“Case of Afghan convert causes some to question democracy push in the Middle East.
by Rob Moll | posted 04/24/2006 09:30 a.m.
The case of Abdul Rahman—the Afghan Christian convert who was arrested for apostasy before being released and given asylum in Italy—has been long expected by religious freedom observers. Despite few guarantees of religious freedom, evangelicals have largely supported democratization in the Middle East. But, some evangelical leaders say, that support may not last if more Christians are sentenced to death.
In his BreakPoint commentary, Chuck Colson said, “I have supported the Bush administration’s foreign policy because I came to believe that the best way to stop Islamo-fascism was by promoting democracy. But if we can’t guarantee fundamental religious freedoms in the countries where we establish democratic reforms, then the whole credibility of our foreign policy is thrown into serious question.”
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said, “How can we congratulate ourselves for liberating Afghanistan from the rule of jihadists only to be ruled by Islamists who kill Christians? … Americans will not give their blood and treasure to prop up new Islamic fundamentalist regimes. Democracy is more than purple thumbs.”…”
I know it’s very pesimestic of me, but here goes:
You CANNOT teach the Islamic world about democracy and human rights.
Islam is a way of life, not just a religion. It infiltrates how a person eats, goes to the toilet and even intimate relationships between couples…and of course above all: politics and matters of the state.
Given true democracy, most Muslims would opt for a radical Islamic party to rule them (that’s why the Ikhwan or Muslim Brotherhood party is so successful in Egypt)
It’s worth noting that Abdul Rahman’s very own family vowed to kill him if he was set free and they could reach him.
Hey hope you are well.
As a bit of recovering skeptic myself, I think it’s very important that we be wise as we pursue our hopes.
Regarding Islamic culture, having been born and raised in the States, it seems that most Muslims born here see their faith more as a heritage than a way of life (which I agree with you on). I believe this is why America is as open to the spread of Islam in the West and are quick to label the violence by Muslims as fanatical. It’s different here than obviously the Middle East. I have never seen anyone pray and bow towards Mecca here. I am sure they do in their homes and mosques, but I have yet to see it as I stroll through Philadelphia or while shopping at the mall. (Australia, probably similar). When I visited Israel, it was obviously completely different. This is not to say that middle-eastern democracy will guarantee religious freedom but it would be interesting to explore the reasons why Islamic culture has not changed the American Muslim (or the Western Muslim). The Middle Eastern might suggest that is because they have become too Westernized or they are not good Muslims, but I am not satisfied with that either.
You know I feel about the Rahman situation, but his own family wanted to kill him not only because they were Muslim and he converted, but because he had divorced their daughter. Unless I have it wrong, I didn’t hear anything about his parents wanting to kill him. I think it was his ex-in-laws that turned him in while he was seeking custody of his children. Either way, the concept of loving others and loving your enemy would seem to be a foreign concept to the Islamic faith – which is such a shock since they claim to respect Christ so much (written with all the sarcasm my mind can muster.)
In any case, I appreciate your insight into this. Please feel free to continue this line of thought.
One last thing, even if this extremely costly (as in lives and finances) task of bringing democracy to the Middle East fails, if all these years of negotiations failed, and then the dethronement of evil dictators and evil terrorists from government and the promise of freedom and better economies, better education, better healthcare, etc. Should all this prove to be a failure … the next steps are scary.
Hey there
You have a point, but perhaps things are different here in Aus. The Muslim colleagues I have are very much your garden variety middle-class-arab and very religious. In fact sometimes it seems they go out of their way to advertise how religious they are: “I have to go to the prayer room…it’s prayer time you know” “no thanks, i can’t go to lunch today…it’s ramadan and i’m fasting” “need to go to the bathroom…might be a while…i have to wash for prayer”.
Not to mention the outbreak in women wearing hijab all over Aussie streets. There was a little girl playing in the park the other day, she was probably 6 or 7…in full hijab.
Hospital menus in some areas have changed to exclude pork entirely.
Christmas celebrations are being targetted in schools.
I’ll tell u a funny story. When i started this job, one of the guys in the office we share had an icon of Jesus Christ above his desk. WHen he found out i was Egyptian he discreetly took it down. A few weeks later when he finally noticed i was wearing a cross, he actually mustered some courage to ask me (poor thing was too scared to come right and ask…another guy was apparently disciplined for asking a Muslim colleague about the significance of the hijab). Anyway I told him I was Christian…he started laughing. He told me he took the icon down because he didn’t want to offend me/…he thought i was Muslim!!!
That’s how much Islam is changing our Aussie society.
I digressed haven’t I?? sorry Jack, i think it’s personality number 2 today and boy is she a chatterbox??!!! (What on earth is in this lasagne anyway???)
I’ll try again another day when she hibernates.
Ciao mate.
I didn’t know that about Australia. Thanks for sharing that.
hi Jack
Sorry about yesterday’s comment. I’d had a long day and was extremely exhausted…the words were just gushing out :)
No apology necessary. I don’t even know what you are sorry for.
Besides, if I was going to start collecting or expecting apologies, we wouldn’t be starting with you. :-)