Latest update November 29th, 2024 1:00 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Revolution spreading in the Islamic World against ‘Islamic’ Autocrats

Feb 19, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
As I write this short note, the people of Iran, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain, Algeria, and Djibouti are facing down police forces, the military and political goon squads in their respective countries.
Revolutionary action is underway lead by the youth, who are standing up for freedom in attempts to rid these countries of entrenched dictators who rule over their populations with an iron fist. A common denominator in all these countries is the varying approaches to Islamic law; approaches, understanding, and practices of Islamic law that has left much to be desired.
The revolutionary actions of the populace against self proclaimed “Islamic” leaders in all these places are related to what the people (majority Muslim populations) recognise as the need for civil, political, social, and economic reform. Revolutionary actions in these countries are related to the failure of self proclaimed “Islamic” leaders, who rather than help to create societies where wealth is more evenly available, have officiated over the construction of societies divided between a small group at the top, which owns and controls most of the wealth and power, and the majority of the population which live in relative poverty and squalor.
The people on the streets today in Iran, Yemen, Libya, Bahrain, Algeria, and Djibouti have joined the call made by their counterparts recently in the successful revolutions of Tunisia and Egypt. In the wake of the failure of the self proclaimed “Islamic” state the people in all these places are clamouring for civic states. They are clamouring for democracy at all levels of the society, at the economic, and at the political and social levels.
The unfolding events in North Africa and the Middle East suggest that a watershed moment has arrived, which some authors have coined as a “collective and moral earthquake,” or a new awakening. The central demands of the people in this new awakening are very basic.
They are seeking to be respected as human beings, to be treated as equal citizens in their own homeland, to be treated with dignity, and to be afforded the right to equal participation in politics and the economy.
As the protest grows the value, language, and meaning of religion is being reshaped and given new meaning.
This transformation or new meaning is now being seen in the changed language even in such organisations as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt who have now joined the clamour for a ‘civic’ (madaniyya) state, rather than for a religious (diniyya), or even for a military (askariyya) state.
These changes are not only important, but necessary. The people of these countries deserve support and solidarity.
Wazir Mohamed

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | November, 20th, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Guyana Beverages Inc. partners with GFF for Maid Marian Wheat Up Women’s Cup

Guyana Beverages Inc. partners with GFF for Maid Marian Wheat Up...

Nov 29, 2024

  (GFF) — Guyana Beverages Inc (GBI) in an effort to contribute to the development of women’s football has partnered with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) as a sponsor of the Maid Marian...
Read More
GFF provides support to EBFA U14 Boys’ League

GFF provides support to EBFA U14 Boys’ League

Nov 29, 2024

Athletics scores big at NSC National Sports Awards

Athletics scores big at NSC National Sports

Nov 29, 2024

St. Theresa’s Primary triumph in Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ National Finals

St. Theresa’s Primary triumph in Republic Bank...

Nov 29, 2024

Wakenaam Masters to face Parika Defenders in T20 softball affair on Saturday night

Wakenaam Masters to face Parika Defenders in T20...

Nov 29, 2024

Bakewell supports Kashif and Shanghai Futsal tourney

Bakewell supports Kashif and Shanghai Futsal...

Nov 28, 2024

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]