In Pakistan, renowned columnists Ansar Abbasi and Zahid Hussain recently called for boycotts of Israeli products and decisive action by Islamic governments against Israel. Their columns followed the November 11, 2023 joint meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The gathering was seen by some in the Islamic world as having failed to take concrete action against Israel.
Ansar Abbasi wrote in his column in the Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jang: "Governments and rulers of Islamic countries have greatly disappointed Muslims around the world regarding the oppressor and terrorist Israel. Despite this, we Muslims can take revenge for the atrocities committed on our oppressed Palestinian brothers, sisters, and children and for their genocide by Israel; rather, we will take revenge, Allah willing."
Zahid Hussain, who is more liberal in a country dominated by religious extremists, wrote in the English-language daily Dawn: "The refusal of Arab countries to act more decisively has given a huge impetus to Israel's war plans. Instead of making perfunctory declarations, the Arab countries need to take decisive action to stop the Zionist expansion, which poses a grave danger to the entire region."
Following are excerpts from Ansar Abbasi's article, as translated from Urdu:[1]
"Instead Of Feeling Helpless, Boycott All Jewish And Israeli Products And Their Franchises, Stop Buying Anything That Has The Name Of Israel Written On It, Or Any Food, Drink, Or Consumer Goods That Are Related To This Oppressor Zionist State, And Jewish Companies"
"Governments and rulers of Islamic countries have greatly disappointed Muslims around the world regarding the oppressor and terrorist Israel. Despite this, we Muslims can take revenge for the atrocities committed on our oppressed Palestinian brothers, sisters, and children and for their genocide by Israel; rather, we will take revenge, Allah willing.
"Instead of feeling helpless, boycott all Jewish and Israeli products and their franchises. Stop buying anything that has the name of Israel written on it, or any food, drink, and consumer goods that are related to this oppressor Zionist state and Jewish companies. This boycott has started all over the world, but there is a need to make this boycott permanent. This boycott has begun across the world, but the need is to make this boycott permanent. This boycott should not be for a few days, weeks, or months.
"It would have been very good if the rulers of the Islamic world had at least announced this boycott at the state level in their respective countries, but the rulers of the Muslim Ummah could not even do that. However, Muslims (and a large number of non-Muslims as well) are joining the boycott worldwide.
Text from Ansar Abbasi's article.
"If we talk about Pakistan, there is also a campaign underway here on social media in favor of a boycott. Purchases of Israeli products, commodities, beverages, and goods from Israeli franchises have decreased significantly. The relevant companies are giving discount offers to sell these items; prices are being reduced, but the boycott campaign is underway.
"There is a need for the public as well as the business community and trade organizations to boycott Israeli products. Regarding this boycott, a question is also being raised about those Pakistanis who are selling Israeli products or have bought Israeli franchises here; their businesses are being destroyed."
Islamic Religious Scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani Asks: "Does A Muslim's Sense Of Self-Respect Tolerate Even One Percent Of His Income Going To The Enemies Of The Muslim Ummah, Especially When The Muslim Ummah Is In A State Of War, And Thousands Of Muslims Are Being Martyred?"
"Regarding this matter, respected [Islamic religious scholar] Mufti Taqi Usmani made a very important point in his recent statement. Mufti Usmani said that many people are expressing concern that some Muslims have bought franchises to buy and sell Jewish and American products, due to which five percent of their income goes to Jewish and American company owners, or to supporters of Israel in some other way. And if their business is shut down [due to the boycott], then the Muslims' franchisee business is also closed.
"Mufti Usmani said that this is not a question demanding a fatwa [Islamic religious decree], but is rather related to the dignity of one's faith. He asked: 'Does a Muslim's sense of self-respect tolerate even one percent of his income going to the enemies of the Muslim Ummah, especially when the Muslim Ummah is in a state of war, and thousands of Muslims are being martyred?'
"Mufti Usmani said it is against the dignity of a Muslim's faith for his income to benefit the enemies of Muslim Ummah in any way. He further clarified the issue by asking whether you would be willing to give even one percent of your income to a man who is plotting to kill your father. Mufti Usmani emphasized that the integrity of one's faith demands a complete boycott of these products and franchisees – start one's own business.
