Among the Believers (Urdu; 2015)
Pakistan is one living example how a country should not be ruled. Any country must have a clear demarcation between political and religious affairs of the state. The supreme law of the country must be kept secular. This, the foresighted founding fathers of America were clear on this. Many European countries, having endured bloodbaths at a time when the Church had a tight rein on the monarchs and the running of the country, have come to realise that these two branches need to be separated. Unfortunately, most of the Islamic faith cannot accept this demarcation as they believe the religion is all-encompassing and has the best set of rules to rule a family, a country or the whole world! On top of that, everyone has their own version of which is the correct one, theirs!
Scenes of the film remind me of a VHS tape I watched back in the late 80s. It was a grainy on-the-site recording of the violence at Kampung Memali. The same look in the eyes of people who were hellbent to protect their belief, the same trance-like state to defend their leader from seemingly unjust and evil oppressive government.
This documentary explores in depth of the activity in and around the Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) and its madrassahs in Pakistan. The caretaker of this iconic mosque is one charismatic Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi. He is an unapologetic ISIS supporter and a Taliban ally. His vision is to see Pakistan being imposed strict Sharia Law. His war path with the Pakistani Government started in 2007 when the military flattened his mosque, killing many of his family members including his only son.
Going against the path of destruction is a renowned MIT-trained nuclear physicist, a Pakistani, Pervez Hoodbhoy, who leads a crusade to maintain sanity in this land. He is seen having a one to one TV discourse with Maulana Aziz but it led nowhere.
Interspersed in this narrative are stories of teenage boys recruited by the madrassah network and their gruelling endeavours to memorise the Quran and of a teenage girl who is in a limbo whether to study or to be married off.
Looking at the turn of events of late, Jinnah, the founder of modern Pakistan, must be turning in his grave. He must be regretting the premise of the foundation of the country that he fought for. He wanted to build an exemplary nation based on Islamic principles. Clearly, it failed. He should have listened to Gandhi!
Scenes of the film remind me of a VHS tape I watched back in the late 80s. It was a grainy on-the-site recording of the violence at Kampung Memali. The same look in the eyes of people who were hellbent to protect their belief, the same trance-like state to defend their leader from seemingly unjust and evil oppressive government.
This documentary explores in depth of the activity in and around the Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) and its madrassahs in Pakistan. The caretaker of this iconic mosque is one charismatic Maulana Abdul Aziz Ghazi. He is an unapologetic ISIS supporter and a Taliban ally. His vision is to see Pakistan being imposed strict Sharia Law. His war path with the Pakistani Government started in 2007 when the military flattened his mosque, killing many of his family members including his only son.
Going against the path of destruction is a renowned MIT-trained nuclear physicist, a Pakistani, Pervez Hoodbhoy, who leads a crusade to maintain sanity in this land. He is seen having a one to one TV discourse with Maulana Aziz but it led nowhere.Interspersed in this narrative are stories of teenage boys recruited by the madrassah network and their gruelling endeavours to memorise the Quran and of a teenage girl who is in a limbo whether to study or to be married off.
Looking at the turn of events of late, Jinnah, the founder of modern Pakistan, must be turning in his grave. He must be regretting the premise of the foundation of the country that he fought for. He wanted to build an exemplary nation based on Islamic principles. Clearly, it failed. He should have listened to Gandhi!
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