Fatima Bhutto's love for her country, and her devotion to the true essence of Islam, make this story all the more heartbreaking.
Her description of the perversion of Islam makes me reflect on the Christian right's fascist, zionist, perversion of the teachings of Jesus. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, all have in their original sources and essences, beauty, mystery, wisdom, but the perversions of these faiths is what makes me allergic to organized religion.
I grieve for Pakistan and recognize that it is a warning for so many of us in other places that the same can happen anywhere. Thank you so much for this incredible article and so eloquently linking animal abuse and human abuse in Pakistan. That is something we have been trying to do here for years and your article does it so powerfully and credibly; I will be sharing it widely among my fellow animal advocates so they can share it with those with the power to act. And hopefully it will enlighten them as to how society collapses into cruelty, abuse, desensitization and disconnection when people's basic needs and rights aren't provided, cared for and respected.
EXCELLENT depiction of the treacheries committed to animals and humans alike. One wonders what happened to the conscious of this nation. Those in power persecute and kill humans while taking care of their pets while poor and the downtrodden take out their vengeance on animals.
These are certainly not the acts of Muslims and those who commit them will NOT receive any intercession of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), on the Day of Judgement.
Quran 5:32-33 Almighty Allah clearly States:
"If any one who kills a human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind; and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the whole mankind.
As regards treatment of animals, Quran states;
" We sent you not, but as mercy for "all creatures".
Humans are responsible for caring for animals and that cruelty to animals is displeasing to Almighty Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) treated animals in his possession with kindness and compassion. Once while marching out of Medinah for a Ghazwa (War) with his army, he noticed a (she) dog feeding her pups. prophet Muhammad PBUH, halted and ordered his fighters to change their course so as not to disturb them.
With all the acts of cruelty mentioned, in this excellent article, are we even entitled to be followers of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). If we don't then we are certainly not entitled to call ourselves Muslims.
It would be incorrect to attribute cruelty to animals (ie through “vengeance”) to “the poor and downtrodden”, some of those in power cause suffering and death to all living beings, and you are correct they don’t deserve to call themselves Muslims, or any other religion for that matter. maybe you might find this ruling by a Chief Justice of Pakistan of importance and interest https://www.nonhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Islamabad-High-Court-decision-in-Kaavan-case.pdf
So… you’re saying that the good Muslims of Pakistan are letting themselves be ruled by infidels and apostates? Or that the latter are the majority? Where are the imams loudly and insistently denouncing the corrupt and the cruel? Are they afraid, or are they complicit?
What is wrong with this picture?
And other nations allegedly guided by other “faiths” can’t gloat of their superiority. Satan seems to have the upper hand in this whole world. Good hearted people are crying out for the True God to act.
What do you think? Is He saying “you have to save yourselves, not my job”? I don’t think so. A harsh day of reckoning is just ahead.
Fantastically captures the overall problems of Pakistan. As country, Pakistan should learn from failures but the leaders don’t deemed themselves as failed leaders.
And the United States needs to quit meddling in the Pakistanis affairs, as we just did when we gave a wink and a nod to the military's overthrow and imprisonment of the democratically elected leader Imran Khan.
So true- “There is seemingly no respite from it, no shelter from the constant barrage of news of violence, torture, and pain no matter what country’s newspaper you are reading.” The nation states need to rethink their roles and devolve more control to the local level especially over food water and hygiene while ensuring minority including gender fluid rights at the national level.
Good article about human suffering and the horrific cruelty to animals. Animals are innocent and cannot defend themselves against the human predator. I don't understand how any people can inflict such cruelty on both levels. It's sad the government over there is unable to improve both human and animal lives, both deserve better. Fatima, you should contact PETA, as they work worldwide to help stop cruelty to animals.
As a Muslim, I recall my mother always telling me to be kind to animals because they cannot communicate to you, just like infants, and that hurting them will result in them cursing you, which Allah does not ignore. I really don't know how parents are raising men these days. My guess is that many of these people inflicting harm on animals have gone through abuse themselves at some point.
