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From Anti-Zionist to Zionist: An interview with Noor Dahri
APRIL 28, 2016, 1:03 AM 1
Noor DahriNoor Dahri is a director of Pakistan Israel Alliance (PIA) and Editor in Chief of the Newspaper Pak Israel News … [More]
- Why did you join the Zionist Movement?
As I told you before, I was taught to hate Jews. They manipulated many religious texts in efforts to spread hatred towards other religions. I must mention the name of a kind lady, who was not only my colleague but my first Jewish friend in my life.
Eli Bar On, who educated me about what Israel or Israeli society is.
Additionally, she helped me in my debate and conversation with other Jews on social media. I monitored every conversation with Jews on social media in detail, particularly paying attention to every statement they used. Sometimes there existed bad people and extremes in the Jewish community. What inspired me the most, was that those bad individuals on social media from the Jewish community were a tiny minority and also were strongly condemned by their own Jewish community.
It took me nearly 2 years to fully understand what the truth was and what the reality of Israel is. It was not only through social media or engaging in a one sided story but I studied many books, articles, videos, testimonies and many other things in research to judge and evaluate what the fact is. No doubt, there are so many conflicts between both communities and there are many political and religious extreme elements that do not want them to get to together. Overall, I felt that the Jewish community rushes to accept peace at any cost which helped me change my mind. This is the primary reason I chose to join Zionism. I already accepted the basic cause of Zionism, however I was waiting for the right time and when I was invited by the ZF -UK for an initial introductory meeting, I then decided adherence to Zionism. I have already written about “Why i joined the Zionist Movement”.
Through this platform, I will gather Muslims and Jews and educate them how to live in coexistence and we must unify to fight against antisemitism and Islamophobia.
- The world always blames Israel and what is a Zionist, what do you think about it?
We as Muslims have been ordered by Allah in Qur’an to find the truth, even if the truth goes against us (or against my community), and this is what I do to spread G-d’s mission.
What is a Zionist? This is a complicated question, but I will try to make it short. In order to understand what a Zionist is, we must study what Zionism is. Without knowing Zionism, we cannot understand Zionists. Imagine! I am a very strong religious Muslim who spent most of life spreading the message of my religion, Islam. Now I turned into a Zionist and proudly announce it publicly, even though it is a risk to my life. The world needs to understand the main objectives of Zionism. To the Israeli, the Zionist Federation may be an advocacy movement or a politically supportive organisation.
BUT for me, Zionism is an ideology that counters all other offensive, extreme and violent ideologies currently present in the world
People ask me if the Islamic ideology isn’t enough to educate the world about peace. No doubt, Islam is a religion of peace but unfortunately Islamic political and religious leaders changed the religious shape of Islam into that of a political one. This political shape is not worthy of peace, but only hate and killing those who do not adopt to the Political Islamic ideology. For me, this is what a Zionist is. It is not only understanding about a political form of Zionism but to fully adapt it as an ideology.
- Are there other Muslim movement?
This is the fear we need to talk about and we need to work on it.
People in Pakistan are in a rush to support Israel and the mission of the Zionist Federation movement but because of the fear of a religious and a political persecution, they cannot raise their voice up. I hope one day, I will be successful to make a platform where I would gather all my people who support Israel and the ZF movement from these communities. It will bring a new change.
- What does the Pakistani community think about supporting Israel?
If someone shows them the historical, political and religious facts, I believe my nation will accept the truth.
Since I joined the Zionist Federation, many people from my community showed their solidarity and support which is a very brave step for them. I was not expecting any single Pakistani to stand firm with me but many have proved they are willing to seek the truth. I know more people from my community will join my cause if my peaceful voice goes worldwide. It is not an easy task when my life and security can be in danger by Islamists. However, obviously someone has to carry on this great burden which is a Prophetic mission for me.
At the End, I want to thank ZF-UK chairman Paul Charney and ED Arieh Miller and other ZF’s officials for providing me an international platform to educate my people of the facts about Israel and the Jewish community.
I hope, one day people around the world, particularly the Pakistani community, will embrace the truth. I see, the day is very close.
My Interview in the Hebrew language
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/from-anti-zionist-to-zionist-an-interview-with-noor-dahri/