Shaan Shahid tweeted something inappropriate and Pakistani Twitter is calling it as an ‘incitement to violence’.
Many of us know Shaan Shahid for films like Khuda Kay Liye, Waar and Arth 2: The Destination. What most of us don’t know is that he also happens to be quite vocal on social media.
Recently, Shaan quoted a saying from Muslim emperor Salahuddin Ayoubi (it wasn’t by the emperor, but more on that later). It just ended up rubbing people the wrong way.
“Kill the traitors before your enemies.”
— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) June 7, 2019
ALSO READ
Veena Malik Gets Called Out After Saying that Aurat March Was ‘Humiliating for Women’
Some might attribute his tweet to being nationalistic and patriotic, but not everyone saw it that way. People were taken aback (even scared) that Shaan was implying something more deadly.
A teacher from LUMS certainly saw it that way:
What is the meaning of this tweet? Looks like an open incitement to violence. Extremely irresponsible and frightening given the current context.
— Nida Kirmani (@NidaKirmani) June 7, 2019
To this Shaan responded with ‘can’t a guy just quote a historical tweet around here?‘
It’s said by Salhuddin Ayubi not by captain ayubi.. pls stop matching it with your own concpiracy theory 🙏🏼.. so if I quote anything you will paste it as a current scenario opinion .. it is not just quoting history❤️🙏🏼
— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) June 7, 2019
The Majajan actor then tried to clarify his comments. However, seeing as the quote was wrongly attributed to Salahuddin, people decided to set the record straight.
Bhai jan this is a translation from the Latin phrase 'Si vis pacem, para bellum' from a 4th/5th century book by Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus's titled 'De Re Militari'
— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) June 10, 2019
The quote Shaan used is not even from Salahuddin. It originated from the Latin phrase Si vis pacem, para bellum. Turns out its also the name of an episode from Star Trek: Discovery.
Some more history lessons, this time on Pakistani cinema.
I wonder why Shaan keeps forgetting abt his father’s struggle & progressive cinema. In the 70’s his late father Riaz Shahid, a renowned socialist film maker, journalist was a thorn in the eyes of establishment. He was labelled a traitor by Jamat-e-Islami.
— Zohra (@Zohrakhan1222) June 8, 2019
ALSO READ
These Are All the Pakistani Films that Got Banned
It gets pretty intense from here:
https://twitter.com/NB11234/status/1137112121752395777
We make peace with our enemies
We have dialogue with our enemies not our friends.
We delay the possibility of a war through negotiations
Jumping into war is never an option not even when war is declared.https://t.co/TuRBLYtWxy— Sarwat Ali (@sonisarwat) June 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/manzarbashir/status/1137343079403413507
Research Is Important
In the age of the Internet, people ought to do their research. When they don’t, well then they get schooled on social media.
We cannot confirm for sure that Salahuddin Ayoubi did say this or that he didn’t. But what we do know that he was also famous for being merciful. Here’s what French historian Rene Grousset said about him:
“[Saladin’s] generosity, his piety, devoid of fanaticism… won him no less popularity in Frankish Syria than in the lands of Islam.”
We also know that the emperor said:
“I warn you against shedding blood, indulging in it or making a habit of it, for blood never sleeps.”
Now we get it, that in order to achieve peace, military ommanders like Salahuddin have to prepare for war. However, that doesn’t take away the fact that his idea of victory was more about not indulging in unnecessary bloodshed. So we’re guessing he wasn’t big on incitement of violence. He chose instead to build an empire on alliances and goodwill.
“Victory is changing the hearts of your opponents with gentleness and kindness.”
Guess Shaan Shahid should have hired better social media interns.
