Wars are a bitter reality of the world that we are a part of. They are fought for diverse reasons. Maybe for resources, maybe for revenge, or maybe for acquiring more territory, more power, and more influence. But in 1993, another ground for war was presented by Samuel P. Huntington.
According to Huntington, the religious and cultural differences will become the most pre-eminent reason for war, in the post-cold war world. World War III will have its roots in cultural and religious conflicts. He claimed that major fault lines in the world will be commenced upon different religious and cultural values.
Recent developments all around the globe manifest the idea presented by Huntington decades back. Not denying the fact that this phenomena has always been present in the world, throughout history. The crusades, the thirty years war and nazism, are all classical examples of religio-cultural conflicts. But the term Islamophobia is a recent appellation for holding hatred, prejudice and fear against Islam and its followers.
Islamophobia, like Covid-19, is a pandemic of hatred. Islam is being portrayed as a religion of oppression. How ironic is that filthy words like terrorism have been associated with Islam, which literally means ‘peace’. Muslim community all across the globe is left to face the brunt.
Muslim Uighur population in China is one such example which illustrates the abysmal condition of the followers of islam. Uighur population (predominantly muslim), reside in the north-western region of China. Accusations against China are grave, it is believed that China is committing serious human rights violations. Sterilising uighur women, separating their children from them, setting up concentration camps where uighur muslims are kept forcefully are all the facts that are on the surface, yet not addressed. Mental and sexual abuse inside these camps is a story in itself.
Furthermore, no one is unaware of the fascist moves of Indian government against its muslim minority. Communal riots, which were very prevalent during the time of freedom movement, are still a norm in India. Again, what’s happening in Indian Occupied Kashmir is a story in itself.
French hatred towards muslims and their hijab bans have been in the news for quite a while now. The muslims, to some extent have become immune to this hatred, they seem to accept the fact that something unlikely is going to happen to them in areas where they are a minority, just because they are muslims.
But it becomes difficult to absorb the occurrence of such inhumane incident in Canada, which has been considered to be a safe haven for immigrants, irrespective of their religion and culture. Yes, the most recent incident, which occurred just today in Canada reflects the islamophobic sentiments of a 20 year old Canadian. Issue about humanitarian crimes against indigenous people was not yet resolved, that Canada came up with a new human rights crisis.
These problems are now more common in the global society than they ever were. Either the world has shrunk and news circulation has become more prompt, or the differences between people have become more distinguished. Intolerance seems to be the new norm. The world may soon be on the verge of another mega war, one may say a prejudicial war, a war based on hatred and xenophobia. Will the coming decade prove that Huntington was right?
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