While deciding to keep all mosques open, the Pakistani government vowed to adhere to “precautionary measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.” How they intend to do this is unclear.
And here’s the real comfort: the President of Pakistan, Imran Khan, “assured the clergy that he would soon announce a special worship day called a ‘Day of Forgiveness’ to get rid of the coronavirus. In return, clerics appreciated Khan’s decision to reopen mosques and called it ‘Islam friendly.’”
Meanwhile, Bangladesh just saw the gathering of over 100,000 Muslims at the funeral of an Islamic teacher, in violation of coronavirus precautions.
Flights are still arriving in Western countries from Pakistan and Bangladesh. They’re landing in Canada without screening.
“Amid COVID–19, Pakistan Launches an ‘Islam Friendly’ Action Plan to Keep Mosques Open,” by Umair Jamal, The Diplomat, April 21, 2020:
Last week, Pakistan’s president met with prominent religious leaders to formulate a plan for congregational prayers during the month of Ramzan (Ramadan). The Pakistani state agreed to a 20-point action plan after consultation with religious scholars of all sects.
The crux of the plan is that the government in Pakistan has decided to keep all mosques open, a key recommendation made by clerics of all major seminaries. The decision could have disastrous public health implications amid the COVID-19 pandemic as its implementation and agreed guidelines are unlikely to be followed or enforced across the thousands of mosques across the country. What is particularly unfortunate is that the current government didn’t even put up a fight to enforce its decision on the clergy. Rather, the meeting with the clergy was called by the government to agree to what the former had demanded more formally.
Last week’s decision on the part of the government essentially showed who runs the actual state in Pakistan. While arguments about radicalization and the influence of right-wing forces in Pakistan carry weight, what is unknown is the true power of the clergy if they were to unite against an elected government or the state’s priorities. In such a case, the state would either be sitting with the clergy or negotiating its way out, as we have seen with this decision and countless others before that.
The government’s acceptance of the clergy’s demands cannot be considered a consensus, as described by the country’s president, but an outright capitulation. The fact remains that the government was never going to impose a lockdown on the mosques or congregational prayers. Any such decision was not going to hold in any form or shape.
For weeks, clerics have defied the government’s lockdown orders and with the month of Ramzan a week away, it only made sense that the government would formally agree to their demands. By doing so, the government not only gave away more space to the far right, but also conveyed to them that they have all the power and tools to direct an elected government’s policy decisions…..
Another meeting of clerics with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan saw the latter not only promising to keep mosques open, but also assuring the Ulema of introducing an interest-free economy in Pakistan. Moreover, Khan assured the clergy that he would soon announce a special worship day called a “Day of Forgiveness” to get rid of the coronavirus. In return, clerics appreciated Khan’s decision to reopen mosques and called it “Islam friendly.”…
Jack Holan says
JUST FANTASTIC! Afterwads it will be claimed it was a plot by the Kaffir to kill Muslims. Just Watch.
mortimer says
They will be SUPERSPEADERS. I eagerly await to see the statistics following the implementation of this fatalistic, backward policy.
Pakistan is becoming one of the most backward countries in the world. It will soon be a leader in new virus cases.
The PM Khan is an irresponsible killer if he does not stop these mass meetings.
mortimer says
Pakistan seems to be adopting the first well-known motto of Mohammed’s jihad army: “WE LOVE DEATH.”
Scheherazade Smith says
Oh, this is grand. I am in a near-nirvana-like state of bliss.
J D S says
As long as these people stay confined to the Mid east then let them kill themselves by ignoring safety standardise…but of course they won’t stay put they’ll spread the virus to non Muslim countries by nook and crook….stupidity breeds more STUPIDITY!!!!!
gravenimage says
Pakistan: Amid coronavirus, government launches “Islam friendly” action plan to keep mosques open for Ramadan
……………..
Morons.