Secularism in the Arab society

One of the big questions that Arab scholars are still trying to answer ;whether there is an intersection between Islam and secularism or not? Actually, this topic is very much related to the issue of modernizing the society. Islamic scholar Rafeek Habib had a piece examining the possibility of secularizing the Arab societies.

The article mainly tackles 3 main points: defining secularism, The relationship between secularism and politics and religion, and finally the contradiction between Secularism and Religion.Habib commences with a crucial judgment that the attempts of reconciliation between Islam and Secularism is merely a political project. He believes that secularism effects Islam and its role in the region, and it extends even to influence Christianity and its role in the Arab society as well. He believes that Secularism is not merely a political issue that separates the state from religion, rather its a process of secularizing the society done by the ruling elites, backed by the west and America, and for that its an issue that concerns the social and cultural reality. The problem is that secularism establishes its own value-system and thus it influences the position held by the Arab society towards some major causes like accepting the US hegemony in the region, the Palestinian issue and so forth.

Habib sets a new meaning for secularism as a project and not merely a process of separating the church from the state, the separation was part of the secular project and not even the most important part of it. He claims that the  Protestantism attempted to create a Christian state in Europe, but Secularism buried that attempt. The Secular tide in Europe, with all its liberal and leftist tributaries, did not aim to create a state with a Christian referentiality, therefore Secularism was not a movement to reform the Christian ruling system, rather it was an attempt eradicate any form of Christian rule. In other words, Secularism was a separation between the state and religion, and based on a premise that religion has corrupted the people’s life, and progress would only be achieved through neutralizing religion in the public sphere and then to establish a social life based on mind-made rules. He sees that there is a moderate secularism and this one aims to neutralize religion in the public sphere, and theres an extreme secularism that aims to neutralize religion in the both the public and the private spheres. Habib was more interested in the European secular experience than the American secular one, because, in Europe, secularism created political system and in the same time created a social system, Which consequently led to governing all social relationships with secular values rather than Christian ones.

Habib ravels also a new meaning to the role of religion in the society, which is not the divine rule, its mainly reversing what is meant by secularism, in other words, if secularism was establishing a public sphere devoid of any role of religion, religion should be the base that establishes the public sphere, and by that the political and social systems are established on religious values. There is a substantial necessity to govern the public sphere by religion, because leaving this sphere to the people’s discern would mean that the public sphere could take directions that do not conform with religion, which also would effect the individuals’ private lives. The belief in congregating religion, as a source for building a social system, and secularism, as a source for building a political system, is flawed, since it would end up with a clash between secularism and religion, as the public and private sphere are intertwined, by time secular values would infiltrate into the private sphere, which means that religion would recess from the people’s life.

Habib understands secularism as a paradigm without defining it. The main problem for several Islamic scholar is confronting Post-modernity and its devastating influences on the social structures and the society. Secularism is viewed by some scholars as a tool for eradicating the Islamic identity in the Arab societies, and their visions stress secluding the Arab society, which is a very complicated issue. Some scholars introduce Secularism as a process of conducting public affairs with a religious referentiality, however, this definition is still not much welcomed in the more conservative circles in the Arab society, and on the other hand, faces difficulties with the purely secular circles that sees in it a stage to dominate the society by religion.

Terrorism vs. Resistance

Nathan Field has an outstanding analysisin Abu Dhabi National on the distinction between terrorism and resistance in the Arab society. 3 critical ideas that article underscores: first, that the Arab media makes a sharp distinction between terrorism and resistance, the thing that directly influenced the stance Al Qaeda and Hezbollah hold in the Arab world. Secondly, Al Qaeda’s efforts to “rebrand” itself as part of the resistance. Thirdly, Al Qaeda’s endeavors to posses a foothold in the Levant.