What is written here contains much truth and the obvious anguish of the author, the pain written of should cause reflection to any sober minded compassionate human reading it. I have observed both human and non-human (animal) issues in Pakistan for a few years now, and know this account to be factual. However, I wish to offer hope and I do so by referring the author and the reader to a Judgement made by Chief Justice Athar Minallah at the High Court in Islamabad concerning the rights inherent in having the gift of “life” - regardless of whether life refers to human or to non-human living beings. The Judgment is made against the former Marghazar Zoo Islamabad, which, in a complete change of direction is now the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Centre. The wide ranging issues he raises make the judgement stand out as an example of the best of wisdom and compassion in a court of law anywhere in the world, they deserve to be read in full. The highest aspirations of human ethics are present in Pakistan if only the mundane law breakers would get the hell out of the way! I absolutely agree that cruelty of the kind written about be the author should serve as a warning about non-human and human existence. ‘The right to life of humans is dependent upon the welfare, wellbeing and conservation of all animal species.’ CJ Athar Minallah, The High Court, Islamabad, 2020. https://www.nonhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Islamabad-High-Court-decision-in-Kaavan-case.pdf
My father also hails from Karachi. I remember very little of it, having visited only once when I was 5. This was very sobering, and honestly a little surprising - I know Pakistan can charitably be described as "troubled," but your article paints a picture far worse than I imagined.
Another sign that the world is coming apart. It won't be much longer before everything blows up and a lot of people will be killed and displaced. The Hindus are a pot simmering everywhere in this region and they will rage and kill anyone and everyone like a wildfire once it starts.
A very well written article. Author should have once mentioned the Bhutto family and cohorts ruling the Sindh province for last 5 decades.
Fatima Bhutto's love for her country, and her devotion to the true essence of Islam, make this story all the more heartbreaking.
Her description of the perversion of Islam makes me reflect on the Christian right's fascist, zionist, perversion of the teachings of Jesus. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, all have in their original sources and essences, beauty, mystery, wisdom, but the perversions of these faiths is what makes me allergic to organized religion.
I grieve for Pakistan and recognize that it is a warning for so many of us in other places that the same can happen anywhere. Thank you so much for this incredible article and so eloquently linking animal abuse and human abuse in Pakistan. That is something we have been trying to do here for years and your article does it so powerfully and credibly; I will be sharing it widely among my fellow animal advocates so they can share it with those with the power to act. And hopefully it will enlighten them as to how society collapses into cruelty, abuse, desensitization and disconnection when people's basic needs and rights aren't provided, cared for and respected.
So tragic, l blames mostly to Pakistani Army whose budget is two thirds of whole country’s and politicians who up to now doing nothing 😥
EXCELLENT depiction of the treacheries committed to animals and humans alike. One wonders what happened to the conscious of this nation. Those in power persecute and kill humans while taking care of their pets while poor and the downtrodden take out their vengeance on animals.
These are certainly not the acts of Muslims and those who commit them will NOT receive any intercession of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), on the Day of Judgement.
Quran 5:32-33 Almighty Allah clearly States:
"If any one who kills a human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind; and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the whole mankind.
As regards treatment of animals, Quran states;
" We sent you not, but as mercy for "all creatures".
Humans are responsible for caring for animals and that cruelty to animals is displeasing to Almighty Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) treated animals in his possession with kindness and compassion. Once while marching out of Medinah for a Ghazwa (War) with his army, he noticed a (she) dog feeding her pups. prophet Muhammad PBUH, halted and ordered his fighters to change their course so as not to disturb them.
With all the acts of cruelty mentioned, in this excellent article, are we even entitled to be followers of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). If we don't then we are certainly not entitled to call ourselves Muslims.
Allah Knows Best.
