IIn another case of oversensitivity, and blowing things way out of proportion, Kashmiri Muslims took to the streets in protest over a Swedish tourist’s use of Qur’anic verses on his Ski gear. The irony of the whole situation is that the Swede’s wife is a Muslim, and recommended he place the verses on his gear for protection. Apparently

“it is a tradition in many Islamic countries to take things inscribed with Holy verses along during a journey for warding off evil and danger.”

I don’t know if this is true or not, but obviously there are those who do.

So, we have this poor man who decides to go skiing in Kashmir, rather than say Switzerland, is pumping money into the Kashmiri economy, and he gets arrested because 2 cable car employees decide he offended their sensibilities. There are conflicting reports about what happened thereafter; one source claims he was beaten up by a crowd in Gulmarg, and was rescued by the police, another states that the 2 employees delivered him to the police, demanding he be punished. What we do know, however, is that since the incident on Saturday, demonstrations erupted in areas surrounding Srinagar, on Sunday:

“In Nowhatta, Maisuma, Zaldagar and Nawabazar localities of the city, scores of angry youth pelted stones at police.”

Shouting anti-America, anti-Israel and anti-Sweden slogans, the protesters in Srinagar termed it as a deliberate attempt on part of the European tourist.

Honestly, do Muslims really think a foreign tourist would be stupid enough to deliberately do something to offend them? I think not.

One protester in Maisuma Chowk said:

“Entire Europe and Israel is against Muslims. You can see what Israel is doing in Gaza and Lebanon so such things are very much expected from a Sweden tourist. They should be banned from visiting Kashmir.”

And perhaps that is the solution, travel to places that we won’t fear offending someone for something we have no clue is offensive. I think he’ll pick Switzerland next time, and there go the tourist Euros for Kashmir.

The poor man has apologized for not realizing he offended, but he’s still in custody and 2 tour guides were also arrested. But my question is, why does it always have to turn into a mob mentality? Why must it always turn violent? Why can’t they just acknowledge something was offensive, voice their displeasure and move on?! Why?!