Why Thailand Must Oppose Religious Mobs, Whether Islamic or Buddhist
A mob of about 1,000 Thai Muslims publicly punished a trans woman in Bangkok for alleged Koran mockery on social media, highlighting Thailand's need to reject religious vigilantism and enforce rule of law.
In scenes reminiscent of Taliban-controlled Kabul or conservative Islamic cities in the Middle East, an angry mob of about 1,000 Thai Muslims surrounded a tea shop in Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng area on Sunday, blocking the street as they hunted for a Muslim trans woman known as 'Madam Lor' or Abdulloh, who allegedly mocked the Koran on social media.
Despite police presence, the mob publicly shaved Abdulloh's head as punishment. Chants of "Allahu Akbar!" filled the air, with participants claiming the punishment was voluntary and that Abdulloh had repented. A police officer present made no attempt to stop the extrajudicial punishment.
With Muslims comprising less than 5 percent of Thailand's 67 million population—roughly three million people—the mob's attempt to impose religious law is particularly troubling in a Buddhist-majority nation that is not governed as a religious state. The vigilante punishment of Abdulloh must be condemned. Thailand operates under the rule of law, not mob justice. Any alleged religious offense should be handled through proper legal channels.
Large gatherings of Muslims seeking to intimidate and humiliate someone in this manner risk escalating fear and mistrust among other faith communities and non-religious people, especially as anti-Muslim sentiment already rises in parts of Europe and the UK. Thai society faces enough divisions without religious mob intimidation deepening social anxiety and distrust. Meanwhile, those criticizing any religion should do so respectfully and constructively. Police should arrest anyone who committed crimes during the incident.
By Wednesday evening, a Buddhist volunteer Facebook page capitalized on the incident by claiming Buddhism is somehow "superior," arguing that Buddhism opposes war and forbids animal killing—unlike Islam. In reality, most Thai Buddhists supported last year's conflict with Cambodia, and the majority consume meat, including Buddhist monks in Thailand.
What's particularly striking about this incident is that apparent inconsistency among self-described progressives appears rooted in convenience rather than principle. Most remained silent during Sunday's mob frenzy. Prominent Islam critic and activist Chotisak Onsoong called them out on Facebook Wednesday:
"'Progressive only when convenient' seems to define how many so-called Thai progressives approach matters of faith. These people readily mock religions and beliefs—whether Jesus, Siddhartha, the Pope, or Buddhist monks—yet remain silent when others face persecution."
