Troubling answer to query ‘Where are moderate Muslims?’ (Boston Globe)

NEWS OF suicide blasts at a Lahore, Pakistan, Sufi shrine, which promotes a moderate version of Islam, is unsettling (“Attack on Pakistani shrine leaves 35 dead,175 wounded,’’ Page A6, July 2). Even more disturbing is the backdrop of terror attacks in the same city that killed at least 93 Ahmadi Muslims, another moderate sect within Islam, just over a month ago. Both groups have been labeled as heretics by the Wahhabi school of thought because of their views.

During my visit to Pakistan in 2004, I asked friends the question many Americans had asked after Sept. 11, 2001: Where are the moderate Muslims? Moderate Muslims were reluctant to comment due to fear of backlash. Police rounded up innocent Christians under the guise of the blasphemy laws, boulevards displayed banners declaring minority Ahmadi Muslims to be worthy of death, and school curricula were littered with hatred against the Jews. Moderate Muslims played it safe.

These recent attacks are a direct consequence of Pakistan’s longstanding unwillingness to reform its legal and educational system and the reluctance of moderate Muslims to speak up. So where are the moderate Muslims now? They are getting killed.

Faheem Younus
Bel Air, Md.
The writer is national youth president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.



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