Highbrow Magazine - islamic fundamentalism https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/islamic-fundamentalism en What Is the Difference Between Morsi and Mubarak? Only Religious Fundamentalism https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1928-what-difference-between-mosri-and-mubarak-only-religious-fundamentalism <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Tue, 01/08/2013 - 11:10</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediummosri.jpg?itok=HJAL_1sP"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediummosri.jpg?itok=HJAL_1sP" width="480" height="268" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> From <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2013/01/political-islam-and-the-arab-spring.php">New America Media</a> and <a href="http://www.alhewar.com/">Al Hewar</a>:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Commentary</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Editors Note:</strong> <em>The recent popular outcry in Egypt in response to President Morsi trying to usurp power was a test case for the ruling Muslim Brotherhood party. In reaction to the recent political protests in Egypt, one Arab- American commentator writes that It is not Islam that is being tested, it is the politics of a conservative religious party.</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> Is political Islam matching the aspirations of the Arab Spring? Egyptians may have a clear answer after living a few years under a Muslim Brotherhood administration. Early signs from Cairo are not encouraging.</p> <p>  </p> <p> President Morsi, representing the Brotherhood, won the post-uprising Egyptian presidential elections for three main factors: support of a relatively well-organized grassroots movement, being a leader of a resilient opposition to a series of corrupt regimes and a promise to take a moderate approach to political Islam. It turns out that the Morsi model of governance is a disappointing mixture of hardline religious fundamentalism, pragmatic capitalism and survival politics. Cairo’s current model falls short of the Turkish approach to politics.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Last month Morsi promoted a Sharia-based constitution. This president, a former US engineering professor, came to power in the wake of an uprising which ousted President Mubarak. Regrettably, the new constitution will slow reform rather than accelerate it. A rushed national referendum approved the legal document.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Morsi’s lust for power is not subtle. Within weeks of assuming power he demanded extraordinary presidential privileges. Street demonstrations made him retract his demands within days. As a president Morsi has to learn to serve all of Egypt’s widely diverse constituencies: Islamist parties- moderate and extreme, four different Arab nationalist parties (Nasserites), social service and human rights groups, a marginalized Coptic (Christian) community and a sophisticated network of business groups.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The excitement of the Arab Spring is gradually abating. Morsi has in fact replaced a dictatorship with a religiously-based autocracy. Just as President Mubarak was ousted for policies which ignored the poor, Morsi may one day be ousted for policies which are unfriendly to women and religious minorities.</p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumcairodemonstrations%20%28Adam%20Makary%29.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 400px;" /></p> <p>  </p> <p> Morsi is not sufficiently attentive to endemic social problems. At the core of Egypt’s predicament lie educational and economic impediments. One of every three adults is illiterate; 40% of women can’t read and write. Unemployment is high. The college educated is many times more likely to be unemployed than the poorly educated. Higher education makes young people politically agitated and economically dependent.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Tourism is significantly important for Egypt’s economy: in 2008 13 million tourists visited; tourism generated 11 billion US dollars and employed 12% of the workforce. When tourists have to worry about Egypt’s current affairs they lose interest in Egypt’s past – its historic monuments. Tourism is enhanced by a climate of freedom and appreciation of cultural diversity.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The value of the Egyptian pound is rapidly eroding, a sign of a declining economy and faith in the future. External Arab investment is crucial. When Arab investors lose confidence in Egypt’s economy they are not likely to put their money in a stale environment.</p> <p>  </p> <p> In a few months the Morsi regime has lost its charisma, thanks to the steady resistance of thinly connected opposition groups and the support they receive from the international media.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The current Cairo version of political Islam is not reading the sentiments of Egyptians. Despite their deep religiosity the majority of Egyptians do appreciate religious tolerance, freedom of women, secular politics and business with the outside world.</p> <p>  </p> <p> One day Egyptians will launch another well organized campaign of protest against a post-Mubarak regime, which has so far deviated from the goal of the Arab Spring. The Spring was not only about “majority rule” and removal of dictators.</p> <p>  </p> <p> The longevity of the Morsi regime depends partially on the sustainability of the economy. Regrettably, foreign aid of the oil-rich Arab countries continues to protect the economic base of the Egyptian regime from collapse. The International Monitory Fund is currently negotiating with the Egyptian government a massive (4 billion plus US dollars) package of loans. And the US is hooked to a 1.3 billion dollar aid to Egypt to maintain the peace treaty with Israel.</p> <p>  </p> <p> To balance a strategic-interest policy of foreign aid, Washington dedicates three times more to Israel. US foreign assistance is a “tranquilizer” for Egyptian silence (on a flawed Mideast policy) and a “stimulant” for Israeli building of more settlements on Palestinian land.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Egypt benefits from its leadership position in a troubled region. The imminent collapse of Syria, the growing agitation in Iraq, the vulnerability of Lebanon and Jordan, Bahrain’s ignored uprising, the ongoing hostilities in Yemen, makes Egypt look relatively stable.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Egyptians do not have to starve to change their political system. The ideologically diverse opposition groups must unite to confront a political system which will not hesitate to exploit oil-rich Arab countries in order to survive.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Not many had foreseen that the first important political outcome of the Arab Spring is the operational testing of political Islam in state building.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2013/01/political-islam-and-the-arab-spring.php">New America Media</a></p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><strong>Photos: New America Media; Adama Maraky (Wikipedia Commons).