These ideas mainly expose the context in which Al Qaeda is currently functioning in. Al Qaeda expected that it would not only be part of the resistance but actually to be the vanguard of this line against the infidels, who are occupying the or trying to dominate the Muslim societies, but the problem was that Al Qaeda secluded itself from the society and started not only to evaluate it but actually to judge it and that was a very sensitive issue in the Muslim and especially the Arab societies that are facing several social, political and economic problems, a clear example for that was in Iraq, when Abu Musab al Zarqawi diverted his efforts to “massacring Shiites and killing fellow Sunnis deemed insufficiently pious” he lost the Arabs sympathy. The important point that could be noticed was the reason behind Al Qaeda’s failure; which was failing to situate itself as the defender of the Arabs rights, more importantly was failing to display its operations as gains to the Arabs’s causes. Note something, the Arabs perceived what happened in 9/11 as a divinely punishment to the unjust, rather than a successful hit done by Mujahedeen, yet, western media falsely displayed these sentiments as gloating to what happened. Thus the sharp distinction drawn by the Arab media came as a consequence to what the people actually believed in, and not vice versa. On the other hand, Hezbollah knew how to situate itself as a struggler; it did not engage in any religious judgements or evaluations and focused on presenting itself as liberation movement that is wide enough to include the whole society with all its contradictions.

The dilemma that faces Al Qaedais that its activities seem chaotic and thus what the people understand about it, is that it aims to destroy and eradicate all societal forms that do not conform with its blinkered vision, thus the question that some people pose in the Arab world is “What would happen to us if a group like Al Qaeda or Al Jihad seized power in the country?”, theres a belief that the adherents of this trend won’t be tolerable with their own people, they won’t even be understanding to what the pressuring economic conditions forced them to do in order to make a living. However, there’s another side to this point that these chaotic activities are re-presented within a new context that makes more sense, Al Qaeda realizes that there’s an increasing level of resentment with the failed states in the region, and as it operates devoid of any political considerations, thus it will be a mean for some people to confront and change their bad conditions.

Al Qaeda’s attempt to “rebrand” itself might be the most important point here, that attempt is not only a big challenge for Al Qaeda itself to develop its parochial vision and to broaden its horizons, but mainly to those who are fighting it, since if it managed to “rebrand” itself successfully, it will acquire a huge recruiting capacity, and greater mobility, not to mention getting actually accepted socially, which means that it would trun to be part of the Arab milieu. Al Qaeda is causing a confusion among Salafis who couldn’t excommunicate Al Qaeda’s members, however, Salafis acknowledge some of the fallacies Al Qaeda fell into, thats actually what Nathan pointed out concerning Al Awajj’s dance around a question he was asked; whether Bin Laden and other Al Qaeda members are ”terrorists” or “fighters”?. Let’s note something here, the importance of the Jihadi revisions made be some militant groups, especially Sayyid Imams’, is that they call for adopting new approach in dealing with the current deteriorating conditions or the police-governments, since the violent approach would cause more harm to the society that it would really effect the regime. But this call was perceived, by Salafis, as a turn against the idea of Jihad; that’s basically to ”change” whats wrong in the society and that “change” is a religious obligation for every Muslim, the difference here is over: how the change should be done? So, Al Qaeda needs to insert itself in the society as one of the partisans capable of changing, then to enhance its position becoming the leader of that change.

The most important defiant facing Al Qaeda now is Hezbollah. Al Qaeda did not operate in the Levant, because it never had the haven and the welcoming environment. On the other hand, no doubt that security was the foremost success the “failed” states achieved. So, eradicating Hezbollah is not merely a political benefit, but more importantly, it would be a strategic benefit, Al Qaeda is aware that there’s no part that could fill Hezbollah’s place as fast and efficient as Al Qaeda could do. The problem in this regard is that many many players in the region are disturbed with Hezbollah’s stature; consequently, some of these players might -indirectly- help Al Qaeda in bringing down Hezbollah.

Convoy to Gaza cancelled

Central Cairo was a barrack yesterday to stop a popular campaign that hoped to break the siege on Gaza, security forces cordoned off areas surrounding the Press syndicate. Police officers searched the people in the middle of the streets and banned the access of whoever found participant in the convoy, and for the first time the Egyptian company for the Subway management and operation closed one of its stations downtown to prevent ordinary people from getting mixed or joining the convoy members’ protests, a step that was meant to tighten the security over the entire region.

