FROM NALANDA TO MERSEILLE: ISLAMIC BARBARISM IS THE ONLY CONSTANT

Overview

On June 30, 2023 the largest public library in France, the Marseille library was burnt down by the rioters. The burning of the library has significant parallels with the burning of Indian universities by Islamic invaders around 1200 AD. Both incidents involved the destruction of valuable cultural and intellectual heritage by fire, and both were motivated by religious intolerance and violence. However, they also occurred in different historical contexts, had different scales of impact, and had different responses from the affected communities. These two incidents show how fire can be used as a weapon to erase the memory and identity of people or a civilization. They also show how important it is to preserve and protect our cultural heritage from violence and intolerance.

muslims in EU, Norway and Switzerland in 2050

Islamisation of Europe

The question of compatibility of Islam with secular-minded, liberal European values has been raised time and again. There are some significant trends in change in demography of European countries which are ringing alarm bells for the European policy makers. The refugee crisis is at the core of this problem. Among the immigrants the majority are from Muslim community. As per a Pew Research Muslims are the fastest growing community in most of the western European nations.

Between 2010 and 2016, while the non-Muslim population in Europe declined by 1.67 Million, the Muslim population rose by almost 3 Million, this is mainly owing to higher fertility rates amongst Muslim community. In addition every 3 out of 4 refugee immigrants in Europe in the above duration were Muslim. Even as per most

conservative estimates with zero immigration the Muslim population is stated to become a significant minority community in major European nations, with France (12.7%), Sweden (11.1%), UK (9.7%), Germany (8.7%) leading the pack. The percentage share in population shoot up rapidly if the current rate of immigration is continued, rising to as high as 30% in Sweden.

The effect of this demographic shift are already visible in the rapid rise in violence, intolerance and crime in these developed countries. In contrast if you look at Muslim dominant Arab countries like UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc., they have relatively peaceful version of Islam. One of the reasons for this difference is the religious homogeny and dominance of Islam in these nations. But in contrast Europe has accumulated radical Islamists who are not interested in the liberal setup of the west and want to spread the message of Jihad, as evident from the large number of recruits ISIS got from the European countries.

Lessons from India

Islam first arrived in India through trade and missionary activities in the 7th century CE, mostly in the coastal regions of Kerala, Gujarat, and Sindh. But the 10th century witnessed Islamic invaders plundering, looting urban centers of wealth and culture in India resorting to violence. Warlords from Afghanistan and Central Asia such as the Ghaznavids sought to loot the legendary wealth of India, mostly hoarded in temples. Fuel for these raids was provided by the religious zeal to wipe out the land of Hindus. Mahmud of Ghazni (971–1030) is notorious for destroying hundreds of Hindu temples and idols, such as the Somnath temple in Gujarat, and massacring thousands of Hindus.

Something similar is being witnessed in the present day Europe, where most urban centers now have ring of immigrant population surrounding the city centers. These urban centers have witnessed terror attacks, riots and rising intolerance with the number of incidents

muslim population growth europe between 2010 and 2016

The phase of Delhi Sultanate saw imposition of Islam and torture on non-Islamic people in India. Destruction of temple and constructing mosque in their place, imposition of Jizya tax are some of the many examples.

Centers of education like Nalanda and Vikramshila University where students came from across the globe to study were pain in the eyes of intolerant islamist invaders. India’s Nalanda University was founded more than 500 years before the Oxford University and was home to nine million books and attracted 10,000 students from around the world.

In 1193, the Nalanda University was destroyed by the Islamic fanatic Bakhtiyar Khilji of Tukic origin. The Persian historian Minhaj-i-Siraj, in his chronicle the Tabaquat-I-Nasiri, reported that thousands of monks were burned alive and thousands beheaded as Khilji tried his best to uproot Buddhism and plant Islam by the sword; the burning of the library continued for several months and smoke from the burning manuscripts hung for days like a dark pall over the low hills. This ended in total decline by 1197 CE.

The burning of universities in India, library in France and destruction of Bamiyan Buddha in Afghanistan are all symbols of cultural barbarism and attempts to wipe out the cultural heritage from the memory of citizens and the identity of the civilization.

Latest France Riots

The latest riots in France are a result of the widespread anger and frustration that erupted after the killing of a 17-year-old teenager named Nahel M, who had Algerian and Moroccan heritage, during a traffic stop near Paris on Tuesday. The incident sparked violent protests across France, especially in the low-income, racially mixed suburbs that ring major French cities, where many residents complain of discrimination, police violence, and systemic racism. The riots have also been fueled by social media, which has spread videos and messages of solidarity among the protesters.

The riots have been marked by incidents such as:

Burning vehicles, shops, public buildings, and institutions, including the largest public library in Marseille.
Looting banks, supermarkets, police vehicles, and stores.
Erecting barricades and throwing stones, bottles, and fireworks at the police.
Attacking town halls, police stations, schools, and the home of a conservative mayor.
Clashing with the police, who have used tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse the crowds.

The riots have led to:

Hundreds of arrests and injuries on both sides.
A nationwide ban on bus and tram services.
A deployment of 45,000 police officers across the country to restore order.
A postponement of President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Germany due to the unrest.
A warning from China and some Western countries to their citizens to be vigilant due to the unrest.

The riots have also raised questions about:

The accountability and transparency of the police force in France.
The integration and inclusion of the Muslim and immigrant communities in France.
The social and economic inequalities that plague many French suburbs.
The role of social media in spreading misinformation and inciting violence.

Timeline of attacks on Cultural Heritage in France

The burning of the largest public library in Marseille by rioters on 30 June 2023, as part of the violent protests. The library, which contained nearly a million documents, was set on fire by rioters. The fire damaged the library building and its collections.
The vandalism of several churches and statues across France by anti-racism activists in 2020 and 2021. Some of the targets included statues of historical figures, such as Jean-Baptiste, Louis XIV, or Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 2021, French politicians, and journalists criticized certain social science theories imported from the United States. These theories were accused of fueling secessionism, abetting Islamism, and attacking France’s intellectual and cultural heritage.
In April 2021, a French policewoman was stabbed to death in an Islamic terror attack. The perpetrator shouted Allahu Akbar as per the official statement.
In October 2020, a school teacher is beheaded outside his school in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine after showing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad to his students. The French society once again got divided with stark rift between the radical islamists and largely open minded french public.
In Feb 2020, a teenage girl received death threats and had to skip school after she spoke against homophobic abuse received from a Muslim commentator.
July 2016: A truck is driven into crowds of people celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, killing 86 people and injuring hundreds more. The attack was done by an Islamic state sympathizer.
November 2015: A series of coordinated terrorist attacks are carried out in Paris, killing 130 people and injuring hundreds more. The attacks target the Bataclan concert hall, cafés and restaurants, and the national sports stadium. It has been called as the worst peace time attack on French soil.
January 2015: Two gunmen attack the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, killing 12 people. It has been considered as a direct attack on the espoused French values of liberty and freedom of speech. The greater concern has been the support the attackers got from radical elements within France.

These are just a few of the many Islamist attacks that have taken place in France in recent years. The attacks have had a profound impact on French society, and have led to increased security measures and a more divided political climate.