</strong></em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/president-mosri" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">president mosri</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/egypt" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Egypt</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/cairo" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Cairo</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/islamic-fundamentalism" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">islamic fundamentalism</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/muslim-brotherhood" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Muslim Brotherhood</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/arab-spring" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Arab Spring</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/hosni-mubarak" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Hosni Mubarak</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/foreign-aid" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">foreign aid</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Michel Rubeiz</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">New America Media</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:10:08 +0000 tara 2162 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1928-what-difference-between-mosri-and-mubarak-only-religious-fundamentalism#comments Ending Terrorism in Pakistan https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1712-ending-terrorism-pakistan <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Mon, 10/22/2012 - 17:12</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumshujat.jpg?itok=zyIPE4EV"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumshujat.jpg?itok=zyIPE4EV" width="480" height="268" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> From <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2012/10/pakistani-assemblywoman-girls-education-key-to-ending-terrorism.php">New America Media</a>:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Editor’s Note:</strong> <em>The attempted assassination of Malala Yousufzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani girl being treated in a hospital in Britain after she was shot in the head by the Taliban Oct. 9 for championing girls’ education, has united her country like few other incidents in recent memory. That's according to Khushbakht Shujat, a member of Pakstan’s National Assembly from the MQM party, who spoke with NAM editor Viji Sundaram.</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Would you say that the attempted assassination of Malala has made Pakistanis more mindful than ever before of the growing threat of the Taliban in their midst?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> While the majority of Pakistanis do not approve of U.S. drone attacks, or of militants crossing borders and creating havoc on both sides of the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, everyone disapproves of the attack on Malala. The attack on her has made many realize finally that terrorists are terrorists. [That] they are not doing jihad or following the word of Allah. [That] they are ignorant and naive. This girl has brought the nation -- and even the world -- together.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>You are known for championing girls’ education and their empowerment. But in neighboring Afghanistan, the Taliban has succeeded through scare tactics in discouraging girls from going to school. That has led to a number of underground girls schools. Could the Malala incident have a similar effect in Pakistan?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> It is important that steps are taken to keep families from becoming scared and not sending their daughters to school. The government should provide more incentives and offer encouragement so girls in Pakistan seek education. We should set a goal of getting every girl educated in Pakistan. Educated females mean an educated nation. And an educated nation means rooting out ignorance, which will remove terrorism from the equation.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Has any political good come out of the Malala attack and can that be sustained?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> The government and military are doing a lot, but a lot more needs to be done. The attack has sparked the debate in Parliament whether Pakistan should go after militants in North Waziristan [believed to be a safe haven for terrorists]. On the day of the attack on Malala, I stood up in Parliament and raised a point of order in protest against the attack. MQM and the leader of our party, Altaf Hussain, asked the army to come forward and step up action against the militants in Waziristan and other hideouts.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>There is a lot of anti-U.S. sentiment in Pakistan now, generated by the so-called "collateral damage" from the drone attacks by the United States that have claimed the lives of scores of civilians, along with some terrorists. Would the Malala attack make Pakistanis want U.S. protection on the ground now, or would they prefer dealing with the terrorism problem on their own?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> Pakistan has suffered a lot due to terrorism. People in the United States don’t realize the price the people of Pakistan have paid for supporting the United States in its war against terrorism. There are protests here from all political parties and religious groups on a regular basis.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumpakistan%20%28Darwinek--wiki%29.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 397px; " /></p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>So does this mean you would like to see the end of U.S. military presence in that region?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> America and NATO forces have agreed on withdrawal in 2014. I hope by that time Afghani forces are properly trained to defend their nation. Peace talks are also underway and I hope they bring positive results. I do hope America doesn't abandon Pakistan and Afghanistan, like they did after the Soviets left Afghanistan. Pakistan needs support from America to provide security to schools in these regions.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>You seem to strongly believe that the best way to quell terrorism in any part of the world is by educating girls.</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> I want women to be strong and self-sufficient. MQM, the political party I belong to, is constantly raising its voice against injustice [against] women. We are one political party in Pakistan that I believe has done the most in terms of women’s empowerment. I do believe the previous governments may not have done enough and now it is high time we focus on women’s empowerment and education. The attack on Malala has exponentially increased the movement toward promoting women’s empowerment.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Are you optimistic about the end of terrorism in Pakistan?</strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> I have devoted my life to the field of education. [The] bottom line in the war against terrorism is education and awareness. We need to equip our youth with books and take guns out of their hands.</p> <p>  </p> <p> I'm very optimistic that in Muslim countries, particularly in Pakistan, a change is coming. Women are a majority in Pakistan. If we want this nation to be successful, we need to educate and empower them. It's as simple as that. Democracy is spreading across the Middle East. We want the world to support us and respect our challenges and appreciate what we are doing in the war on terror.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2012/10/pakistani-assemblywoman-girls-education-key-to-ending-terrorism.php">New America Media</a></p> <p> <em><strong>Photos: New America Media; Dawinek (Wikipedia Commons).</strong></em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/pakistan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">pakistan</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/terrorism" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">terrorism</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/terrorism-pakistan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">terrorism in pakistan</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/malal-yousufzai" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">malal yousufzai</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/violence" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">violence</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/taliban" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Taliban</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/afghanistan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Afghanistan</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/islamic-fundamentalism" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">islamic fundamentalism</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/religious-fundamentalists" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">religious fundamentalists</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Viji Sundaram</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">New America Media</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Mon, 22 Oct 2012 21:12:18 +0000 tara 1774 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1712-ending-terrorism-pakistan#comments