IDEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHICAL BOUNDARIES -- ALTAF HUSSAIN

London – 5 October 2000

Mr Altaf Hussain, Founder and Leader of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), has stated that if an ideology is true with strong belief then the truthful power of the ideology overcomes all the territorial restrictions and crosses the geographical boundaries. Mr Hussain was addressing a study circle at the MQM International Secretariat in London.

Mr Hussain said that a true ideology is neither dependent nor confined to geographical boundaries. By studying the Islamic history we learn that the ideology of Islam originated from a small city of Mecca. The Infidels (Kafirs) of Mecca imposed obstructions and restrictions to prevent the spread and prosperity of this ideology. Even the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his Companions (May Allah bless them) were so brutally oppressed that they decided to migrate to Medina. However, in the end, with the truthful power of ideology, Mecca, from where the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his Companions (May Allah bless them) were compelled to migrate, was conquered. Subsequently, the entire Arab peninsula was conquered and the ideology of Islam crossed all geographical boundaries and even reached Europe. If we analyse any true ideology, either religious or scientific, then we come to the conclusion that a true ideology is neither dependent nor is confined to geographical boundaries. In comparison, a true ideology never changes with alterations in the geographical boundaries. A geographical area has its borders whereas a true ideology has no bounds and so it cannot be limited or confined to geographical boundaries. Moreover, the ethnic, linguistic and cultural identities can be limited to a certain geographical area whereas a true ideology based on facts, can never be limited to the restrictions of the geographical boundaries. If an originator of a true ideology were physically detained in a geographical boundary, even then his ideology would spread across the globe, crossing all the limitations of geographical boundaries. For example, if we take the religions of Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism then we see that the followers of these religions are present in every part of the world, which means these religious ideologies are not confined or restricted to a certain geographical boundary. Similarly, the scientific ideologies and theories presented by Einstein, Newton, Archimedes or others are not confined to geographical limitations. In fact, the universal truthfulness of these scientific ideologies and theories has made these ideologies to spread to every nook and corner of the world overcoming all territorial restrictions.

Mr Hussain said that those who try to confine and limit an ideology within a geographical boundary, in fact, are working against that ideology and committing a crime. Such people are the enemies of that ideology. Mr Hussain said that he has presented his views on “ideology and geographical boundaries” and would be happy and welcome constructive and educated comments from intellectuals.