THIS refers to the violence and loss of lives on Sept 21. Torching of police vehicles, pelting stones on law enforcement agencies and buildings, blocking roads, tearing down billboards and banners, and burning down cinema halls is in no way any indication of the love for the person whose honour we had vowed to protect. Does Islam need a bunch of bigots like us?

We have taken it onto ourselves to protect the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). But, in fact, we made a mockery of his teachings. We behaved like a tribe of monkeys, not a nation; a group of zealots, not a civilised community; harbingers of death and doom, and not messengers of peace and forgiveness like our Prophet was.

The responsibility for making a mockery of this nation and our religion lies with the federal government which took the decision of declaring a national holiday and allowed members of banned groups to go on the rampage despite knowing their destructive nature.

Instead of playing the populist card, the government and all religious and political groups should have used the day to promote the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet. They have done exactly the opposite by resorting to violence. Through their deeds they have strengthened the notion that there is some critical flaw in our thought process and the way we have been brought up as a faith group.

I am not surprised why the West presents us in a particular, derogatory way. The image of Islam, shared by some bigots and haters around the world, it appears has been inspired from our actions, not his teachings.

NOOR MUHAMMAD Islamabad