69 million page views

Islam & democracy

Reader comment on item: Debate: Islam and Democracy

Submitted by Saankhya (India), Jul 21, 2003 at 03:10

Dear Dr. Pipes,

I am an admirer of your forthright and incisive scholarship. The following are my comments on the “Debate: Islam and Democracy”.

1. Firstly, the “Debate: Islam and Democracy” conveniently avoids core issues. The issues that should have been debated are, whether or not Islam (i.e. the precepts of the Quran, the Hadiths, the Sharia) per se:
i. Is compatible with democracy guaranteeing equal rights and equal protection of laws to all citizens;
ii. Denies equal rights to women and non-muslims;
iii. Sanctions slavery;
iv. Empowers muslims to wage Jihad against non-muslims till kufr is completely eradicated (this concept is the fountain head of terrorism and organised violence against non-muslims since 7th century, and of which ordinary muslims and muslim women are greatest victims);
v. Calls for intense loyalty of muslims to the ummah i.e. muslim brotherhood, to the negation of loyalty to one’s nation-state which is a major source of conflict in any multi-religious society,
vi. Allows the freedom of expression including the freedom to discuss, if not question its doctrines, without which no democracy can sustain.

2. Secondly, it is no use beating around the bush by skirting core issues. When every word of Quran is considered sacrosanct and unchangeable, how is it possible for the muslim world to modernize?

3. Thirdly, a distinction need to be made between an undesirable practice that is an appendage of the past and the one that is sanctioned by scriptures or doctrine. The former can easily be eradicated by social reform and legislation, whereas the latter calls for religious reform that is far more difficult and has to necessarily come from within that religion. Further, the prerequisite for any reform, whether social or religious, requires acknowledgement of the source of the problem and not merely the problem. This “Debate: Islam and Democracy” has failed to discuss the crucial doctrinaire / scriptural issues.

4. Fourth, the claim of Dr. Khan that “…unlike the U.S., four Muslim nations have or had women heads of government” and “I am convinced that it is just a matter of time before the entire Muslim world democratizes” is spurious to the least. These countries have or had women heads of government in spite of Islam and not because of it. They were once part of the great Hindu civilization whose remnant influences are responsible for women in these countries continuing to enjoy better rights than their less fortunate counterparts in the core countries of Islam i.e. Middle East. Thus, in general, the farther a country is from the epicenter of Islam (i.e. Middle East) the less Islamic, and hence more democratic it is. Eg. Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia are, relatively speaking, more democratic with better rights to women than Pakistan, which in turn is better, again relatively speaking, than the Middle Eastern countries. In other words, the extent of democracy in a society is inversely proportional to the degree of its Islamization. More importantly and contrary to the optimism of Dr. Khan, the situation is fast worsening due to tablighi and taliban movements to rid these societies of pre-islamic influences. Blasting of Bamian Buddhas is just one example. I sincerely wish that Dr. Khan’s optimism will become a reality and I will be delighted if I am proved wrong even after a century.

5. Lastly, the pattern of women enjoying pre-eminent position and better rights including religious, in societies with pagan (i.e. non-Abrahamic) religious influences is clearly evident across the globe. In other words, the more pagan the influence, the higher is the status of women. It is not a coincidence that the first and second women heads of government in the world in modern era are from Srilanka (Sirimavo Bandarenayake) and India (Indira Gandhi), which are Buddhist and Hindu majority countries respectively, and both are constitutionally democratic and secular with equal rights and equal protection of laws to all citizens irrespective of caste, creed, religion and sex. It is again not a coincidence that almost all women heads of government both past and present, are from South and South-East Asian countries having high degree of dominant or remnant Hindu / Buddhist influences.

In contrast, the greater the influence of totalitarian theologies (i.e. prophetic monotheistic religions) and ideologies (i.e. Communism, Nazism, Fascism), the lower the status of women. This is notwithstanding the Renaissance, Reformation, Enlightenment and Modernization. The fact that none of the Communist countries both erstwhile and present, the Western including American and Australian countries, the Islamic countries and the lone Jewish country, produced or elected women heads of government (barring Thatcher and Golda Meir and those few non-core Islamic countries having abundant remnant Hindu influences) amply demonstrates the point that there is something in these totalitarian theologies and ideologies that denies equality to women. Maybe totalitarianism, whether of theological or ideological variety, itself is responsible, as it essentially suppresses the weak of which womenfolk constitutes a major chunk. This is not to say that constitutionally or legally women are denied equal rights in Western democracies. But the moot point is that they do not elect women heads of government in spite of Enlightenment etc., probably due to Christian doctrinal / scriptural influences which might be working subconsciously if not openly, in the minds of the populace. And there does not appear to be any other cogent reason for this paradox in Western democracies.

