Harsha Kakar
South Asians being attacked or insulted in different parts of the globe, on racial grounds, is a daily occurrence. Recent reports include incidents in New Zealand, Australia and most commonly the US. The shooting of Srinivas Kuchibhotla in Kansas recently, was a case of the shooter assuming he was targeting Iranians. Similarly, Sikhs have been mistaken for Muslims and targeted. These are clearly hate crimes, possibly ‘mistaken hate crimes’. In Europe, far-right leaders seem to be gaining ground and targeting of Muslims is on the rise, while countries have banned the Burkha and Hijab. The recent ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on supporting the sacking of those wearing the Hijab, only highlights growing differentiation.
Lone wolf terror strikes in Belgium, US, France and the latest in London have incensed the population against non-whites in general and Muslims in particular. Increased illegal migration into Europe from war torn West and South Asia has intensified anger against the community. News reports show migrants being placed in prison like camps, pending deportation. This migration is the largest since the second world war and has been effectively used by terror groups, like the ISIS, to induct their cadre into Europe.
For the first time since its formation, countries within the EU have erected barriers and established check posts to prevent migrants from entering.Australia refuses to accept any illegal migrants on its soil and places them in camps on the Nauru and Manus islands of Papua New Guinea. It has also restricted construction of new mosques. Donald Trump’s criticism of the open-door policy of the German Chancellor indicated growing differences between close allies. Islamophobia is only spreading across the western world.
Trump’s latest order on banning nationals from six Muslim majority nations from entering the US is being challenged in the courts. The fact that he has issued two directives is in itself an indicator of how he views the community. His actions only empower the local citizen, who voted for him, to take law into his own hands and target those ‘assumed’ to belong to the community. Airlines fearing terror strikes have banned passengers,boarding from few airports in the Middle east, from carrying large electronic items as part of cabin baggage, a case of regional profiling.
After each lone wolf strike in the west, a debate rages on whether it is possible for an individual to become self-radicalized and if he is, can he be monitored or prevented. Another common debate is on who is more likely to become a lone wolf, a recent convert or a born Muslim. It is unlikely that an individual would wake up one morning and realize that his sole purpose on earth is to target innocents, belonging to a different religion or community. It takes time, especially in an educated and westernized society for an individual to assume such a role. Mere reading of literature or watching videos of ISIS or hard line preachers cannot convert an individual into a lone wolf, overnight. Further, for any person to act, there are basic requirements for the commitment of the crime, for which assistance and coordinationfrom associates would be necessary.
The only acceptable fact is that an individual recently converted is likely to be radicalized faster, since he attempts to prove to himself and those who encouraged him to convert, that he is determined to support his new faith. Further, in the west, most of those who have converted are loners and likely to be chastised and rejected by their close family, adding to their aloofness and vulnerability. It has been proved in Europe that maximum radicalization occurs in prisons where terror suspects hold sway. Those leaving prison as converts are likely to be more violent than self-converted.
In every case, there is someone in the background, who convinces the individual to act against society. This could be online, tele-conversation or personal contact. It is generally one to one, hence difficult to monitor. The level of motivation rises to such a level that the individual is willing to commit suicide for his cause. Every lone wolf incident enhances hate within society. Post the London incident, a video went viral showing a woman in Hijab, walking past, while others were helping victims. She had to resort to approaching a Muslim advocacy group to give her version of being distraught.
In the western world today, there is a mix of fear and hate against the community. However western population fails to differentiate between different nationalities and religious dress, assuming everyone non-white belongs to one religion. Hence, the world is witness to a new term ‘mistaken hate crimes’, which remain hate crimes nonetheless. To further aggravate islamophobia and racial profiling are continuous reports of suicide attacks in war torn Middle East. What would such increased levels of Islamophobia result in?
As the gap between communities, which have lived cheek and bowl for decades increases, a sense of anger and hatred develops. This paves way for an implosion of violence within society targeting communities or religions. Britain has already witnessed localities being dominated by Muslims, seeking their own laws and customs, including imposition of Sharia. The same is the case in Belgium, where police fear to tread into localities dominated by Muslim migrants from African nations.
Distrust between different religions and communities always existed but was controlled by societal needs, however, when it is force fed into the population by popular elected leaders, it results in violence threatening the fabric of society. Hurried radical measures like presidential orders of Trump and regional profiling by airlines only adds fuel to fire. As islamophobia and regional profiling continues to rise, more Muslims or those who convert would support Jihadist movements or target members of communities which ignore, attack or isolate them. They would consider such an action of theirs as an act of responsibility towards their religion. It is for national leaders to preach and adhere to tolerance to ensure that levels of violence within society are controlled and lone (better word would be ‘bad’) wolfs are considered an exception rather than a rule.
(The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army)
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