UO sets up Study Group on Islamophobia

Okara (HRNW) The University of Okara has set up a scientific study group to conduct research on the rising trends of Islamophobia in the western word and chalk out action plan to counter this phenomenon through the training of youth.

While talking to the students and teachers of the UO, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Dr Muhammad Zakria Zakar, highlighted the objectives of the study group as saying, “In the modern world, there is going on a war of ideas and if we really want to counter anti-Muslim sentiments, we need to do it through building our strong narratives and discourses instead of resorting to violence”.

Quoting one of his own research articles, Dr Zakar told that the basis of rising Islamophobia was that the right wing extremists of the western societies tended to blame the weaknesses of their own system on Islam and Muslims.

“The western societies argue that the Muslims, who live in their countries, make no scientific and technological contribution to their nations, thus, they become liabilities on their welfare system”.

The VC argued that Pakistan’s universities should have prepared the youth in a way that when they move to non-Muslim western countries for education or employment, they contribute to their well-being and prove to be assets.

He further said that the universities should have worked on creating civic sense, respect for rule of law and respect for the cultural values of others in the youth.

Dr Zakar also argued that the Muslim scholars, artists and authors should have highlighted the constructive aspects of Islamic civilizations through their works so that the west could get to know the real face of Islam.

The VC revealed that the UO was working on establishing a center where the aspirants of migration to America and Europe could take crash courses and trainings about the legal and cultural system of those societies.