2008 Woodie Awards
Organization hosts lecture on Islam and democracy
David Rath
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
The Al-Islam Students Association and the UA Multicultural Center sponsored a seminar on democracy and Islam Friday in the Arkansas Union.
Najib Ghadbian, associate professor of political science and Middle East studies, and Mubasher Ahmad, imam of baitul Jami'a Mosque in Chicago, spoke about the pursuit of democracy in Middle Eastern nations.
"The question of democracy is one of the most debated topics in Muslim countries, but what is important to realize is that Muslims want democracy to be embedded in their own values and religion," Ghadbian said. "Most Muslims do not see the two as contradictory."
"The general perception of Islam in the West at this point is negative," he said. "It is a common misconception."
It is important to place the issues of democracy into a socioeconomic context, Ghadbian said.
"We want to correct the misunderstandings about Islam, and we feel like the universities are a good place to start talking about these topics," Ahmad said.
Both speakers stressed the compatibility of Islamic culture and democratic forms of government.
"In Islamic countries, the political system of democracy is not yet established," Ahmed said. "There is a question of whether a European form of democracy should be implemented or if a new form should be used.
"Islam is not against democracy. Islam and democracy are compatible, but democracy has many different forms," he said.
America's role in the development of democratic governments in Islamic countries came into the presidential agenda after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Ghadbian said.
"The Bush administration has helped bring the development of democracy in the Middle East, but it has also hurt it by tying it to the war in Iraq," he said. "When you say you're going to spread democracy through war, that is contradictory."
The education of the American people is vital to the understanding of the struggle for democracy in Islamic nations, Ahmad said.
"Democracy is a universal phenomenon," he said. "It is not specifically attached to any one faith tradition."
Ghadbian hopes people "will understand the complexity of the issue and how Muslims look at the issues, he said. Most Muslims want what most of us want. They want a good life."
Najib Ghadbian, associate professor of political science and Middle East studies, and Mubasher Ahmad, imam of baitul Jami'a Mosque in Chicago, spoke about the pursuit of democracy in Middle Eastern nations.
"The question of democracy is one of the most debated topics in Muslim countries, but what is important to realize is that Muslims want democracy to be embedded in their own values and religion," Ghadbian said. "Most Muslims do not see the two as contradictory."
"The general perception of Islam in the West at this point is negative," he said. "It is a common misconception."
It is important to place the issues of democracy into a socioeconomic context, Ghadbian said.
"We want to correct the misunderstandings about Islam, and we feel like the universities are a good place to start talking about these topics," Ahmad said.
Both speakers stressed the compatibility of Islamic culture and democratic forms of government.
"In Islamic countries, the political system of democracy is not yet established," Ahmed said. "There is a question of whether a European form of democracy should be implemented or if a new form should be used.
"Islam is not against democracy. Islam and democracy are compatible, but democracy has many different forms," he said.
America's role in the development of democratic governments in Islamic countries came into the presidential agenda after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, Ghadbian said.
"The Bush administration has helped bring the development of democracy in the Middle East, but it has also hurt it by tying it to the war in Iraq," he said. "When you say you're going to spread democracy through war, that is contradictory."
The education of the American people is vital to the understanding of the struggle for democracy in Islamic nations, Ahmad said.
"Democracy is a universal phenomenon," he said. "It is not specifically attached to any one faith tradition."
Ghadbian hopes people "will understand the complexity of the issue and how Muslims look at the issues, he said. Most Muslims want what most of us want. They want a good life."
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