Why Is the Islamic World Silent?

Almost a month has passed since the kidnapping of more than 200 girl students by the rebel and so-called Islamist group Boko Haram in Nigeria who “is against the education of girls and believes that women should stay at home”. The leader of the Boko Haram rebel group, named “Abubakar Shekau”, has stated in a video message that, “I have kidnapped these girls and will sell them in the market. God has ordained me to sell them and I will do so.”

Some points need to be mentioned in this regard:

1.       The silence of Muslim scholars, whether Shiite or Sunni, with regard to the condemnation of this horrific act aiming to remove the negative images which have been created by al-Qaeda affiliates in Nigeria is of utmost regret.

2.       Iran, as a Muslim country which has a political system linked with religion, needed to take positions against this catastrophe before anybody else so that the position of countries which react to these actions that tarnish the image of Islam and these groups which present an untrue face of this religion and separate their path from this type of radical Islam would be clear.

3.       The silence of Iranian human rights activists in condemning this inhumane incident when human rights is defined as a universal phenomenon and have no boundaries is unjustifiable. Naturally it is expected that the human rights activists would be the frontrunners in opposing such incidents and the presence of Shirin Ebadi as an Iranian activist and one of the laureates of the Noble Peace Prize raises this expectation.

4.       The civil society groups, including the parties and non-governmental organizations and the campaigns which take positions against many issues, have, hitherto, been silent against this incident. These groups are not supposed to be worried only about domestic issues. This article is aimed at different political groups and does not consider any particular inclination. In social networks, protests have been organized by #BringBackOurGirls. The Iranians could also organize similar movements or join the existing ones.

5.       The Islamic Conference Organization must take position as the representative of the Islamic countries. But so far no position has been taken. The Non-Aligned Movement, presided by Iran at the present time, is also a suitable forum to take position but it has been silent so far.

6.       Contrary to all these inactions, the active positions taken by the US officials is interesting; the positions taken by Barack Obama and his wife and also John Kerry and the last one made by Mrs. Clinton as a possible candidate in the next presidential elections. The US has decided to send equipments to enhance the search operations to find these rebel groups and liberate these girl students. Britain has also previously stated its readiness to help in the rescue operations.

7.       The measures taken and statements made by the US and British officials, no matter the objectives, have positive impacts in the minds of the Nigerian people and the world public opinion. On the other hand, the inaction of the heads of the Islamic countries, the Non-Aligned Movement, which Iran presides over right now, the Islamic scholars who should be the leaders in condemning such actions, or the human rights groups whose silence with regard to such incidents shows their double-standard against different issues, is very regrettable.

8.       If we accept that “Human Beings Are Members of a Whole” then we must show this approach with our actions.