ON Sept 21 I left my house at 7pm with my husband for my weekly check-up with the gynaecologist. I am expecting and have recently been experiencing blood pressure complications due to which the doctor had advised regular weekly visits.

It was not any usual Friday. The government had declared a national holiday to express solidarity with Muslims across the world in condemning the sacrilegious video that denigrates Islam by disrespecting our Holy Prophet (PBUH). Besides causing us Muslims grief and hurt, this video has created a dynamo effect, resulting in riots, protests, bomb blasts and killings of innocent civilians across the world.

As our car approached Murree Road, which links the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, we saw about 100 men at some distance. A dozen of them walked close to our car and asked us to continue our journey. One of them came rather close to my window and said with a smile: “Ajao, ajao, rasta clear hai, aap ja saktay hain” (come on, come on, the path is clear, you can go ahead).

Being an optimist, who always believes in good of people, I turned to my husband and said: “Our way is clear, let’s continue.”

But before I could finish my sentence, my husband had already gone into reverse gear and started frantically speeding back in the direction we had come from.

I looked behind and saw the same man who had pretended to be our well-wisher was now throwing bricks at our car along with members of the mob who were aiming to hit our car windows with their bats.

In seconds, the angry mob started hitting our car with punches and sticks. Had we not sped from there fast enough, it is horrifying to imagine the damage that could have happened to me, my husband or our unborn child. We were fortunate that the car got a few dents and we were left unharmed.

I am saddened, grieved and angry not only at the makers of the blasphemous video, but also at the masses of our country. Is this the way to show our solidarity with other Muslims and condemn the video, trying to harm innocent people?

Does this behaviour show respect to our Holy Prophet or is it violating the very premise of his message which was based on love for humanity.

I request Muslims to set aside their hatred and malice and to show their strength by uniting together in peace and brotherhood.

Instead of hurting each other and going on a rampage in their communities, they should unite peacefully and petition strongly against this horrendous video and ask that its creators should be tried accordingly.

I condemn the devastation and killings of innocent people because of the protests on the sacrilegious video and as a future mother, implore the citizens of our country and the world to think of the message we are sending to our future generations. Will this be our legacy?

May God’s peace and blessings be upon the Prophet and the humanity.

SARA SAID QAZILBASH Islamabad