Role of religious leaders in countering terrorism

Some poeple are misguiding youths and students through misinterpretation of Islam. Therefore, we require proper activism on the part of our clergy as a counterforce against terrorism

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Saturday sought cooperation from the country’s religious leaders, including Imams of mosques, in reining in the militants involved in killing innocent people through misinterpretation of Islam. A report on this appeared in this newspaper yesterday. This is not for the first time that cooperation of Imams and religious leaders has been sought. In the past also such cooperation was sought from them. We believe there is value in the police chief’s call. There are police, BGB and RAB to fight militancy in the country. But the fight against militancy is not only a physical one requiring the law enforcement bodies to challenge the militants only physically. The fight is as much for their hearts and minds or curing minds turned wicked and ultra extreme through indoctrination.
 Some people are misguiding youths and students through misinterpretation of Islam. Therefore, we require proper activism on the part of   our clergy as a counterforce against terrorism. Our religious leaders have great influence on the minds of our people in general.  If  they are enthused to make  persistent efforts to draw the attention of their audiences to the fact that Islam is really a religion of peace  which in no way conforms to the terroristic views and heartless  activities of these so called Islamist extremists, then  very possibly the  influence of the latter would wane ; the  extremists would face difficulty in recruiting additional number to fulfill their objectives.
There are potentially fanatical elements who may be roused by fiery sermons and discussions rendered by religious leaders and imams in mosques across the country. They can become inspired by such rhetoric to join the extremists wrongly thinking that their salvation in afterlife depends on this. Thus, they need to be reoriented to the fact   that Islam is a liberal religion. There is no room for extremism, intolerance and mindless killing in this religion. But bigotry may be incited by wrong interpretation of Islam and unfortunately this is what many of our prayer leaders and religious leaders are doing.
Therefore, government  must adopt a policy and implement the same --thoroughly-- seeking to oblige imams and others to unfailingly deliver their sermons shunning  extreme philosophies and urging their audiences to appreciate the real guidance and principles of Islam in these matters as distinct from the make believe. In sum, our government’s outlook must be one of ensuring that religious leaders would be assuredly restrained from making any statement that would wrongly encourage the extremists. Rather the former must endeavour in all cases to take the wind out of the sails of the extremists by establishing unambiguously what Islam stands for and what not.

Role of religious leaders in countering terrorism

Some poeple are misguiding youths and students through misinterpretation of Islam. Therefore, we require proper activism on the part of our clergy as a counterforce against terrorism

Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Hoque on Saturday sought cooperation from the countrys religious leaders, including Imams of mosques, in reining in the militants involved in killing innocent people through misinterpretation of Islam. A report on this appeared in this newspaper yesterday. This is not for the first time that cooperation of Imams and religious leaders has been sought. In the past also such cooperation was sought from them. We believe there is value in the police chiefs call. There are police, BGB and RAB to fight militancy in the country. But the fight against militancy is not only a physical one requiring the law enforcement bodies to challenge the militants only physically. The fight is as much for their hearts and minds or curing minds turned wicked and ultra extreme through indoctrination. Some people are misguiding youths and students through misinterpretation of Islam. Therefore, we require proper activism on the part of our clergy as a counterforce against terrorism. Our religious leaders have great influence on the minds of our people in general. If they are enthused to make persistent efforts to draw the attention of their audiences to the fact that Islam is really a religion of peace which in no way conforms to the terroristic views and heartless activities of these so called Islamist extremists, then very possibly the influence of the latter would wane ; the extremists would face difficulty in recruiting additional number to fulfill their objectives. There are potentially fanatical elements who may be roused by fiery sermons and discussions rendered by religious leaders and imams in mosques across the country. They can become inspired by such rhetoric to join the extremists wrongly thinking that their salvation in afterlife depends on this. Thus, they need to be reoriented to the fact that Islam is a liberal religion. There is no room for extremism, intolerance and mindless killing in this religion. But bigotry may be incited by wrong interpretation of Islam and unfortunately this is what many of our prayer leaders and religious leaders are doing. Therefore, government must adopt a policy and implement the same --thoroughly-- seeking to oblige imams and others to unfailingly deliver their sermons shunning extreme philosophies and urging their audiences to appreciate the real guidance and principles of Islam in these matters as distinct from the make believe. In sum, our governments outlook must be one of ensuring that religious leaders would be assuredly restrained from making any statement that would wrongly encourage the extremists. Rather the former must endeavour in all cases to take the wind out of the sails of the extremists by establishing unambiguously what Islam stands for and what not.