Pakistan wants halt to Arab 'religious colonialism'

[rug]

Sanjay Sharma, TNN Jan 8, 2012, 06.32PM IST

CHANDIGARH: A section of Pakistanis have raised their voice against Arab colonialism (imposing Wahhabi Islam over Sufi Islam) amidst attacks on Sufi shrines in Pakistan.

"Saudi Arabia which is undemocratic, is exporting Wahhabi Islam to Pakistan where Sufis have been traditionally popular," Sayeeda Diep from the Lahore-based Institute for Peace and Secular studies, told The Times of India.

"An undemocratic Saudi Arabia is funding Wahhabis to crush democratic aspirations in entire world including in Pakistan apparently to let rulers continue their dynastic rule in Saudi Arabia," she said during her visit to India. Petro dollars are being pumped world over to promote this school of Islam projecting it closer to the original form.

"The people of Pakistan need to fight both American as well Arab colonialism," she said.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-08/india/30604432_1_yousuf-raza-gilani-sufism-shrines

[dmallind]

1. Hey ho. Never ends. Guess they sort of have a point

Attacks on different sects (or different religionsd altogether of course) are never a good way to win followers. Not for long anyway. I am not a great expert on the finer distinctions, but I know enough basics thereof to hope the Pakistanis manage to nip this in the bud. There's too much medievalism in all variants of Islam practiced in Pakistan, but there's more in Wahhabism than most (and yes I'm fully aware the sect itself postdates the medieval era. Just you'd never think so).