How to use PQ Content for Developing a Counter Narrative
~ Abid Ullah Jan
Attention Teachers, Parents and Youth Workers
The content on PeaceQuest is also intended to help develop messages and narratives that counter the misconceptions that incite violence and hatred.
Some individuals become so preoccupied with a misperceptions about Islam and Muslims that they join an extremist groups that promises to use violence to make change happen.
Parents, teachers and youth workers are in best position to understand the content we are sharing through PeaceQuest because a direct message from Muslims and Islamic sources is viewed as having a hidden agenda.
It is not possible for “outsiders” to share a counter narrative because these groups — especially if they experience opposition from mainstream society—to isolate themselves, where they increasingly rely on their own members for information, confirmation, and justification. Ignoring outside voices, extremist groups can drift further into extremism and ultimately into violence.
It is therefore important for parents, teachers, youth workers, sport coaches to understand the jest of PeaceQuest and convey it in their own specific ways for impact. For instance the message is so simple and straight forward as follows:
1. Don’t perceive Muslims as enemies because they don’t perceive non-Muslims their ememies
2. Muslims consider achieving human excellence as the ultimate success, not engaging in hatred and violence.
3. Islam doesn’t teach anti-Semitism and Muslims don’t hate Jewish people. Here is the proof in the words of a well-known and respected Rabbi.
4. No religion teaches hate.
5. Islam doesn’t support suicide bombing and there is no concept of 72 virgins for suicide operations in Islam. Also see:
– Part 1 – 72 Virgins: Setting the context
– Part 2 – 72 Virgins: The Myth
– Part 3 – 72 Virgins: The Reality
6. Islam has an interesting logic and perfect rationale for its system of motivating human being to do what is good for them and fellow human beings.
7. The Quran doesn’t promote violence and encourage going to the extremes.
8. There is no place for extremism in Islam. Muslims have to be moderate by default – not to wear a label of moderatism to be acceptable. There is no place for extreme behaviour/actions in Islam. Period.
9. Islam has the most thorough framework of human rights as opposed to associating human rights violations being associated with Islam.
10. The Quran doesn’t inspire extremism
11. Muslims respect and appreciate the essence of our common humanity
12. Islamic teachings inspire Muslims to do good and serve the humanity as their primary obligation and purpose of life
13. Despite some extremists misusing Islam, there is no Islamic content or teachings that inspires radicalization.
14. “Radicalization”: Causes, myth and reality Radicalization”: Causes, myth and reality.