Dr. Ala Al-Aswany ends most of his articles by “Democracy is the answer.” A very laudable thought, possible applicable in a fraction of the world’s nations, but certainly not in our corner of the world. His Holiness Pope Tawadros II said “there can be no democracy where ignorance and illiteracy abide.”
Civilization is another catch-all word under which is lumped non-homogenous elements. While a civilized person or group of people have to have basic and deductive knowledge, so-called educated people may not be civilized. The latter state is seen time and again all over the world and since time immemorial. Most are aware of the dictum ‘half knowledge can be more harmful that none at all.’ This too has been seen time and again when quasi-educated persons are brought to office for reasons other than competence, mess up an organization or a nation.
Democracy is an anathema in conservative Islam. In a CBC interview the head of the organization of ‘Shari’a for Belgium’ Fouad Balkasan, known as Abu Imran, stated that “Democracy is the opposite of Shari’a and Islam.” This view is pervasive among most conservative Muslims worldwide.
De facto, the writing of the Egyptian Constitution is based primarily on the Shari’a and when situations arise which are beyond the provisions in the constitution, then final jurisdiction would be based on the interpretation by the Elders in Al-Azhar. Those worthies are bound by the Shari’a.
Geometrically we have defined a complete circle. The result will be a non-secular but a definite Islamic sectarian constitution. Democracy and Islam are incompatible. Admittedly, on the surface of it this is a very difficult choice, but in fact anyone who favors a secular constitution is doing so at the risk of losing his/her soul in eternity.
Then let us go back to the immediate post-Mubarak period, one vote one man one time. This then is the end of independence and the dream of those who hanker for a Caliphate, a la the Wahabi and Salafi interpretation of Islam. Adieu democracy in Egypt for a long, long time.
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Saba E. Demian, M.D.