As a reaction the convoy organizers decided to relocate their meeting in front of Al-Ahram newspaper’s building, but security cordoned them off again and detained tens of activists and journalists. Security demanded them to leave and not to hold the conference in return for releasing the detained activists and journalists. Although the protesters accepted something ignited clashes with the security.

On the other hand, In Rafah, Egyptian security arrested more than 100 activist to stop a convoy that managed to reach Salahuddin gate at the Rafah border crossing. Mahmoud el khodairy head of the “Popular committee to break the siege on Gaza” saidthat the committee cancelled its march so that the security could let lose the detained activists. El Khodairy described the situation that “the Egyptian are subjected to a siege  done by the security forces similar to one imposed on the Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli forces”.

Fatah assault on Hamas soon

There are strong indications that what we are watching concerning reconciliations and talks between Fatah and Hamas refer to something else other than agreement. Egyptian newspapers are filled with news about meetings that discuss reconciliation between the two factions. However, in the same time, news coming from Israel refer to something that is completely different. The Jpost has a piecethat assures that there are signs in the West bank that Fatah is preparing a major operation against Hamas in coming weeks before PA president Abbas’s term expires in January 9.

Logically a step like that requires cooperation and coordination between 3 countries: Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Operation like this requires different kind of weaponry and massive forces. According to Lebanese newspaper As-Safir, 15 thousand solider are being trainedin Ariha in Jordan with the help and supervision from the Americans. On the other hand, the IDF started assisting Fatah ahead from the expected violence, and the army agreed to deploy a platoon in Hebron, a Hamas stronghold. Moreover, the IDF pledged to assist Fatah in training and planning.

The problem is that this rally ignores 3 main problems that face Fatah and threaten its assault: first, the political failure of Fatah, which did not achieve any of the Palestinian demands. Second, the readiness of some Fatah leaders to give up some of the basic Palestinian principles like the right of return, Thirdly, centralizing the authority in handful members of the Palestinian authority and thus disregarding legal frames like PLO. According to leading Egyptian columnist Fahmi Howedi the cracks among the members of the Palestinian authority are far more greater than the ones between Fatah and Hamas. Howedi believes that its illogical to put the destiny of the Palestinian people in the hands of an authority that is worried by war between Ramallah and Gaza, especially as its authority has no international recognition, and that authority is a product of an agreement between the occupying country and the occupied people, such an agreement is based on many references none of them includes the rights of the Palestinian people.

Afghans seek Peace with Taliban

Apparently Afghani president Karzai realized that after 7years since the “war on terror” was officially launched, the coalition forces do not seem close to achieving its long-term objectives in Afghanistan. Con Coughlin has a good piece in the daily telegraph stating that the Afghani suggestion to seek Saudi mediation is the best solution to the deteriorating situation over there. from one side the current Afghani government failed to deliver any effective governance in the liberated areas. Pakistan, the key ally in this region, seems about to implode from the increasing insurgency in the tribal areas that are not controlled by the government and aiding Al-Qaeda and Taliban’s militants, in addition the US created a new problem to the Pakistani government by approving cross-border operations inside Pakistan, fueling anti-American sentiments even among the Pakistani army. Al-quds Al-arabi referred to some expectations that there are some adherents, to Al-Qaeda’s and Taliban’s operations, among members of the Pakistani Intelligence (ISI), many western Intl agencies believe that Al-Qaeda is as strong as it was 7years ago.

The difficulties seems obvious to Karzai, In a tv interview Karzai actually asked the Afghani warlord Mullah Umar to return back to Afghanistan and to join him in the political process in Afghanistan and to run for presidency. Karzai personally assured that he’ll guruantee and be personally responsible for his safety and security. Karzai’s statements reflected the stalemate he’s facing in the country, some reports goes far to say that Afghani-Taliban increased their influence over many parts of the country now, and the Talibani fighters are just few miles away from Kabul.

Muslim brotherhood and blogging

One of the remarkable phenomenon that recently attributed the Muslim brotherhood was blogging. The main question here: how do we understand this phenomenon? does it represent objection inside the group, or a new trend of individuality? can we consider it expression of openness between the members of the group and organization? and how did the organization deal with it, especially as it cannot be considered as a dissent?

