Tolerance, the key to our freedom

Mohd Roslam Mohd Saludin, The Star, Asia News Network/Selangor, Malaysia

Intolerance towards faith is partly to blame for the injustices, conflicts, suppression, terrorism and hegemony prevalent in the world.

The separation of Church from State after the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire and Renaissance in Europe formed the basis of the secular-republican-democrat philosophies in the West, while Eastern Europe opted for secular-communist-socialist ideals.

Colonization, imperialism and the war of ideologies saw these philosophies exported to the four corners of the world.

In the ensuing period, humanity experienced intolerance in various forms. Persecution of peoples of all religions during the imperialism and secularization of the East by European colonial powers, the Holocaust in Europe, apartheid in parts of Africa, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Indochina's conflicts, are some glaring examples of the horror of intolerance.

Many wars were fought; peoples were massacred, exterminated, chased off their lands while some suffered hundreds of years of subjugation and deprivation. Human dignity and the rights to self-determination were suppressed and foreign rule was forced upon peoples in the pursuit of wealth and economic gains.

Although many countries later became independent and were left to carve their own destinies, sometimes with blood and tears, some still seem to be struggling endlessly in pursuit of true independence.

Many former imperial and western colonies emerged as independent states, but in actuality, they are still economically and, sometimes, politically dependent on their former masters, or became subjugated by the international system that was established by the former colonizers in various forms.

Like communism, the existing western ideologies were devoid of religious values although they have successfully dominated followers of various religions.

In the West, religious beliefs and values were relegated to trifling roles and limited to the level of the individual. It has no significant role in the development of either the society or the state.

Although secular ideology was historically forced upon Turkey and other Muslim communities in parts of the world after the fall of the Ottoman empire it has failed to totally detach Muslims from Islam.

Islam continues to play an important role in the Muslim community worldwide, including in Malaysia.

Towards the end of the 20th century, Islamic revivalism has happened in Iran, Afghanis-tan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Chechnya.

Similarly, in the 14th century, Islam's influence on the Muslim communities South-East Asia was significantly reduced in terms of the government and its administration with the arrival of European colonial powers. Islam was relegated and restricted only to regulate affairs relating to the individual and the family.

While the Muslims were generally receptive and tolerant in accepting positive Western ideas which were consistent with Islam, the West, on the other hand, has been apprehensive and phobic about anything Islamic.

This has led to a stalemate and has given rise to the need for the establishment of a conducive and tolerant atmosphere among all religions.

Today, the community that we live in is not only multi- religious but is highly diversified in terms of culture, race, language and tradition.

It is therefore important that we look back on history and learn to appreciate the true meaning of independence and tolerance as taught by our respective religions.

We should not let ourselves be swayed and influenced by the manipulative ideologies which use the modern media, technology and other discreet approaches to undermine and destroy our independence.

It is only through the elimination of religious and racial prejudice that we can eradicate intolerance in our community.

Our forefathers fought hard and professed a vision for an independent and harmonious Malaysia.

As descendants, we should continue to foster better understanding, maintain religious harmony, and preserve our independence.

Malaysia has what it takes to prove to the world that diversity and tolerance within a multi-religious community can be a source of strength in building a harmonious society and maintaining true independence. Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

The writer is a Fellow, Center for Shariah, Law & Political Science, Malaysia Institute of Islamic Understanding.