Monday, Jan 27, 2003
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By Amit Baruah
Admitting "mistakes'' by some Muslims, he said that the Western world was using "psychological operations'' to make Islam the source of violence. This image would allow the West to unleash more horrible violence in the world. On the question of the "enemy" image, Mr. Khatami said if none existed, one would be created. Pointing to the violence in today's world, he referred to the events of September 11, but said terrorist attacks had also taken place against the people of Palestine. The U.S. was a strong nation, he told a gathering of Indian Muslim academics and preachers. There were some people, he said, who needed "enemies'' to maintain their power. If they have "enemies'', then they could allot large budgets to pursue their expansionist policies. Mr. Khatami pointed out that a monotheist Islam had been enriched by its arrival in India — by taking in Indian forms of spirituality and mysticism. He said Indian Muslims had played and were playing a very important role. "The blood of Muslims and Hindus was shed together for the birth of a new India,'' Mr. Khatami said, adding that the method of struggle adopted by Mahatma Gandhi was a unique one. ``As an Iranian Muslim, I would like to pay tribute to the Muslims and non-Muslims of India,'' he said, stressing that Indian Muslims should work to strengthen and develop the country. Religious conflict would only go to strengthen the "enemies inside''. India had a very important position in the world and could only develop in the hands of Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs — in essence as a plural nation. Mr. Khatami admitted that Islam was facing many questions today. "We should not deny that these questions exist,'' he said. Calling for the presentation of new religious thoughts, he said such thoughts would allow Islam to remain sustainable. An Islam that relied on democracy would be sustainable, Mr. Khatami said making his preference for the democratic system clear. "Doesn't democracy have less shortcomings as opposed to dictatorship'' he asked his audience. The President stressed the importance of justice, peace and democracy.
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