Anees Majeed, a law student from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, experienced anger and disbelief as he witnessed a multimillion-dollar rescue effort for five men lost at sea, while his own relatives who perished in a boat sinking off Greece received no such attention, The Guardian reports.
The contrasting response to these tragedies has sparked a debate in Pakistan about national and international inequality and the differential value placed on human lives.
Despite confirmation that at least 350 Pakistani citizens were on the ill-fated boat, there is little hope of finding or bringing back Majeed's cousins. The family is haunted by mounting evidence suggesting that European authorities were aware of the boat's distress but did not intervene.
Meanwhile, a large-scale rescue operation, involving multiple countries, was launched for five men who embarked on their ocean journey as an adventure, not out of desperation like Majeed's relatives. Among the five were businessman, Pakistan's Shahzada Dawood, and his son Suleman, all from privileged backgrounds.
The stark contrast between these two maritime tragedies, the disparity in rescue efforts, and the global media response has raised questions about national and international inequality and the differing worth attributed to human lives.
Majeed expressed his shock at the extensive resources dedicated to the rescue mission while no similar efforts were made for the hundreds of Pakistanis and others aboard the Greek boat. He criticized the double standard and argued that many lives could have been saved or at least bodies recovered if there was genuine concern.
The enormous magnitude of the Mediterranean tragedy, with over 300 deaths, surpassed any terror attack in Pakistan's history. While the authorities made arrests related to alleged human trafficking, the national mourning and actions taken provided little solace to grieving relatives.
The uneven media coverage also contributed to the perception of inequality. The prominence given to the Dawood family's loss generated empathy and grief, unlike the treatment of those who perished in the Mediterranean. These disparities reinforce the unequal value assigned to different lives by societies and governments.
Arsalan Khan, an assistant professor of anthropology says that the contrasting responses highlight the unequal distribution of empathy and compassion. Safety improvements alone will not prevent similar tragedies, as people continue to embark on perilous journeys due to unbearable economic conditions and desperation. Profound changes to the economic system are necessary to address the root causes of these migrations.
Comments (0)