On the 2nd of May the world woke up to the news ofOsama bin Laden’s death. The leader of Al-Qaeda who had eluded the most powerful army in the world today, for nearly a decade. A symbol of extreme Islam, killed by a single bullet to the head. With the threat of fuelling more hatred towards America in the minds of young Muslims, the immediate question here is not ‘How do we celebrate?’, rather, ‘How do we deal with this change in a delicate manner?’
Even before President Obama had officially revealed the news of the ‘successful’ raid on bin Laden’s compound at Abbottabad, Americans brimming with revived patriotism flocked to the streets to cheer Obama for his victory. On the other side were the Pakistani government, dumbstruck at what had unravelled in the dead of the night in their own backyard. The presidentAsif Ali Zardari had always denied that the government may be helping hide Bin Laden, and had sworn that they were helping officials around the world in stopping al-Qaeda. Now questions are arising as to whether the country can be trusted ever again. Indeed keeping the raid a secret from the government is telling of how much trust there is from the American government themselves. Hesitation towards Pakistan, certainly from America, can be felt despite Obama stating that ‘co-operation with Pakistan has helped lead us to bin Laden.’
A great number of Pakistanis are dubbing the incident as the ‘Osama drama’, claiming that Osama was not in the building where the raid had happened. In the wake of the first brutal revenge bombing at Shabqadar by the Taliban where 80 soldiers were killed, many feel they are being wrongfully punished. A Taliban spokesperson claimed that they were allies of America and therefore an enemy. America is putting pressure on Pakistan to fight the militants, while the militants are targeting Pakistan for it.
There is bitterness from some Pakistanis who feel that the sudden raid itself is a major breach of trust, and has violated international law by killing a man in such a way. Certainly some argue that Osama should never have been killed, but brought to trial lawfully, as was done with Saddam Hussein. There is anxiety over whether killing Osama has made him a martyr for some. No doubt that in some minds this will spur even more hate towards the ‘west.’ At such a sensitive time, Obama was right not to glorify his death, and not publicise the images of bin Laden’s corpse. The gruesome photographs would have profound psychological effects on many. Psychological studies have found that such images tend to increase emotional arousal, such as anger, and hinder objective logical thinking. These images lead to increased group identification. People in support of his killing, victims of al-Qaeda, would feel closer and stronger as a result. Studies show that this leads to somewhat unnatural behaviour, as sympathy would be given to members of the group who express racist views. As for people who share the views of al-Qaeda’s, images of his corpse will increase sympathy for extremist groups and will increase hostility towards those seen as enemies of what he stood for.
Already some Muslims feel that their traditions have not been respected, due to the improper burial of Osama’s body, which was buried at sea. President Obama explained that this was to stop militant groups creating a shrine for the al-Qaeda leader.
Such a milestone in the fight against extremist Islam is also a very delicate matter, and how it is dealt with will benefit the fight for peace and freedom in the long term. His death must not be celebrated so blatantly in the face of delicate young Muslim minds who do feel oppressed by the West. The videos released of an aging Osama, covered in a blanket in a bordered up room as opposed to the strong young man he comes across in his propaganda videos, is being interpreted to show how deceitful he was in order to make his followers and enemies believe that he was as strong as ever. What needs to be realised is that to others, it shows an old man, who had fought for a decade for what him and his followers felt was defending the right of Islam, who was in hiding from an aggressive opponent, and whom, in the end, shot him dead mercilessly.
I, for one, am grateful that the Arab revolution, showing young Muslims fighting for a religious and politically free country, is going on at a time where such a killing threatens to radicalise. However, for the security of a better more peaceful future, Osama Bin Ladens death should not be celebrated, and SHOULD NOT be glorified, however non – deserving he is of respect.
I think yes, mam
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