Religious extremism on the rise: UN

By Thalif Deen

Dawn
UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations says there is a significant rise in religious extremism and intolerance throughout the world. "No religion is free from extremism," declares Abdelfattah Amor, the UN's Special Rapporteur n Religious Intolerance.

In a 23-page report to the General Assembly, Amor points out that religious intolerance should be viewed in the larger context of the economic, social and political conditions that foster it.

"At the national and international levels, unjust economic, social and political systems which really constitute violations of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights, contribute to the birth and/or nurturing of extremism," he says.

His report provides examples of overt and covert discrimination against Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Scientology, Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah's Witnesses.

Amor says that religious minorities, particularly Muslims, have been the butt of prejudice and stereotyping. Islam continues to be associated with religious extremism and terrorism - particularly in the media in the United States, Germany and Australia.

While acknowledging the danger represented by the extremism of groups claiming allegiance to Islam, the study points out that "it is important to distinguish between such extremists using Islam for political purposes, who are in fact in the minority, and the majority of Muslims practising Islam in accordance with the principles of tolerance and non-discrimination."

The report notes the persistence of various types and degrees of Islamic extremism - particularly in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Niger and Pakistan.

"However, it is evident that this phenomenon has spread to other religions, as seen by the rise of Hindu extremism directed against Christian and Muslim communities and, potentially against religious minorities in India, and even in Nepal."

The Muslim extremism, which broke out in Indonesia also, in some cases, has led to violent counter-attacks by Christian extremists. Judaism may also be subjected to distortion in Israel by Jewish extremists, according to the study.

Extremism, says the Special Rapporteur, may therefore be inter-religious (directed against religious communities of different faiths); intra-religious (within the same religion and, in particular, between different sects); or even both at once.

"The most striking example is that of the Taliban (in Afghanistan), who, in the name of religion are persecuting not only non-Muslim minorities, but also Muslims: both Afghan Muslim minorities (for example the Shias) and the Muslim majority subject to the Taliban's diktat," Amor says.

The most common victims of religious extremism are minorities (as in Afghanistan, India, Indonesia, Israel, Niger and Pakistan) and women (as in the case of Afghanistan).

"Women are the prime target of the evil known as religious extremism," the study adds. Traditions attributable to religion are very often an obstacle to the implementation of legislation that treats women more fairly.

Most of the discrimination against women is derived from the requirement that women receive the authorization of men to obtain a passport or to travel abroad (as in Gabon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Yemen).

In Saudi Arabia, for example, such freedom of movement appears to be restricted, even non-existent, since a woman going abroad to study has to be accompanied by a family member. Moreover, Saudi women are prohibited from driving motor vehicles while access to buses and public facilities is subject to segregation.

According to Amor's report, even national legislation in some countries favour men against women, as in divorce proceedings (in Bangladesh, Brunei,), custody of children (Brunei) and in testimony, where the evidence of one man is equivalent to that of two women (Kuwait and Saudi Arabia).

In Kuwait, a Muslim woman would not be allowed to marry a non- Muslim.

Lastly, legislation may also require that women be dressed in a certain way. "The most manifest and insidious case in which women are totally deprived of their rights results from legislation which recognises the transmission of citizenship to children only through the male line," Amor says.

Despite some limited progress in matters of freedom of religion and belief, especially since the end of the Cold War 10 years ago, the Special Rapporteur says that, not only do manifestations of intolerance and discrimination based on religion and belief persist but religious extremism also is on the rise.

Addressing delegates last month, the Special Rapporteur said that "a strategy of prevention" is urgently needed to curb religious intolerance.-Dawn/Inter Press Service.