Anti Islamism, Muslim Rage, Roots And Future

By Imtiyaz Razak -October 1, 2012 

Dr. Imtiyaz Razak

Reports suggest that anti-American protests and violence that erupted almost two weeks ago over a poorly-made anti-Islam video spread to nearly 20 Muslim majority countries (hereafter, MMC) and other a few pockets of countries where Muslim live in non-majority status such as Sri Lanka.  Generally speaking, Muslims would define their religion as religion of peace and tolerant. Hence, it is deeply disturbing to witness violence and aggressive reactions from some Muslims to 14 minutes video.

Scholars and activists have raised many questions over Muslim reactions. Some questions aimed at understanding the nature of protests. Some questions have aggressively attempted to ridicule Muslims and their faith.  This peace would attempt to understand the nature of mobilization and roots to gain often neglected side of stories of story.  Popular opinions and writings do not necessarily reflect the history, but it is key to gain some basic understanding to read the trend. Hence, this short paper would attempt to understand Muslim mobilization to 14 minutes, poorly made law budget anti-Islam video? As Ted Robert Gurr has observed, there is no comprehensive and widely accepted theory of the causes and consequences of conflict. Instead, there are many factors that can lead to tensions between groups of people.

General perceptions would blame Muslims for their reaction because they think that reaction was and is seems very disproportionate Muslims reacted disproportionately. Popular opinions that oppose Muslim reactions argue that it is an act of freedom of speech and Muslims need to be civilized to digest dissent.  But every mobilization has politico-social as well as cultural roots associated with deep-seated grievances.  Some mobilizations adopt violence and some do not.  The question is why popular mobilizations in the non-western countries often seek brutal method to send a cross the message?

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