Islamist parties and the facets of democracy

After the end of the Cold War, US strategy led to the establishment of a new Middle East according to its standards that did not clash with its long-term interests.

The first step of the strategy took place during the occupation and invasion of Iraq. Its second step came through backing Arab upheavals known as the Arab Spring.

This strategy pushed forward political Islam parties in determining the fate of different Arab countries in taking over power, exactly like what happened in Iraq, Egypt and through the parliaments of both Tunisia and Libya.

Needless to say the Islamist parties had a lucky break that allowed them to acquire gains they never dreamt of without the intervention of western countries led by the US, as direct backing or indirect solidarity which helped in toppling the existing regimes.

Hence, these parties must not forget that the western backing they received imposes dues that must never be overlooked or forgotten. These dues — for the time being at least — do not clash or contradict with the aspirations of the people who revolted against their despotic leaders.

At the top of the list of these dues, these parties have to maintain the basic political features of the political process which paved the way for them to take over.

The forces of Islamists ascended to advanced posts in power through ballot boxes that were both watertight and honest. However, their activities after coming to power started imposing questions about the fate of rights, civil liberties, politics and religion because these very regimes started copying the previous dictatorships while preparing new relic like figures who move with bodyguards behind concrete walls. Democracy is not a concept as perceived by Islamist parties, where those parties believe that it is a word written in the constitution and a way to attain power. Democracy is the respect of human beings and their thoughts, beliefs, rituals.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its second article states: “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.”

Strong human relations

This call for the adoption of universal values does not contradict any religion or belief. On the contrary, it allows the existence of common denominators that open horizons towards strong human relations between different ethnic, religious, sectarian, and political affiliations. It also sets the ground for peace and stability. The existence of global values is essential today when man has become more interested in peace and keen on removing communities away from wars and bloodshed.

On the local level, shared concepts work on establishing parameters of civilian life and lighten the severity of tensions between the different components of society.

However, that clashes with a thick wall of undeclared resistance by Islamist parties because accepting these common beliefs will expose their influence to a lot of questioning. Human rights in acquiring education, health services, a decent income and voicing opinions and beliefs in the establishment’s structure from municipal councils to the central government are all among the global common beliefs as they agree with the ambitions of all human beings whether in Africa, Europe, or Asia. I am not here to repeat what has been written and said about building democratic states. However, I find it necessary to concentrate on the most important and essential pillars of this structure, which is human beings.

It is not enough to claim that a leader has become legitimate through democratic elections and ballot boxes, because he has to prove that he believes in democracy through his practices and that of his party.

Islamist parties employ religion in political life, pushing an anti-democracy agenda to take over power and to hollow out democracy which was used to obtain power in the first place.

These Islamist parties make different groups or political blocs oppose each other and this is witnessed in more than one Arab country claiming to be democratic.

They also enhance the culture of tearing the community apart and endanger peace, while hindering the values of nationalism.

Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.