their
possible solutions and implementation of designed programmes for more and more
integration of the community in the national mainstream.
Indian Muslims who profess and
practise as per Sufi beliefs should be pro-actively involved in the management
of Wakf Boards, which have unfortunately become the biggest tool to promote
extremism. The Central Wakf Council too must be re-constituted in consultation
with renowned Sufi leaders.
The world is gradually rising up to
the challenge of Wahhabism. It’s time India too wakes up to the damage
potential of this menace. Let Iraq be an eye opener in this crusade.
(The author is a senior journalist
based in Delhi)
This is a really good article! Iraq has become the unfortunate target of divisive forces, those who are looking to gain some profit from the oil industry and those who are trying to assert themselves. The victims of this crossfire are the ordinary common citizens living in the country.
ReplyDelete