Democracy News

Middle East Dissidents Call for Greater U.S. Support for Democracy
By Randi Zung
September 24, 2009 | Printer Friendly

On September 21st, a panel of the Foreign Policy Initiative’s two day Advancing & Defending Democracy Conference met to discuss how to implement and strengthen democracy on the international level.  The panel, entitled “Voices of Freedom: A Conversation with Dissidents,” consisted of moderator Jeff Gedmin, a CCD Board Member and President of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Saad Eddin Ibrahim, an Egyptian Academic and Democracy Activist; and Ali Afshari, an Iranian Affairs Analyst and Board Member of Association for Civil Society and Democracy.  During the discussion, nationally televised on C-SPAN, the two Middle Eastern dissidents called for an increase in support from the United States for democracy in the region.

In a transcript from the event, Ibrahim identified “fighting for democracy and freedom and defense of human rights” as a goal for all Middle Eastern countries.  Ibrahim called for an increase in “country-based” practices because of the differing relationships between the United States and certain countries in the Middle East.  Ibrahim stated that an increase in individualized attention would greatly assist dissidents in their efforts to promote democracy and human rights.  Ibrahim also noted that while voting does take place in certain Middle Eastern countries, citizens choose not to vote because they perceive the candidates to be corrupt.  He cited Egypt’s 2005 election, where 77 percent of registered voters abstained from going to the polls, as an example of why the US needs to further assist with democracy strengthening activities.  Ibrahim also stated that support from the US would help promote the legitimacy of countries with fledgling democracies.

In the discussion, Afshari stated that the implementation of democracy is a vital component in the effort to secure human rights.  Afshari credited the Iranian election with creating a more “radical” atmosphere, as well as increasing Iranian activism outside of Iran, but noted that it also caused more political tension between democracy activists and the regime in Tehran.  He said that political involvement by young people is becoming increasingly important to the Iranian democracy movement, calling them “an army of democracy.”  Afshari also noted that the Obama administration’s push for international cooperation was a welcomed change from the previous administration’s militarist approach.

Both dissidents have been jailed for their previous political and social advocacy work in the Middle East.

Sources:

2009 FPI Forum: Advancing and Defending Democracy
http://www.foreignpolicyi.org/event/advancing-and-defending-democracy

Voices of Freedom: A Conversation with Dissidents – Transcript and Video
http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/289039-1