The Role of Sufism in the Identity Construction, Mobilization and Political Activism of the Barelwi Movement in Pakistan

<span class="abs_content">This article intends to analyze the forms of political activism of the Barelwi movement, one specific Sufism oriented religious movement rooted in the 19th century, which has gradually politicized through Pakistani history. It has played a widely ignored rol...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor principal: Alix Philippon
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Coordinamento SIBA 2014
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/a6bafa2be50649119b659ba1ad3cc600
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
Descripción
Sumario:<span class="abs_content">This article intends to analyze the forms of political activism of the Barelwi movement, one specific Sufism oriented religious movement rooted in the 19th century, which has gradually politicized through Pakistani history. It has played a widely ignored role in the politics of Pakistan, may it be in party politics, social movements, or through the islamization of society. There are today about forty Barelwi or-ganizations differently located on a scale of politicization, protest and radicalization. These “neo Sufi or-ders” have constructed a distinct Sufi identity and evolved different strategies to defend their version of Islam and fight for an Islamic State, an endeavor which they call the system of the Prophet (Nizam-e Mus-tafa). The organizational form they adopted is a mixture of a Sufi order, an activist association and for some, a political party. In the framework of the “War against terror”, mainly targeting their more reformist doctrinal challengers, the Barelwi presence in the public sphere has increased. The different groups of the movement have organized many conferences and demonstrations aiming both at denouncing the “talibanization” of Pakistan and at reasserting the role of Sufis in the promotion of an Islam of “peace, love and tolerance” in contemporary Pakistan. Paradoxically, this movement has also undergone a process of radicalization, thus blurring the lines between peaceful activism and violent direct action.</span><br />