THIS refers to the editorial ‘Islamophobia envoy’ (Dec 17) about the bill passed in the United States for appointing a special envoy to monitor and combat Islamophobia. This apparently seems to be a good step, but the question is: who created Islamophobia?

Undoubtedly, it is the US itself that is responsible for creating a hostile atmosphere for Muslims across the world. Another question arises: why does it now want to do ‘nice’ things that apparently look ‘nice’ and are in ‘favour’ of Muslims?

First, Washington encouraged and supported the Afghans to fight against the Soviet Union after it invaded Afghanistan in 1979. We all know that it was a proxy war which the Afghans unwittingly fought for the Americans. Later, the US brought Al Qaeda into existence. After the Soviets, battered and bruised, left Afghanistan, the same people who fought against the erstwhile Soviet Union, turned against the former ally, the United States, realising that they had been used and that the US was not actually a friend.

Subsequently, after the 9/11 attacks, Washington announced its so-called ‘war on terror’ following which Muslims had to face the worst kind of discrimination, hate and violence in the West. This whipped up Islamophobia globally, including within the US, which otherwise used to be

called a melting pot and multicultural, secular society. How can we expect the country which is responsible for creating Islamophobia, hate and misery for the Muslims to be sincere with them now?

This makes one wonder what is then the purpose of the bill recently passed in the US. It seems to be a case of killing two birds with one stone. The purpose of this bill is mainly to counter China by focussing on and highlighting the issues there.

The move has certainly nothing to do with sympathy or compassion for Muslims. With its booming economy, China is believed to be the likely superpower by 2050. And the mere thought of it is a nightmare for the US, which now wants to target China through the special envoy for ‘monitoring Islamophobia’.

On its soil though, the US will do hardly anything to curb Islamophobia.

Zakeer Ahmed
Awaran

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2021