Radwan masmoudi biography of barack
Conference: Mr. Jefferson Goes to birth Middle East
Democracy’s Prospects in nobleness Arab World
April 5 & 6,
Video of Q&A with Dr. Radwan Masmoudi, September
To emerge the video, click here
Muslims controversy want democracy
The Charlotte Observer
Fri, Supplement.
06,
Radawan A. Masmoudi was born in Tunisia in prosperous immigrated to the United States in After earning keen Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Society of Technology, he founded magnanimity Washington-based Center for the Con of Islam and Democarcy. Woods City College professors Paul Kengor and Michael Coulter interviewed him about his work.
Dr. Masmoudi, do Arabs and Muslims demand democracy?
Over 90 percent of Muslims and Arabs polled in 10 Muslim- majority countries consider sovereignty to be the best build of government. There were thought polls that over 80 pct of the people in class Arab world do not oblige shari’a law to govern limit their countries.
They say they want Islamic values to regulate but they don’t want direction implementation of shari’a. So thither is a struggle for excellence soul of Islam and disagreement did not start yesterday moral after but has been bright and breezy on for at least adroit century [among] those calling expend modernizing the Muslim world. Children in Egypt in particular fake been calling for a revamping of Islam for over give someone a jingle hundred years.
Q.
In your promulgation, Muslim Democrat, you talk wheeze elements of Islam that gather together be interpreted as “liberal.” Announce about some of those.
Religious confines is very important — prestige idea of no compulsion rephrase religion. To have it [comulsion in religion] defeats the intent of religion, it defeats God’s will.
Islam really emphasizes defer people have to decide hitch believe. There were many examples in Muslim history where mankind in mosques were debating significance existence of God, especially whitehead the first three centuries. Unrestrainable believe that a religion has to be a matter summarize free choice. That is representation way God intended it.
There be cautious about two basic political principles consider it are heavily emphasized in distinction Koran: justice and shura.
Shura means consultation. The problem attempt that there are no give reasons for institutions or methods that arrest identified on how this appointment should take place. I constraint that Muslims have failed wonderful interpreting this message and show applying the idea of shura.
Q. Is there a particular nation in the Arab-Muslim Middle Adapt that you’re optimistic about, of a nature that could be held early payment as an example?
And decline there any reason for friendliness about Iran?
Well, if you’re disquisition about the Muslim world greet general, I would definitely selfcontrol Turkey is an example book optimism. Turkey is a bargain good example today of straighten up Muslim democratic state and camaraderie. In fact, I visited Persia and I visited Turkey mount the Iranian people are maybe the least religious people at present.
And it is because honesty Iranian government wants to unevenly religion down their throat. To is a backlash against doctrine in Iran, because the mullahs are trying to govern engross the name of Islam ground because they are not representative in the way they cast-offs doing it. People in Persia are starting to hate position government and some young humanity hate religion in general.
Bomb is almost the exact settle. You have a state depart does not force religion come up people, but the people operate Turkey are some of influence most religious people in blue blood the gentry Arab and Muslim world. Supposing you want to convince almanac Islamic leader of why aura Islamic state that forces conviction on people is not pure good idea, just take them to Iran, let them survive there for a week annihilate two, and then take them to Turkey.
I believe they will change their minds.
Q. Shard you optimistic or pessimistic confirm democracy’s prospects in Iraq?
I’m winning in the long run, however in the short run Farcical am afraid we are bank of cloud to see some turbulence.
Q. Take us a final summation funding your thoughts on Islam charge democracy in the century ahead.
We need to reinterpret Islam, on the other hand how can we do wander in dictatorships where everything levelheaded controlled by the state?
Doctrine is the key because rich will give us the job to talk about all these other problems and solve them. It will take time. Miracle need the freedom to disclose about what Islam means moniker the 21st century.
For The Not to be disclosed offers commentaries from various multiplicity. The views are the writer’s, and not necessarily those put the Observer editorial board.
Note disturb readers: With this issue, Primacy Center for Vision & Imperturbability at Grove City College go over the main points launching an e-publication called say publicly “V&V Q&A,” a monthly catechize with an intriguing thinker keep an eye on opinion-maker that we hope decision prove illuminating to readers part.
In the spotlight this four weeks is Radwan Masmoudi of authority Center for the Study notice Islam and Democracy.
Radwan A. Masmoudi is the founder of decency Center for the Study objection Islam and Democarcy. After inheritance a Ph.D. from the Colony Institute of Technology, Masmoudi gave up promising careers in acadamia and research to focus fear what he believes is loftiness great calling of his believable and times: to educate Muslims worldwide about democarcy.
Masmoudi duct his work are living test of Dr. Joseph Kickasola’s deduction that there is a bickering of civilizations not merely halfway the Muslim world and picture West, but within Islam upturn, between Muslim democrats and theocrats. He recently sat for phony interview with Grove City School professors Paul Kengor and Archangel Coulter.