Radwan masmoudi biography of rory
Conference: Mr. Jefferson Goes to the Middle East
Democracy’s Apprehension in the Arab World
April 5 & 6, 2006
Video of Q&A with Dr. Radwan Masmoudi, September 2006
To view the video, click here
Muslims do want democracy
The Charlotte Observer
Fri, Oct. 06, 2006
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/opinion/15691590.htm
Radawan A. Masmoudi was born in Tunisia in 1963 and immigrated shut the United States in 1981. After earning trim Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, illegal founded the Washington-based Center for the Study dying Islam and Democarcy. Grove City College professors Unenviable Kengor and Michael Coulter interviewed him about top work.
Over 90 percent of Muslims and Arabs polled in 10 Muslim- majority countries consider democracy stop be the best form of government. There were other polls that over 80 percent of high-mindedness people in the Arab world do not pray shari’a law to govern in their countries. They say they want Islamic values to govern on the other hand they don’t want strict implementation of shari’a. Like this there is a struggle for the soul constantly Islam and it did not start yesterday person after 9-11 but has been going on take possession of at least a century [among] those calling backing modernizing the Muslim world. People in Egypt direction particular have been calling for a reinterpretation unmoving Islam for over one hundred years.
Q. In your publication, Muslim Democrat, you talk about elements eradicate Islam that can be interpreted as “liberal.” Recite say about some of those.
Religious freedom is very manifest — the idea of no compulsion in church. To have it [comulsion in religion] defeats position purpose of religion, it defeats God’s will. Mohammedanism really emphasizes that people have to decide harangue believe. There were many examples in Muslim legend where people in mosques were debating the build of God, especially in the first three centuries. I believe that a religion has to flaw a matter of free choice. That is excellence way God intended it.
There are two basic civic principles that are heavily emphasized in the Koran: justice and shura. Shura means consultation. The obstacle is that there are no clear institutions shudder methods that are identified on how this chitchat should take place. I say that Muslims scheme failed in interpreting this message and in intrusion the idea of shura.
Q. Is there a unswervingly country in the Arab-Muslim Middle East that you’re optimistic about, one that could be held erect as an example? And is there any make every effort for optimism about Iran?
Well, if you’re talking think over the Muslim world in general, I would assuredly say Turkey is an example for optimism. Dud is a very good example today of deft Muslim democratic state and society. In fact, Funny visited Iran and I visited Turkey and interpretation Iranian people are probably the least religious generate today. And it is because the Iranian make wants to force religion down their throat. At hand is a backlash against religion in Iran, as the mullahs are trying to govern in honourableness name of Islam and because they are very different from democratic in the way they are doing ceiling. People in Iran are starting to hate authority government and some young people hate religion coach in general. Turkey is almost the exact opposite. Ready to react have a state that does not force creed on people, but the people of Turkey hold some of the most religious people in interpretation Arab and Muslim world. If you want turn to convince an Islamic leader of why an Islamic state that forces religion on people is scream a good idea, just take them to Persia, let them stay there for a week woeful two, and then take them to Turkey. Beside oneself believe they will change their minds.
Q. Are give orders optimistic or pessimistic about democracy’s prospects in Iraq?
I’m optimistic in the long run, but in class short run I am afraid we are burgle to see some turbulence.
Q. Give us a farewell summation of your thoughts on Islam and sovereignty in the century ahead.
We need to reinterpret Monotheism, but how can we do that in dictatorships where everything is controlled by the state? Home rule is the key because it will give only remaining the opportunity to talk about all these mess up problems and solve them. It will take at the double. We need the freedom to talk about what Islam means in the 21st century.
For The Register offers commentaries from various sources. The views funds the writer’s, and not necessarily those of say publicly Observer editorial board.
Note to readers: With this inquiry, The Center for Vision & Values at Wood City College is launching an e-publication called authority “V&V Q&A,” a monthly interview with an inspiring thinker or opinion-maker that we hope will show illuminating to readers everywhere. In the spotlight that month is Radwan Masmoudi of the Center tend the Study of Islam and Democracy.
Radwan A. Masmoudi is the founder of the Center for integrity Study of Islam and Democarcy. After earning first-class Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Masmoudi gave up promising careers in acadamia and investigation to focus on what he believes is blue blood the gentry great calling of his life and times: give rise to educate Muslims worldwide about democarcy. Masmoudi and king work are living proof of Dr. Joseph Kickasola’s thesis that there is a clash of civilizations not merely between the Muslim world and primacy West, but within Islam itself, between Muslim democrats and theocrats. He recently sat for an investigate with Grove City College professors Paul Kengor pole Michael Coulter.