It would be incorrect to attribute cruelty to animals (ie through “vengeance”) to “the poor and downtrodden”, some of those in power cause suffering and death to all living beings, and you are correct they don’t deserve to call themselves Muslims, or any other religion for that matter. maybe you might find this ruling by a Chief Justice of Pakistan of importance and interest https://www.nonhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Islamabad-High-Court-decision-in-Kaavan-case.pdf
So… you’re saying that the good Muslims of Pakistan are letting themselves be ruled by infidels and apostates? Or that the latter are the majority? Where are the imams loudly and insistently denouncing the corrupt and the cruel? Are they afraid, or are they complicit?
What is wrong with this picture?
And other nations allegedly guided by other “faiths” can’t gloat of their superiority. Satan seems to have the upper hand in this whole world. Good hearted people are crying out for the True God to act.
What do you think? Is He saying “you have to save yourselves, not my job”? I don’t think so. A harsh day of reckoning is just ahead.
Fantastically captures the overall problems of Pakistan. As country, Pakistan should learn from failures but the leaders don’t deemed themselves as failed leaders.
And the United States needs to quit meddling in the Pakistanis affairs, as we just did when we gave a wink and a nod to the military's overthrow and imprisonment of the democratically elected leader Imran Khan.
This was sickening to read…but important. Thank you for shedding light on this
So true- “There is seemingly no respite from it, no shelter from the constant barrage of news of violence, torture, and pain no matter what country’s newspaper you are reading.” The nation states need to rethink their roles and devolve more control to the local level especially over food water and hygiene while ensuring minority including gender fluid rights at the national level.
Thank you, so much, for the information & insight ❣️
Good article about human suffering and the horrific cruelty to animals. Animals are innocent and cannot defend themselves against the human predator. I don't understand how any people can inflict such cruelty on both levels. It's sad the government over there is unable to improve both human and animal lives, both deserve better. Fatima, you should contact PETA, as they work worldwide to help stop cruelty to animals.
As a Muslim, I recall my mother always telling me to be kind to animals because they cannot communicate to you, just like infants, and that hurting them will result in them cursing you, which Allah does not ignore. I really don't know how parents are raising men these days. My guess is that many of these people inflicting harm on animals have gone through abuse themselves at some point.
Please don’t blame mothers, fathers are raising them too.
yes, you are right. I will correct my comment.
What is written here contains much truth and the obvious anguish of the author, the pain written of should cause reflection to any sober minded compassionate human reading it. I have observed both human and non-human (animal) issues in Pakistan for a few years now, and know this account to be factual. However, I wish to offer hope and I do so by referring the author and the reader to a Judgement made by Chief Justice Athar Minallah at the High Court in Islamabad concerning the rights inherent in having the gift of “life” - regardless of whether life refers to human or to non-human living beings. The Judgment is made against the former Marghazar Zoo Islamabad, which, in a complete change of direction is now the Margalla Wildlife Rescue Centre. The wide ranging issues he raises make the judgement stand out as an example of the best of wisdom and compassion in a court of law anywhere in the world, they deserve to be read in full. The highest aspirations of human ethics are present in Pakistan if only the mundane law breakers would get the hell out of the way! I absolutely agree that cruelty of the kind written about be the author should serve as a warning about non-human and human existence. ‘The right to life of humans is dependent upon the welfare, wellbeing and conservation of all animal species.’ CJ Athar Minallah, The High Court, Islamabad, 2020. https://www.nonhumanrights.org/wp-content/uploads/Islamabad-High-Court-decision-in-Kaavan-case.pdf
Extremely hard to read; but extremely important to report.
My father also hails from Karachi. I remember very little of it, having visited only once when I was 5. This was very sobering, and honestly a little surprising - I know Pakistan can charitably be described as "troubled," but your article paints a picture far worse than I imagined.
Thank you for opening my eyes.
Very tough to read but it had to be said. Thank goodness for your voice.
Another sign that the world is coming apart. It won't be much longer before everything blows up and a lot of people will be killed and displaced. The Hindus are a pot simmering everywhere in this region and they will rage and kill anyone and everyone like a wildfire once it starts.