Regional Working Groups: Assessment of Major Problems and Formulating Strategies
Region 2: Middle East/North Africa
Moderated by: Abdulwahab Alkebsi (Executive Director, Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy, US)
Presenters: Dogu Ergil (Professor, Ankara University, Turkey), Abdul Hussain Shaban (General Secretary, Human Rights Club, Iraq), Hekmat el Zein (Executive Director, GIL, Lebanon)

The panel began with the moderator speaking about a global symphonic march towards democracy. But, he added, the region of the Middle East and North Africa was tone deaf to this march. The moderator said that the Arab world needs the biggest change, but it appeared the winds of democracy have skipped the Arab world altogether. Sweeping changes as have taken place in Asia and other parts of the world are necessary.

Since the September 11th terrorist attacks, there has been increasing pressure for the Arab world to democratize. Many questions arise when this is discussed: Should democracy or development come first? Is Islam and democracy compatible? These and other issues were discussed during the panel.

The panel members touched upon the reasons Arab states were not democratic and the suppressed their populations. . The Israel/Palestine conflict and the compatibility of Islam and democracy dominated the panel discussions.

The first presenter, Dogu Ergil from Turkey, emphasized the need for the management of diversity. Many of the policies in the Arab nations are formulated for the benefit of the majority and not for the individual. The ruling elites are the ones that control the state and are often prone to corruption. This non-transparent culture encourages corruption on a grand scale and a dependency on the state. People do not look for individual rights but privileges, which is also biased.

Journalist Hekmat el Zein from Lebanon had the strongest statements, especially about the US, which he felt was an obstacle to peace and democracy in the region. He expressed the view that democracy cannot happen in the Arab world until the Israel-Palestinian conflict is resolved. El Zein believes that Islam is compatible with democracy and sees the changes in Turkey as an example. A key issue is civic education to promote democracy.

Abdul Hussain Shaban, an Iraqi exile. also touched first on Israel-Palestinian conflict and called for establishment of a Palestinian state. Shaban described the situation with the Kurds and questioned why the UN and the international community did not intervene when Iraq violated their human rights. He gave the example of the use of chemical weapons by the Iraqi regime during its invasion of Kuwait. Iraq has not been punished for their violations.

The discussion included some heated exchanges about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and included an examination of some stereotypes and assumptions about the positions of some Arab states.

On the struggle for democracy in the Arab world, it should also be viewed as a battle between moderate and extremist Muslims.

Recommendations/Conclusions

1. Although some of the region’s countries have recently embarked on democratic reforms, the region as a whole still needs a more vigorous thrust towards democracy with an elevated sense of urgency. The Community of Democracies should urge the governments of the region to fulfill their obligations towards human rights conventions and respect democratic norms.

2. Obstacles for democratic reforms in the area include:

a- The plight of the Palestinian people

b- The plight of the Iraqi people

c- Terrorism

d- Religious extremism

3. A just, comprehensive, and lasting solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict will help in opening up opportunities for democracy and would diminish opportunities for extremism and terrorism. Such a solution should be based on ending the Israeli occupation, and enabling the Palestinians to attain their inalienable rights, including the right to establish their own independent state on all lands occupied in 1967.

4. Support of a peaceful resolution to the issue of Iraq would alleviate a serious concern of the people in the Middle East/North Africa region. Ending the suffering of the peoples of Iraq should be the highest priority. Freeing the region of all weapons of mass destruction is an important measure for creating a democratic and peaceful environment for all the people of the region.

5. There is a need for a concerted effort to solve regional conflicts such as those of the Kurdish people and the people of southern Sudan in order to create a better climate for democratic reforms.

6. Islam should not be blamed for terrorism, and democracy is not incompatible with Islam. A moderate political discourse that integrates a deliberative and inclusive democracy with Islam would represent an indigenous solution to the people of the region and would assist in the abatement of terrorism and religious extremism, and thus help promote the transition to democracy.