http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2009/961/op41.htm
20 - 26 August 2009 Issue No. 961 Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 Islamists, US policy and Arab democracy Not all Islamists should be regarded as a threat -- neither by the US or West, nor incumbent Arab regimes, writes John L Esposito* -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The continued detention of Abdel-Moneim Abu Fatouh, prominent professional, Muslim Brotherhood leader, and moderate voice for reform is a reminder of the need to distinguish more clearly between moderate (non-violent) Islamists and terrorists. US and European policymakers must pursue a diplomatic path of engagement and dialogue with moderate Islamists and with Arab and Muslim partners at the same time that they use a military strategy to capture and contain Muslim terrorists. Islamist parties are an integral part of Muslim politics and societies and they are not going away. Since the late 20th century Islamic-oriented candidates and political parties in Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia have opted for reform through ballots, not bullets. They have successfully contested and won municipal and parliamentary seats, held cabinet positions, and served in senior positions such as prime minister of Turkey and president of Indonesia. Elections since late 2001 in Pakistan, Turkey, Bahrain and Morocco, as well as in Palestine, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Egypt have reinforced the continued saliency of Islam in Muslim politics in the 21st century. A critical challenge today is to distinguish between mainstream and extremist groups, secular and religious, and to work with democratically elected Islamists. US administrations and many European governments have often said that they distinguish between mainstream and extremist groups. However, more often that not, they have looked the other way when autocratic rulers in Algeria, Tunisia and elsewhere have intimidated and suppressed mainstream Islamist groups or attempted to reverse their electoral successes. The challenge has been particularly complex in connection to resistance movements like Hamas and Hizbullah. Both are elected political parties with a popular base. At the same time, they are resistance movements whose militias have fought Israeli occupation and whom Israel, the United States, and Europe have labelled as terrorist organisations. There are established precedents for dealing with such groups, such as the ANC in South Africa and Sinn Fein, the political wing of the IRA in Ireland -- groups with which we've had to come to terms. The United States and Europe need to deal with the democratically elected officials, while also condemning strongly any acts of terrorism by their militias and clearly distinguishing terrorist attacks upon civilians from legitimate resistance. At the same time, the US must condemn Israeli attacks upon civilians like the recent Operation Cast Lead in Gaza and the 2006 assault upon Lebanon. The Bush legacy in the Muslim world leaves America with a significant credibility gap to overcome. While the spread of democracy has been the stated goal of the United States, majorities in some 35 Muslim nations surveyed by Gallup did not believe that the US was serious about the establishment of democratic systems in the region. For example, only 24 per cent in Egypt and Jordan and only 16 per cent in Turkey agreed that the United States was serious about establishing democratic systems. America and European governments that advocate self- determination and democracy need to demonstrate by their statements and policies that they respect the right of any and all movements and political parties, religious as well as secular, to participate in the political process. Failure to respond to the subversion of the electoral process in Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Musharraf's Pakistan, the attempt "to manage" and determine the process of democratisation in post-Saddam Iraq, and the refusal to recognise the democratically elected Hamas government in Gaza must be avoided if the West, and the US in particular, is to avoid the charge that it operates on a clear double standard. Respect and support for the democratic process and human rights have to be seen as truly universal. Governments in the Muslim world are challenged to demonstrate their commitment to political liberalisation, civil society and human rights by fostering the development of civil institutions and values that support democratisation. Policies must distinguish between organisations, secular or Islamic, that threaten the freedom and stability of society and those that are willing to participate in a process of gradual change from within the system. The litmus test for both governments and reform/opposition will be their internalisation of the principles and values of democracy, plus the extent to which their policies and actions reflect an acceptance of basic democratic freedoms, diversity of opinion, of multiple political parties and civil society organisations, as well as an appreciation for the concept of a "loyal opposition" rather than viewing alternative voices and political visions as a threat to the political system. * The writer is university professor of religion and international affairs and founding director of the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