Noted Islamic religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani.
"Weapons purchased with profits from Israeli and Jewish products and franchisees are being used to martyr the oppressed Palestinians, including small children whose numbers are in the thousands who are being mercilessly killed, and that has saddened people around the world.
"An ordinary Muslim cannot fight Israel, but by boycotting its businesses and its economy, can surely take revenge by inflicting great injury. This whole process of boycotts should be peaceful. I request all Pakistanis and readers of this column to take this boycott campaign forward in revenge against Israel. Do your part in it, but at all times be peaceful and do not be violent in any way."
Following are excerpts from Zahid Hussain's column:[2]
"The Ordeal Of The Palestinian People Appears As An Aberration In The Arab Political Order, With Many States Normalizing Relations With Israel Despite Its Expansionist And Apartheid Policies"
"In a watered-down joint resolution, the subsequent Arab-OIC [Organization of Islamic Cooperation] summit called only for an end to the conflict in Gaza, and rejected justifying Israel's actions against the Palestinians as self-defense. The communique demanded a halt to the Gaza siege, the permitting of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the cessation of arms exports to Israel. However, the right of the Palestinian people to resist the Israeli occupation was not even mentioned, rendering the joint statement toothless.
"This abandonment of the Palestinian people facing extermination by the Israeli killing machine is being linked to the undemocratic nature of the Arab regimes and their continuing political dependence on the U.S., which is complicit in Israel's war crimes against Palestinian men, women, and children. The ordeal of the Palestinian people appears as an aberration in the Arab political order, with many states normalizing relations with Israel despite its expansionist and apartheid policies.
"Recently, the White House said that Saudi Arabia was still interested in pursuing an agreement that would normalize relations with Israel after the war in Gaza ended. The assurance was given during the recent visit of the Saudi defense minister to Washington, even as the attacks on Gaza continued. The kingdom had been close to recognizing Israel as a part of a deal pushed by the Biden administration.
Liberal Pakistani columnist Zahid Hussain.
"While some Arab countries that had recognized Israel under the Abraham Accords brokered by the Trump administration in 2020 have recalled their ambassadors under growing public pressure at home, they have not severed relations altogether with the Zionist state. Countries such as Egypt, which was the first Arab country to establish diplomatic relations with the Zionist state in 1979, and the United Arab Emirates have continued to maintain diplomatic and economic relations with Tel Aviv.
"In fact, South Africa and some South American countries, including Bolivia, Chile, Venezuela, and Brazil have taken a much stronger position against Israel than many of the Arab countries."
"The Warning Signs For The Arab Authoritarian Regimes Are Tangible; Massive Public Protests Across The Globe Against The Israeli War Show The Isolation Of The Zionist State"
"The unfolding genocide in Gaza has heightened public anger against the shameful capitulation by Arab governments. The relentless Israeli bombing that has not even spared hospitals, refugee camps, and places of worship, has created an explosive situation in the Middle East that cannot be contained by the autocratic Arab rulers.
"It is evident that the war has already extended to other parts in the region. It is likely to alter the political map of the Middle East. The warning signs for the Arab authoritarian regimes are tangible. Massive public protests across the globe against the Israeli war show the isolation of the Zionist state.
"It has been over a month since Israel unleashed the war on Gaza that has completely devastated the territory, which is being described as a 'hell on earth.' But it is far from achieving its goal of establishing full control over the Strip, which is home to 2.2 million people.
"The clock is ticking for Israel and also for the Arab states whose inaction is seen to abet Israel's carnage. Calling for a ceasefire is important but there is a need to restore the rights of the Palestinian people, and end the Israeli subjugation. There is a U.S.-backed move to force the entire population to leave Gaza and to be settled in Sinai in Egypt, in what would be a second nakba. That can happen only with the Egyptian leadership on board.
"The refusal of Arab countries to act more decisively has given a huge impetus to Israel's war plans. Instead of making perfunctory declarations, the Arab countries need to take decisive action to stop the Zionist expansion, which poses a grave danger to the entire region."
