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**http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=78757&d=5&m=3&y=2006
Sunday, 5, March, 2006 (04, Safar, 1427)
Lessons of Riyadh Book Fair
Dr. Khaled Batarfi, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
This year's Riyadh Book Fair was eventful - mostly unwelcome
events, though. Somehow, the fundamentalists found in it an opportunity to flex
their muscles and prove a point. They wanted all to know that no matter how far
we progress on the road of women and minority rights, speech and press
freedoms, democracy and all, they are still in a strong position of influence.
But they went too far, this time.
According to press reports, members and volunteers of the
Commission for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue were in force
everywhere. In the family days, where single men are not allowed, they were the
exception. Carrying sticks and wielding religious authority, they went around
telling women to cover their faces, wear "abayas" (black cloak) over their
heads in one piece, rather than two - head scarf and body cover. In some
instances, they told salesmen in bookstands not to smile or joke when talking
to women. A man holding the hand of his half-blind wife was told not to show
affection in public.
When people tried to argue, in peaceful way, (there was no
alternative anyway!), they were harshly told to just follow orders. Women were
telling them that in Islam there are different schools of thoughts. Only one
says women should cover their faces. Salesmen were trying to explain that they
are supposed to be nice to customers. A husband argued that he was holding the
hand of his wife, not a girl friend. Besides, he explained, with her eye
troubles, she could easily lose her way in the crowded place. Nothing worked
with these people. They felt they were there to perform a strict divine duty,
not to convince people or convey messages.
During the same event, a number of Saudi intellectuals were
harassed, verbally, and almost physically. The fundamentalists came early on,
occupied most of the hall, and went on the offensive as soon as the lecture
started.
In the main lecture hall, a former minister and a number of
intellectuals were attacked for their known liberal views. Then an aggressive
group surrounded them threateningly. They had to be rescued by security. In the
women's section, another intellectual was threatened and verbally abused. One
female writer was taken home in tears.
These people didn't come to listen, learn and discuss. They
came to teach lessons and make statements. They were not prepared to take other
views into consideration, or allow for the possibility of misunderstanding,
miscommunication or even errors on their side. They were dealing with people
from positions of authority and influence - university professors,
schoolteachers and mosque imams.
This can't be good, especially in such a gathering. In this
time and place, when the whole country is moving toward modernity,
globalization, democracy and reforms, we still have people going around with
sticks and unquestionable authority to enforce their narrow view of the world.
They only represent a minority of the Muslim world but behave as though there
is no Islam but theirs.
As a result we get people doing what they are told regardless
of what they believe: Women wearing what they must at home and something
entirely different abroad, youth following the strict rules when watched, and
breaking all when alone; and a whole society in a state of schizophrenia. We
don't have cinemas but our satellite dishes can bring us the world's best and
worst. We can't mix in public, but many go from one party to another. Single
men cannot enter malls, but they find ways to meet with girls behind closed
doors. Banned books and intellectual materials can always be had via the Net
and from neighboring countries, such as UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and
Yemen.
This is why most visitors to book fairs in Arab countries
come from Saudi Arabia. We hunt books that should have been available at home,
without having to travel around to get them.
We can't go on like this. You can't drive down two crossed
road at the same time. Either you decide to open your windows to the winds or
to live in a closed underground cave. You are part of this world or you are
not. Since you don't have an option anyway, better be serious and sincere about
it.
Islam is about freedom and choice. You become Muslim with
your own free will. Then you choose to understand the message according to any
interpretation of the multiple madhabs and their different schools of thought.
To reduce the entire faith to the narrow interpretations of a single school is
simply un-Islamic.
The experience of Riyadh Book Fair should alarm us. These
people crossed the most revered Islamic lines and they deserve to be punished.
We should make sure that no one else dared to cross them again.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia
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