August 18, 2005

The identity of London bombers as ‘homegrown terrorists’ has sparked off a global debate regarding Islam and its place in the modern world. However, far more disturbing are the links being made between the bombers and Pakistan, writes Batool Mehdi

The recent attacks on London have proved one thing for certain –– that Britain will never be the same again. The repercussions of the event are more far reaching than one would have imagined. Just as the events of 9/11 gave birth to an entirely altered military and political era, so, too, have the London bombings.

The explosions may not have caused as much havoc and physical or human loss, but in the larger scheme of things, especially for Pakistanis’, the attacks have hit home in the worst possible way.

The identity of the bombers as ‘homegrown terrorists’ has sparked off a global debate regarding Islam and its place in the modern world. However, far more disturbing, are the links being made between the bombers and Pakistan. The suicide attackers were British citizens, but it is their visit to Pakistani madrassahs, which has unfortunately dragged the country to the forefront of this whole issue.

Three of the four London bombers happened to be of Pakistani origin. British citizens yes, but of Pakistani descent nonetheless, and in Britain, that often qualifies as being classified as Pakistani first, and British second. This is by no means an assumption or a generalization based on racist perceptions and such, but a view, which has often been perpetuated in equal parts by Muslims themselves.

There is an odd identity crisis which plagues many Muslims in Britain, especially the youth, who do not know how to classify themselves –– British? British Asian Muslims? Or just Pakistanis?

For instance, in England when there is a cricket match between the home team and a touring Pakistani side, almost all of the latter team’s supporters are British citizens –– of Pakistani descent. It is a strange paradox to watch these people rooting not for the country they belong to, but for a country which their ancestors once belonged to.

If one is to go by media reports, then the same London, which was once considered the epitome of a model multicultural society, now finds itself in a climate where Muslim and Pakistani are almost dirty words.

Ahmed Aziz, 19, has just finished his A Levels here in Karachi and is planning to attend university in London in September. Aziz was looking forward to a memorable college experience, but now, instead of being thrilled at the prospect, he is nervous and apprehensive. “My cousins living in London, were born and brought up there. They are facing a tough time these days, I don’t know how I’ll do, considering I’m actually Pakistani,” he tells me. Elaborating further, Ahmed says, “It’s subtle questioning, as opposed to blatant bigotry.”

Apparently, this does seem to be the case judging from several Muslims interviewed in the media and the British Muslim Council’s recent statements.

Shazia Hussain, 23, born and raised in England says that a wave of paranoia and mistrust has swept London. Originally from West Yorkshire, she currently works in the capital city, where she claims she’s never felt as jittery as she does today, which is not just due to the constant fear of suicide attacks but also the feeling of being watched all the time on account of being a Muslim. Social acquaintances, to whom it previously never mattered, have now begun asking her where she originally hails from.

Dilshad Patel, a 25-year-old Indian, relates another interesting story. In London -–– for a six month exchange programme -–– he recounts how after the bombings, his neighbours all cautiously approached him, wanting to know where he was from. “You can’t imagine the look of relief on their faces when they discovered that I was an Indian, not Pakistani,” he says.

It’s not difficult to see why the Muslim community in Britain is anxious. The constant probing and prodding to do more, so to speak, as an official government line as well as the national sentiment is no doubt unsettling to many moderate Muslims’ out there. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair vociferously maintains the stand that foreign policy cannot be used as justification for any kind of terrorist attacks.

The government is urging British Muslims to do more than merely condemn the attacks, but also to look within themselves and identify what it is that creates suicide bombers from amongst them. In addition, the government is also calling for further integration of the Muslim population into larger British communities.

The Muslim community on its part has, by and large, condemned the attacks. However, there remains a view that though the British foreign policy is no way a justification for the attacks, it should at least be reconsidered.

As far as the integration of the Muslim population into larger Britain is concerned, it is quite true that there are several Muslim communities that continue to live in isolation from the rest of the country. They’ve created mini-structures of their home societies and seem content to have nothing to do with anything else, other than work or business purposes. This is certainly something, which will have to be seriously reconsidered now.

Statistics show that Muslim youth is becoming increasingly militant minded and violent, and many, who are otherwise ignorant, do hold the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan responsible for the attacks on the western world. It is these very men, who eventually fall prey to radical clerics and recruiters –– and there are plenty of radical clerics in the UK.

Certainly, the government’s call to the Muslim community to put up a united stand against anyone who incite religious hatred, does not seem unjustified at all.

All said and done though, one aspect, which has become painfully clear in the wake of the bombings is the general lack of understanding of Islam in the western world, including Britain.

A recent Sky News poll asked a cross range of Muslims several questions and the answers rather baffled the British public. In particular, the fact that 75 per cent of the people questioned, claimed that they considered themselves Muslim first and British second.

The moderate face of Islam, which Muslims all over the world have fought so hard to project since 9/11, is all of a sudden being brought into question. Does it really exist?

For decades Muslims and non-Muslims have been cohabitating in Britain and now these issues are brought out in the open. At the end of the day, it is the lack of basic knowledge about Islam that causes these doubts to appear in the first place.

Presently it appears unfathomable for the British masses to believe that moderate liberal Muslims’ coexist alongside hard line extremists. The notion that these terrorists actually represent no religion and are in actuality sick and twisted minds, escapes most people’s thinking.

It is evident then, that the British public is in for a tough time. But what about the Pakistani citizens living in Britain? Many overseas students are suddenly finding the situation getting tough and people on work permits are being questioned by immigration authorities on a more regular basis.

As for the rest of us, visas might be a little harder to come by. Several holiday goers have already cancelled their trips to London this year. It’s not certain how long any of this is going to persist, but the coming months will reveal all.

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)