Episode 30 - Raza Rumi: Blasphemy Laws in Pakistan, Surviving an Islamist Attack

05.08.2017 - By Eiynah Play

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This episode, I’ve got prominent Pakistani journalist and TV anchor Raza Rumi (@RazaRumi). He was attacked by gunmen in 2014 for being an outspoken critic of the Taliban and just islamism in general.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1096198

Luckily he survived, and continues to speak out about the threat journalists face today. An incredibly brave man pushing for change in a society very resistant to it. He’s had to leave Pakistan for the time being, and currently lives in the US. I find it painful to think that terrorists get to dictate people’s lives like this, uproot them, scare them, separate them from their families and friends…but I am thankful that people like Raza continue to speak up. Even with bloody and brutal attacks, they didn’t succeed in silencing him. However increasing far right sentiment in the US definitely puts him off. We chat about all this and more.

As a Liberal practising muslim, of course Raza has some pretty fundamental disagreements with me about religion in general. and that’s ok! In fact I think critics of Islam now really need to build bridges with liberal and secular Muslims to have their criticisms resonate at all, especially in a time where the risk of polarization is so great and in a climate where the far right is quickly alienating all people of Muslim background.

There’s also a misconception...I think, that vocal atheists like myself, won’t acknowledge other contributing factors to religious fundamentalism. So he really tried to drive that home…but I do acknowledge all the geopolitical & social factors that have an impact on increasing the toxicity of religion. I don’t think many sensible non-religious people would deny that yes foreign policy, history, poverty, lack of education all play a role. However the reverse issue is one that is often denied by adherents of religion…that religion itself is a factor. We tussle politely a bit about whether scripture is ‘twisted’ or simply provides the raw material for such interpretations.

Anyway, hopefully at some stage we can get together again and schedule a proper discussion based on scripture.

This chat was focused on the blasphemy law in Pakistan, the climate contributing to it.. and the recent Mashal Khan lynching in Pakistan, over blasphemy accusations.

Mashal was a young student who described himself as a humanist.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/26/lynching-of-a-student-sparks-uproar-in-pakistan-against-blasphemy-laws