The Express Tribune: by Yaqoob Khan Bangash.

The governor of Punjab, Latif Khosa, remarked on September 22, that while Pope Benedict XVI has spoken out against the case of Rimsha Masih, the Vatican has remained silent on the anti-Islam film. Excusing the fact that the honourable governor has not had a chance to catch up on the news to realise that the Vatican did, indeed, condemn the film on September 12, 2012 — later calling it “unjustified offence and provocations against the sensibilities of Muslim believers,” which was carried by news agencies of several Muslim countries — the comment raises a couple of further issues.

First is the issue of reciprocity. Since the sentiments of Muslims around the world were hurt by the vile film, the governor — quite naturally — wanted the sentiment reciprocated from members of other religions. This expectation is not undue since an attack on one religion can easily translate into an attack on another religion. However, such sentiments can only exist in reciprocity. When theVatican spoke out against the arrest of 12-year-old Rimsha Masih, it was representing the hurt sentiments of the Christian community in Pakistan and around the world. Similarly, it felt the hurt and indignation of the Muslim community in the current scenario. However, very rarely are these sentiments reciprocated by the Muslim community when Christian sentiments are hurt.

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