History shows that violence and bloodshed on the basis of religious beliefs will only lead to casualties and ravages. Shedding one’s blood for a particular ideology will foment trouble in a community rather than ending the issue. Crusading against one’s religious convictions has shown its ugliest face throughout the history. Historical bloodbath over religious beliefs left heavy casualties behind without a positive change. No doubt, the more a conflict continues the more it will lead to destructions.

The Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648), which involved most countries in Europe, was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history, and it was the worst example of war of religion. The war was fought largely as a religious conflict between Protestants and Catholics in the Holy Roman Empire which lasted, unceasing, for three decades making it the longest continuous war in modern history. Gradually, it developed into a more general conflict involving most of the great powers of Europe.  

So great was the devastation brought about by the war that estimates put the reduction of population in the German states at about 25% to 40%. Some regions were affected much more than others. For example, Wurttemberg, an area in south-west Germany, lost three-quarters of its population during the war. In the territory of Brandenburg, an area in northeastern Germany, the losses had amounted to half, while in some areas an estimated two-thirds of the population died. The male population of the German states was reduced by almost half. The population of the Czech lands declined by a third due to war, disease, famine and the expulsion of Protestant Czech. Much of the destruction of civilian lives and property was caused by the cruelty and greed of mercenary soldiers. Villages were especially easy prey to the marauding armies. Those states survived would take almost a century to recover. The Swedish armies alone may have destroyed up to 2,000 castles, 18,000 villages and 1,500 towns in Germany, one-third of all German towns.

“NO one could have imagined that anything like this would happen to us. Many people say that there is no God….”  Devastation was recorded in the war zone in engraving of the 1630s and starvation reached such a point in the Rhineland that there were cases of cannibalism. The horror became a way of life and when the war finally ended, the mercenaries and their womenfolk complained that their livelihood was gone.

Of course, further war would cause more casualties. Ultimately, the Europeans opened their eyes to the damages and sought for ceasefire. They began negotiation over peace which bore the desired fruit. They signed the Treaty of Westphalia, also unknown as the Peace of Westphalia or the Peace of Exhaustion for the international relations; in 1648 which ended officially the Thirty Years’ War.

Apart from ending the Thirty Years War, the Treaty of Westphalia was historically significant. Essentially, it ended the old system of the Holy Roman Empire and brought in the modern European state system – creating the basis for the modern international system of independent states. In addition, the Swiss Confederation and the Netherlands were formally recognized as independent states. Furthermore, religious warfare came to an end, establishing religious tolerance in Europe.

Secondly, Westphalia brought an end to intervention in matters of religion – up to then the most commonly pretext or reason for intervention – leading to the acceptance of the principle of sovereignty, a vital norm of international relations. Perhaps, I can call it a pyrrhic victory.

The three decades of war in Europe on the basis of religious beliefs make a notable similarity with the history of our country. In other words, the same tortuous history was passed by our nation which inflicted large casualties and damages in the country. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed, wounded or displaced. Many more others fled the country. People did not only suffer structural damages, but also mental, cultural, etc damages. But was a treaty, alike with Westphalia, was signed among the people?

No way, the religious phobia is spread across the Islamic countries, especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Syria. The Islamic radicals carry out deadly acts of terror which lead to the death of many Muslims including women and children. Their dogmatic ideology considers others heretic; therefore, they compete in murdering innocent humans without an iota of mercy. Hence, the religious hardliners shake hands with none. This is, indeed, a great tragedy in Islamic world.

Although, we have experienced three decades of war bitterly, our nation still suffers from violence and bloodshed. Terrorists continue fomenting sectarianism across the Islamic countries without giving the green light for peace.

It is too hard to predict that the religious radicals will come to know that sectarian tensions will give bitter fruits. They may never learn from the historical failures of the hardliners. Undoubtedly, considering human casualties as a solution for imposing one’s beliefs upon a religious community is a highly ridiculous fact. Moreover, such attitudes demonstrate the irrationality of a school of thoughts. So, what is the solution for ending the conflicts going on across the Islamic countries?

I believe that peace is possible if Islamic countries sign a treaty making a commitment not to use the Islamic fundamentalists as political pawns. Moreover, they have to stop the madrasahs which train military tactics. Their intelligence should remain vigilant about the movements of the radical groups and take serious action in case of noting suspicious intentions.

Let us just ask ourselves that who train the terrorists and where they come from? Aren’t they trained in Islamic countries? Unfortunately, soon they turn rabid and bite the hands that feed them.

Hence, now it is we to learn from the history and do not repeat them throughout the centuries. Of course, the war of religion is the most perilous for justifying any inhuman actions. So, to avoid this peril the Islamic countries should negotiate about peace and sign a treaty to the same as Westphalia.