We Must Fight Intolerance

By Mehr F. Husain

17 Jan, 2014

AITZAZ Hasan was a teenager living in a district bordering Afghanistan, an area known for its shameful history of sectarian violence.

He died from his wounds caused by a tackle. Not any ordinary tackle, but one that involved grappling a suicide bomber whose sole mission was to attack a school where hundreds of children, mostly Shia, sat attempting to gain an education in a lawless region of Pakistan.

History will remember Hasan as a heroic “ martyr” whose brave act was driven by a desire to protect children from terrorism and who stood up to intolerance of savagery, against someone whose violent act was driven by pure sectarian hatred and will always be remembered as Hasan’s killer or simply, another suicide bomber. But then again, the same bomber probably hailed from the same set of terrorist organisations that was headed by a Taliban commander, Hakimullah Mehsud, who incited sectarian hatred and was also labelled a “martyr” upon his death.

Hasan’s death is a tragedy that should not have happened.

He is a hero that should not have been.

Instead, here was a teenager who deserved to live, to be literate and to exist. Why did he have to play the role of the security agent who should have tracked this bomber, of the policeman who should uphold the law, the State whose responsibility is to protect its citizens, the military whose job it is to ensure the country is free of those who wage war on their country, the judiciary who ought to have delivered justice by putting such terrorists behind bars, the peacemaker who should ensure that children like him have hope? Apathy In the wake of Hasan’s tragic death, it is difficult to simplify the reasons that led to his death. Of course the usual suspects come to mind — weak civilian government, selective judicial activism, lack of antiterrorism action, military miscalculation of its self- created monster, troublesome foreign meddling and so on. But Hasan’s heroic act stems from the civil society’s apathy.

The people’s inability to define what they want, the weakness to stand up for what they believe in, and most importantly the inability to reach out to those who needed compassion thus helping them to come out of their comfort zones instead of clutching onto half- baked excuses that justified their inactivity have provided leeway for such heinous acts as the one by the bomber.

Pakistan’s people have fought time and time again for human rights, the right to self- determine and against tyranny. But, it has not been able to let the effects trickle down to where it matters most, such as in areas like Hangu. However, while Malala’s fight for education may have lit the way, Hasan’s pro- life stand may have paved the way for anti- terrorism.

The security and economic reassurances that this government was to bring are yet to been seen and enjoyed. But it is because of our young people like Malala and Hasan that the long- forgotten word, freedom, and the misunderstood act of service in the cause of people have been reignited.

But more importantly, in the midst of short- sightedness, terrorism and greed fuelled fanaticism, a new beginning may emerge. Currently the government stands in the midst of a storm — if it condemns the suicide bomber, chances are it will irritate the terrorists, leading to more violence. If it ignores the sacrifice Hasan made, it is guilty of knowing that a child did what needs to be done — stand up against terrorism.

Aitzaz Hasan passed away after a moment of sacrifice and service to not just the innocent students of Hangu, but to Pakistan. His act stood for so much more than just reaction to a suicide bomber. It immortalised loyalty to his soil, devotion to his people and faith for a religion that supports the right to live in a fragmented nation that longs for a hero to come and save them.

But most importantly, he reminded us of the need to oppose the belief that minorities are to be slaughtered.

Aitzaz Hasan has taught us who really is a martyr and who is a murderer.

Mehr F. Husain is a journalist based in Lahore

Mail Today

URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-tolerance/we-fight-intolerance/d/35333