[Letters] Bin Laden’s glorification: an insult to Islam

Osama bin Laden, the face of the global terrorism spread in the name of Islam and the killer of thousands of innocent people, was ultimately killed by American forces earlier this month in Abbottabad, near Pakistani capital Islamabad. Post death, his name, “mission” and ideology has become a political and religious hot potato.

Many hypocrites in Muslim societies, bereft of any mass base, and experts in politics of communalism and hatred, are now trying to mislead the people in the name of Osama bin Laden just to serve their regional, national and transnational political interests.

People may differ on many aspects vis-a-vis Bin Laden. And they should. They may have many doubts and queries which seem entirely justified. Like, who created Osama? The world accuses America of creating and nurturing Osama. The debate should certainly continue and the U.S. should be asked why it keeps on providing patronage to such terrorists?

But there is no denying the fact that before and after 9/11, Osama has targeted thousands of innocent people in terrorist attacks. Osama and his followers don’t seem to have basic knowledge of the Holy Quran which says, “Killing of an innocent person is tantamount to the killing of entire humanity.”

How come the Islam which even provides for loving plants, animals and nature, can allow such a corrupt, cruel and characterless person like Bin Laden to kill innocents in the name of “Jihad” and “Islam”? It is shocking that after the end of this dreaded terrorist, a considerable number of people in some countries came out to ‘mourn’ his death.

Once again, it is necessary to understand that it is not the people of any other religion, rather Muslim clerics and “Mujahids” themselves are responsible for bringing a bad name and notoriety to the Islam. This dangerous trend of eulogizing terrorists should stop;else it would bring more insult to the peaceful religion of Islam.

Tanveer Jafri, a columnist based in India.