Burma killings: Keep religion out of it

No one should be allowed to ignite a flame by bringing religion into a scenario, and bashing it, when it can easily be resolved by keeping religion out of it. PHOTO: AFP

4 hours ago
Posted by Asif Nawaz

If you’re active on Facebook or Twitter, you’re sure to have witnessed the ongoing outrage of a number of people over the persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Burma at the hands of the Rakhine Buddhists.

Agreed, our country is not exactly one to be proud of when it comes to basic human rights, but expressing our concern over wrongdoings, whenever they happen, isn’t hypocrisy, it is our right. However, those in the social sphere – who, in the availability of an internet connection – believe they have been blessed with knowledge of the world are always ready to share their little pearls of wisdom with the rest of us.

There are those who have claimed that the concern is pointless as the killings have been sensationalised and pictures being posed are a fake account of what is actually happening in Burma. And then, on the flip side, are those who have taken to morphing these same pictures, or attacking the religion as a form of protest. I suppose they are under an impression that doing this will cement their concern for the Rohingya Muslims. To each their own. However, I believe that defaming the religion the perpetrators subscribe to is unreasonable.

To all those who are saying “I thought Budhistst were a peaceful bunch,” I would like to say that it is wrong to stereotype. The actions of a handful shouldn’t malign an entire religion.

http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/13396/burma-killings-leave-religion-out-of-it/