Scores of injustices and atrocities committed by the Western world are not hidden from public view; they continue under the nose of society. However, most injustices boil and thrive behind curtains, hidden from public view or understanding.
The latest FinCEN Files about criminal money flow – up to two trillion dollars’ worth of transactions – unveil how Western banks and even governments have allowed widespread money laundering, facilitating economic inequality, draining public funds, undermining democracy and destabilising nations.
“‘Some of these people in those crisp white shirts in their sharp suits are feeding off the tragedy of people dying all over the world,’ said Martin Woods, a former suspicious transactions investigator for Wachovia.” (www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/fincen-files-financial-scandal-criminal-networks)
According to the new findings, the world economy has dirty money flowing through its arteries while banks and governments have done little to cut its oxygen, even though they were aware. Sadly, this money has been used to commit injustices, from feeding money to drug cartels, organised crime rings, human trafficking, terrorism, wars, corrupt leaders and even, as reported by the BBC, funding of illegal Israeli settlements. Major western banks have been named as participating in the scandal.
Buzzfeed News, to whom the files were initially handed to, said that the banks did not stop the dirty money and the governments did not stop the banks.
“The FinCEN Files expose an underlying truth of the modern era: The networks through which dirty money traverse the world have become vital arteries of the global economy. They enable a shadow financial system so wide-ranging and so unchecked that it has become inextricable from the so-called legitimate economy. Banks with household names have helped to make it so.” Buzzfeed News reported.
Further, it wrote, “A huge trove of secret government documents reveals for the first time how the giants of Western banking move trillions of dollars in suspicious transactions, enriching themselves and their shareholders while facilitating the work of terrorists, kleptocrats and drug kingpins. And the US government, despite its vast powers, fails to stop it.” (www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/fincen-files-financial-scandal-criminal-networks)
Investigations have been launched and banks have vowed to introduce more stringent and strict checks to stop the crime, but experts are pessimistic. Banks have had a history with facilitating corruption and crime and it’s not going to end suddenly. A radical change in belief and mindset is required. Our world, both east and west, continues to be plagued by immorality and injustice. Many a dawn brings news of corruption, intolerance and subjugation at every level of society, and it isn’t just to do with the rich and powerful.
Society’s level of tolerance continues to rise and the support of political parties, on both extremes, across the world, prove the unrest humanity has fallen prey to. Until society does not adhere to Islamic teachings of absolute justice, toiling to establish peace and practising tolerance, the future of our delicate world looks bleak.
Leaders must not usurp the rights of their own and other nations. Vested interests must be shunned and the Islamic teaching of “love for your brother what you love for yourself ” (Bukhari) adopted.
At an individual level, until there is not peace within our homes, how can we expect peace across wider society? The following hadith of the Prophetsa of Islam is a guiding light to end the turbulence:
“Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith.” (Muslim)
These are teachings that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa has been tirelessly emphasising in his speeches, discourses, meetings and interviews with world leaders, diplomats, academics, think-tanks, the media and the general public.
But as Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa has stressed, all this is not possible until the world recognises its Creator. We simply cannot expect those who facilitate injustice to change their moral landscape overnight as it has already been shaped. We will not see change towards tolerance, absolute justice and peace based on mere teachings; the ideology needs to change.
That is why Allah, in the Holy Quran, has continuously highlighted the need for humanity to climb the ladder of “righteousness” – or “God realisation”. Once humanity realises that God exists, develops a connection with Him and understands what His desires are, a new dawn of tranquillity begins. It is for this reason that prophets are sent to sow the seed of the Kingdom of God amongst an immoral society and the successors of Prophets nourish and water the seed.
Today, that nourisher is Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, who provides divinely inspired solutions to the problems that have been sown into the fabric of modern society.
In a letter to former US President, Barack Obama, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa advised:
“There is an urgent need for mankind to recognise its One God, Who is our Creator, as this is the only guarantor for the survival of humanity; otherwise, the world will continue to rapidly head towards self-destruction.”
Talking of ending injustice and creating a coherent society, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa urged:
“Injustices and cruelties should be eliminated and instead we should strive for true justice. The best way to do this is that the world should come to recognise its Creator. Every form of loyalty should be linked to loyalty with God. If this occurs, then we will come to witness with our own eyes that the very highest standards of loyalty will be established by the people of all countries and new avenues leading us to peace and security will open throughout the world.” (World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace, p.37 [fifth edition])
The current system of nihilism and materialism – created from godlessness – continues to polarise society, creating vicious cycles of injustices. Even those nations who claim to be Islamic and at the same time commit great atrocities are clearly not practising what the Quran and the Holy Prophetsa desired.
The FinCEN Files are just another dark chapter to the list of grave injustices and lack of humanity that society has delved into. Sadly, but almost certainly, if we carry on like this, more injustices will follow.
The only solution to clog out the blocked arteries of the world is for humanity to return to God and abide by His commandments – our future depends on this.