The Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad organised a Public Talk “Western-Muslim Tensions: Key Challenges” on April 14, 2016. The guest speaker at the occasion was Mr. Mowahid Hussain Shah, an eminent policy analyst, author and attorney-at-law. Welcoming Mr. Mowahid Hussain Shah, the Director General ISSI, Ambassador Masood Khan, highlighted the importance of the subject, and the challenges facing the relations between Muslims and the Western world.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Mowahid Ali Shah said that the term “terrorism” dominates the tensions between the West and the Muslims. In recent times, there have been constant attacks on Islam, Islamic culture, Islamic luminaries, ethos, philosophy and concepts. He lamented the fact that the language of terror has become more acceptable and more profitable. Referring to the situation in Palestine and Kashmir, he said that more attention is given to individual or group terrorism, but State terrorism escapes the attention of people. Occupation of Kashmir and Palestine are the worst kind of terrorism, but when terrorism is talked about, Kashmiris and Palestinians are portrayed as terrorists.
Muslims are one of the largest communities on earth, yet they are excluded. While explaining the term “Judeo-Christian heritage” which is commonly used in Europe lately, Mr. Mowahid said that it is a term of exclusion as it seeks to exclude and marginalise the Muslim community.