The MB bloggers emerged in a time where no strong media establishment existed to represent the MB or reflect the organization’s political weight as a leading oppositional force in the Egyptian society. What worsen the situation even more is that the Egyptian regime prohibits any official or semi-official appearance of the MB in the Media. This situation begot a necessity in the MB to find an alternative tool of expression and the Internet was the most suitable answer. In this atmosphere the MB’s blogging phenomenon emerged not as an opposition or an revolution against the organization, but rather as a normal expansion as a response to the MB’s needs, note that in 2005 the MB started to engage seriously in the political life with the increase in the margin of freedom that was offered by the government. So, Blogging cannot be considered some sort of objection to the mainstream of the organization, but it happened as a part of the transformation that happened to the MB as a whole in finding new alternatives to the limitations they are facing in the media, we will notice that in 2005 the MB founded the Ikwanweb.com simultaneously several MB bloggers launched their sites, we can even say that blogging came as an attempt to increase the MB presence on the popular level.

The MB bloggers did not blog about something different and did not talk about new problems other than the ones that the mainstream in the organization has always complained about or discussed. It’s difficult to notice real different content in the blogs, what could be actually noticed is the “style”. No doubt that the bloggers were young member of the group, who were more capable of using this kind of technology, and acquired easier language that’s more closer to the public. In addition the phenomenon represented a successful attempt to break the siege that the government imposed on the group. Even the ones that are considered to be resentful like Ikhwanoffline.com difficult to deem them as disobedient, as they were actually revolting against the weak performance and the mistakes done by the official media outlets of the organization, and this their calls are not disobedience with the MB’s discourse. The MB’s bloggers used blogging as a political action, it is difficult to differentiate between several blogs and to a great extent we can notice the absence of the subjectivity or speciality in the blogs. Yet an important change happened, the organization failed to complete its attempts of reformation inside the group, what increased the feelings of depression among the younger members was the clear failure that the political leadership demonstrated in dealing with the other oppositional factions and forces in the Egyptian society, like, for instance, Kefayamovement, the thing that turned these blogs into tools for self-criticism to the group and it’s performance.

The growing influence of these blogs added a lot to its weight, some consider them more credible than the official MB’s media. This point led led to a serious transformation, that the western and Arab media began to deal with these bloggers as representatives and symbols of the group in many important cases. This point led to a more serious problem, that those bloggers started to hold an important position in the public domain without their stance inside the group has changed, which created some sort of conflict between them and them leadership in the organization.

The relation between the bloggers and the MB could be described as an insurgency inside the group and inside its frame, but not a fragmentation. The main purpose of this insurgency is to enhance the relation with the leadership inside the organization, and the MB was successful in re-integrating most of these bloggers in the organization in positions that suits their role and activities.

Few several remarks are important to add here: blogging represented a new tool of education from one side, it was also a successful trend in changing or developing the tools used by the group since the organization was forced to negotiate and bargain instead of just being the sole commander who has the right to say whats right and whats wrong. On the other hand, the MB still demonstrates a crucial success in adapting with different situations and problems, whether internally or externally.

Bahraini Parliament spurns FM proposal

Members of the Bahraini Parliament are calling for interrogatingForeign minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa for his unreasonable proposalto for a regional group that includes rivals Israel and Iran. FM added that the organization could go under way even if not all members recognize each other. Head of the Foreign affairs committee in the Bahraini Parliament said that “if the Bahraini Parliament respects itself, it shouldn’t let this proposal passes without interrogating the Foreign minister”, he claimed that this was not the first time the FM tried to initiate a relationship with Israel. Several members of the Parliament considered this step an attempt to loosen the parliamentary and popular rejection to engage in any relation with Israel, and considered this as an unacceptable violation to principles that Bahrain has always defended.

Regaining the Russian Patron

The sudden Russian rise in the international arena aroused a question: Would Russia revitalize its role in the Middle East as the Arabs’ patron? No doubt that the Arab media had special interest to the Russian role since Russia attacked Georgia, lots believed that its an opportunity that would offer the Arabs a margin for manoeuvring. Mai Yamani thinks that Russia is “regaining much of the influence that it lost in the Middle East” a hypothesis that could be true as there were different parties that are welcoming a more active Russian role (or intervene) in the region, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad claimsthat many countries are suffering from the uni-polar system that’s dominated by the US.

However, one should take a closer look to the picture verify that point. Its true the US allies (like Egypt and Saudi Arabia) are facing a huge resentment internally, yet, it would be a huge mistake to claim that they don’t practice complete domination over their populations. Although some consider that the US policies in the region have failed, however it remains a mistake to describe that the US role is at its “historical nadir”, the US successfully has undermined all independent actions that opposes or could threaten the “American hegemony” in the region. Mai made a weak point referring that even radical Islamists are befriending the Russians, actually, there weren’t any party that represented a real interest or declared its attention to whats going on in Russia. Also, concerning the Russian relations with Iran it’s important to point out that Iran does not actually perform under the Russian canopy, true that Russia provides a substantial support to the Iranians, yet, its pretty obvious that Iran is acting according to specific agenda, this could be noticed in Iraq, in the Levant, and also in Afghanistan. On the other hand, its an exaggeration to say that Russia is going to fill the vacuum in the Middle East, from one side, the US presence is omnipresent, plus there are different parties that are competing now, fundamental Islamists, moderate Islamist, governments trying to maintain the status quo…and so forth. Russia’s revival might be a hope for some parties, but still its not real involvement, since the old adherents have lost much of their presence in the region, and Russia would be dealing with new players with new agendas, thus its a new process of re-engaging with the Arabs. Let’s also be clear on something, Russia did not yet develop an international agenda, so even if we talked about the friendly regimes in Iran and Syria which could act as an entrance for Russia this cannot be deemed realistic, since Russia did not restore its powers as a competing player internationally.

Bombings in Islamabad

The recent bombings that took place in Pakistan raised several questions related to the Pakistani-US cooperation, and to what direction it is heading now? Pakistani journalist Ahmed Rashid, author of “Descent into Chaos” and correspondent for the Daily Telegraph has an excellent article analyzing the reasons behind the failure thats facing the US in Pakistan, and mainly answering the question of why did Pakistan lose much of its territorial sovereignty?, and how did the Pakistani Taliban now control all seven tribal agencies that make up the autonomous region bordering Afghanistan called the Federal Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Also, Ziad Haydar tackles the nature of the problems that are facing reforming these tribal areas that stretches along the Pakistani-Afghan border.

Shiite invasion to Sunni societies

Questionable statements by Prominent Islamic scholar Shiekh Al-Qaradawi warning from the “Shiite invasion” to the Sunni societies, his statements aroused a big controversy in the Sunni societies where some approved with his point and some rejected it. The Iranians severely attacked Al-Qaradawi for his statements and described his language as being “characterized by hypocrisy, quackery, and sectarianism”. Al-Qaradawi replied to these attacks saying that he was awfully sorry for the inappropriate offense that was launched against him.

In response Some Shiite clerics emphasized their surprise and disappointment with these statements from the head of the International Union of the Muslim scholars, which do not serve the interests of the Umma and causes division.

Al-Qaradawi clarified his position towards the Shiites in a long piece in Al-Masri Al-Youm. He asserted that he advocates the unity between all Muslims, and any differences that emerges between them shouldn’t lead to any form of sectarianism. He assured that he holds a moderate Sunni position towards the Shiites, yet, Hardliners view the Shiites as infidels because of the Shiite stance and interpretation of the Quran, Sunnah (sayings and actions of the prophet), and from the companions of the prophet. However, he thinks that the majority of the Muslim world doesn’t judge them as infidels but only as insubordinates (or heretics) to the true doctrine of Islam. Al-Qaradawi was concerned to state that, despite his reservation towards Shiite infiltration to Sunni societies, he backed Iran’s right to posses nuclear energy, and recanted US threats to Tehran; saying “We will stand against America, and Iran is part of Dar al-Islam (abode of Islam)”. According to Al-Qaradawi Sunni Muslims compose more than 85% of all Muslims around the world, however, he compared the Shiite tide to Evangelization that astray Muslims from the right path set for them in Quran and Sunnah.