Panellists during a discussion at the Doha Forum at the Ritz-Carlton, yesterday.
DOHA: Leaders of the ruling Islamist parties in Egypt and Tunisia attending the Doha Forum yesterday categorically rejected a separation of religion and state in their new governments and said that they are working on a new democratic model that will integrate elements of Islamic Shariah and Islamic values.
The policies being adopted by the Islamist parties that have come to power in the two Arab Spring countries were at the centre of discussions at a lively session at the Forum yesterday.
A panel comprising representatives of the ruling Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Ennahda in Tunisia had to face tough questions from the audience, with serious doubts being raised about the evolving political and economic structure in these countries.
The panellists also included a representative of the Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, the main opposition party in Bahrain. Sean Cleary, Founder and executive vice chairman of the Future World Foundation moderated the session.
The discussions mainly focused on the “Islamic” element in the new constitutions of Egypt and Tunisia and the role religion would play in the functioning of their governments.
Egypt already has a constitution, approved through a public referendum last year while Tunisia is expected to have its own constitution in a few months.
“We should distinguish between a Muslim state and an Islamic state. A Muslim state is a state of the Muslims while an Islamic state is inclusive. It should be based on citizenship and equal rights before the law. Shariah is not be implemented by God. It is a human interpretation of the divine. Freedom and Justice Party is not Islam. We are just part of Islam. If we fail, we will be failing, not Islam,” said Abdulmawgoud Dardey, official spokesman of the ruling Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) in Egypt.
A participant from Kuwait expressed doubts about the success of the Islamic democratic experience in the Arab Spring countries arguing that peaceful rotation of power was almost absent through out the Islamic history.
Another participant wondered what guarantee was there in the Egyptian constitution to ensure the state will not turn into a theocracy since there is a clause saying all the laws should be approved by a supreme committee.
Dardey said, in reply, “The January 25 revolution represents the end of inferiority complex. Now we have chance to build our own democracy. Democracy evolves through a process. Islam does not present a specified political structure but it has laid down a set of values. We are representing the people and an Islamic alternative. Islam does not believe in theocracy. It is against the principles of Islam.”
Asked by the moderator about the future of international treaties signed by Egypt, Waleed El Haddad, Coordinator, foreign relations committee of FJP said, “We are respecting all treaties and have asked all other parties to do the same. But the other 0side (meaning Israel) should also respect the treaties. Now the situation has changed. People will push the government to change its policies, if the other side fails to respect the treaties.”
Amel Azzouz, a woman member of Ennahda and deputy at the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) in Tunisia said, the Tunisian constitution will integrate Islamic values, social justice and equal right of citizens. The judiciary will be independent and there will be a human rights committee, media committee and election committee. The constitution will include a special provision to prevent a return to dictatorship.
She also quoted a number of articles from the draft constitution that guarantees equal rights to women.
Some of the participants argued that Islamists who have come to power in the Arab Spring countries should be given a chance to develop a new democratic model in their own way.
“The basic different between the constitutions in the West and Islamic countries is that there is clear separation of state and religion in the West. Islamists have entered an new era and they want to have an Islamic approach to the whole issue. It is challenge for them and they should be given a chance. If they fail, people will choose other rulers,” said a participant.
Khaleel Al Marzouq of the Al Wefaq party in Bahrain said the problem in his country is that the rulers are viewing the citizens through the eye of sectarianism and they don’t respect the dignity of the people.
“We want a civil state with accountability and democratic election. The ruling monarchies in the GCC states should be accommodated within the constitution,” he said.The Peninsula
