The collapse of Arab
countries and the takeover by radical Islamist group the Islamic State
of Iraq and the Levant (abbreviated "ISIS") of Iraq and sizable chunks
of the Middle East did not really surprise me. As a native Egyptian born
to a Muslim family and ultimately a Christian convert, I know the
violent nature of Islam from up close.
Islam does not
recognize the state, but considers the entity as something artificial.
That is precisely why for decades Arab countries were run by dictators
and why, as these nations fell, a power vacuum was created leading to
violence and instability. For examples, look no further than Syria,
Egypt, Libya, Yemen and now Iraq. Various Iraqi tribes were quick to get
rid of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who consistently
discriminated against the country's Sunnis, pledging their allegiance to
ISIS instead. The West, which backed al-Maliki, did not recognize these
failings on time and did not judge properly how al-Maliki would put
down minorities.
But Iraq is just a
symptom. In every single Arab country, and in most Muslim states in
general, there are certain phenomena that preclude the passage of
democracy -- that's something the West simply doesn't get. They should
open their eyes and witness the rampant illiteracy preventing
substantive reform. Truthfully, Middle Easterners just don't understand
who and what it is they are voting for. Education should top the list of
priorities, for otherwise democracy will fail, and it's not happening
in Arab countries. At the same time, secularism should be pursued, as
should the freedom of religious faiths and a separation between religion
and state.
When we talk about Arab
countries and Muslim countries in general, we must understand the
nature of Islam so we can grasp just what it is we're dealing with. From
day one, Islam didn't give minorities much in the way of rights. It
always put down women. It is a religion of violence and intolerance. Its
leaders today preach increasingly less tolerance because moderate
Islamic leaders are being shoved aside -- yet another tragedy in the
Arab world.
Moderate Muslims say
that extremists have taken their religion hostage, explaining how it is
actually a religion of peace. Every time I sit down to speak with such
moderate Muslims, I challenge them. I say: "So fight alongside the rest
of the world against the extremists." But they remain silent. The
extremists prevail. These moderates do not understand that when the
extremists finish up with the Christians, the Bahais and the Jews,
they're going to come for them. They're the next in line. Look no
further than what ISIS is doing in Iraq to the women who refuse to wear
head scarves.
Nevertheless, their
only criticisms are against Israel -- the only democratic country in the
Middle East with free elections, free speech and protection for
minorities. So many people have declared Israel an apartheid state, yet
it is the Knesset that boasts Arab MKs. How many Jews are represented in
the Palestinian parliament? It would appear as though it is pretty easy
to rebuke Israel while diverting one's attention from the real problem:
the rule of an Islamic, human-rights-violating overlord.
I'm still optimistic.
I'm always hopeful. But to change various minorities' circumstances in
the Middle East, we must work together -- Jews, Christians and Bahais --
alongside moderate Muslims. One cannot act alone. Without cooperation, a
solution will never come.
Rev. Majed El Shafie is the
founder of the One Free World International human rights group, which
defends minority rights in the Middle East, and is a member of the
International Christian Embassy, the largest Christians-Zionist
organization in the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment