Apropos of Mr Iqbal Zafar's column (June 16) regarding the roots of the creeping menace of religious fanaticism around the Muslim world. He has rightly pointed out that the creed of militant Islam grew in response to the challenge of western imperialism starting from 17th century and continues unabated. The invasion of Iraq in 1991 and again in 2003, of Afghanistan in 2003, and the presence of western forces in the Gulf States reinforce this fact.

Islamophobia has been spread by the West and under its garb Islam is demonised and Muslims are humiliated. Moreover, the Danish newspaper and other European newspapers published the blasphemous cartoons of Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) in the name of freedom of expression.

Pope Benedict's derogatory views about the Prophet of Islam and the controversy of hijab intensified hatred and prejudice all over the Muslim world.

In fact, terrorism is a means to an end. It is a political weapon that has been used by various nations at different times throughout the history. Robert A. Pape opines in his book, 'Dying to Win' that there are many reasons motivating (religion, social prestige, revenge) the people willing to die; however, the threat of a foreign occupation is the most serious one.

Today, the West has virtually occupied all the Muslim lands. More specifically, the seven Muslim lands that have been under foreign occupation for a long time include Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq, Afghanistan, Chechnya, Mindanao and Golan Heights. The militant Muslims are waging “Jihad” against the occupation of Muslim lands. They are called as freedom fighters and their popularity is growing rapidly.

Thus, the only remedy of ongoing rising tide of religious fanaticism and extremism in the Muslim world seems immediate withdrawal of the occupied lands by the West. Under his administration, the US president Obama needs to look into the matter and take concrete efforts to end Western occupation of Muslim lands in order to make the world peaceful. Otherwise, the prevalent scourge of terrorism will not only wipe out Muslim world but also whole the world.

ZAHID IQBAL SOOMRO
Larkana