US official: Silence can embolden criminals
The American official’s comments assume significance in the light of criticism faced by PM Narendra Modi over his “silence” on the Dadri lynching, in which a 50-year-old man was lynched by a 200-strong mob over beef-eating rumours in Uttar Pradesh.
“Ensuring freedom calls for more than just enforcing laws. It means proactively speaking out — as public officials and private citizens. Silence can embolden the criminal and cruel, as in the lynching of a Muslim man last September, or burning of churches in Orissa,” she said.
The US official cautioned leaders from falling into the trap of invoking security to justify bigotry, profiling and or discrimination against one religion.
“Our own experiences remind us that no religious or political ideology is immune to violent extremism, from the history of white supremacists in the US to Maoist extremists here in India.
“Learning from the past we must avoid the trap of invoking security to justify bigotry, profiling, and discrimination against any religious or ethic group — including our Muslim bothers and sisters. That defies not only our deepest values, but strengthen the lies that groups like ISIS profess that democracies are somehow incompatible with Islam,” the official said.
She said the civil society and citizens can also go a step further in building ties with communities that are targeted by violent extremists for recruitment. “Govern-ments can give civil players a real seat at the table in policy development and ensure they have access to the resources and information they need to fully contribute,” she added.