Yours truly,
Saankhya
Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (69) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
2Are Islam and democracy incompatible. How about Islam and ethics? [377 words]PrashantApr 12, 2013 00:39205107
third largest democratic country [5 words]antarApr 11, 2013 07:20205084
Democracy/secularism [130 words]KateSep 4, 2010 19:54177685
See the Reality, Women is still a commodity in Islamic Country by and large. [80 words]Sardar Ravi Ranjan Singh 'Bharat Panthi'Jul 20, 2010 11:49175804
The need for foreign intervention - Islam's incompatibility with democratic principles [157 words]AlexMar 11, 2010 22:11169999
Caliph was elected [30 words]bary soetoroJan 11, 2010 18:02167193
Indonesia: The third democratic country in the world [34 words]barry soetoroMar 28, 2009 23:11152919
Five minutes before twelve [84 words]Listiani LestariFeb 3, 2011 18:56152919
indonesia [10 words]b soetoroFeb 6, 2011 07:42152919
1Islamic 'Democracy' under Sharia Law? OXYMORON [281 words]TheWayItIsJul 3, 2006 17:3848804
2Islam and democracy [1168 words]Guy Leven-Torres (Agricola)May 30, 2007 15:0248804
Christian fanatics lack moral authority to criticize Islam [409 words]J. GuzmanApr 6, 2011 21:0348804
Security for US more important than spreading democracy [325 words]Saleem SiddiquiFeb 21, 2006 19:2636882
JIHAD IN ISLAM [56 words]I.N.F.Dec 1, 2005 17:1129272
1Sharia: DOA in Ontario [254 words]Mark-Alan WhittleSep 16, 2005 09:1725897
pkk ist doof [80 words]Sep 3, 2005 19:4025456
Plz read well about Islam first [28 words]someoneFeb 28, 2004 17:2514020
Later [126 words]truthMay 4, 2006 07:3714020
very good [12 words]lelekDec 14, 2003 08:4812647
Correction for Mike Ramirez [46 words]A.A.Sep 12, 2003 16:3111231
The question is on democracy. [52 words]Al-Zhoheir HajimSep 5, 2003 01:1211037
No reform Muslims [117 words]Hank RothAug 21, 2003 22:5510715
4Freedom, equality, justice & human dignity in islam [229 words]A.A.Aug 11, 2003 12:0010504
this is islam [234 words]FADWAApr 26, 2006 06:4410504
2Islamic Vs. Western Human Rights [677 words]CanadianChrisSep 29, 2010 16:0110504
1the information is not based on truth [69 words]hawwaJun 5, 2011 09:3110504
Equality For All in Islam??? [147 words]Mike RamirezAug 5, 2003 10:1410447
10Why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islam? i.e. why is polygamy allowed in Islam? [1263 words]Mohammed Rizwan MemonNov 27, 2009 12:2310447
RE: Why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islam? i.e. why is polygamy allowed in Islam? [601 words]SoManyContradictionSoLittleTimeJul 30, 2010 21:0910447
1Just answer the question [116 words]rational thinkerFeb 15, 2014 18:0810447
equality for all [25 words]coolknOct 20, 2014 08:1510447
Understand first. [18 words]SalihuMay 12, 2017 03:5010447
Answer [49 words]Manish guptaAug 21, 2017 22:5910447
Islam-Double talk [155 words]hari iyerAug 1, 2003 11:5210385
Discrimination? [77 words]S.C.PandaJul 30, 2003 07:3310324
1Sharia Law and Turkey [131 words]M. LeviJul 28, 2003 23:1710286
3Sharia Law and Turkey [131 words]M. LeviJul 28, 2003 23:1410283
Mohammed 's rule by consent and consultation [77 words]N.K.Jul 28, 2003 10:5610275
1ISLAM, Terror "Ghulam Nabi" , The Prophet's truth [939 words]No-americanDec 13, 2007 10:1910275
The Enlightenment can be evil, too [97 words]Peter J. HerzJul 25, 2003 23:5010244
It's a matter of time [182 words]Tim EarlJul 25, 2003 09:5310237
2Dr. Khan's ignorance [101 words]A. A.Jul 24, 2003 14:0710214
1conquest by the womb and sword [109 words]Y Brandstetter MDJul 24, 2003 08:3810198
Some important points [1515 words]Linas KondratasJul 24, 2003 05:0110191
Islam and Democracy [107 words]Nozrul HussainJul 23, 2003 18:1310185
3Muslim Women Prime Ministers [263 words]Peggy RapierJul 23, 2003 11:5410179
Tansu Ciller / Muslim Women Prime Ministers [99 words]Jan OOct 19, 2007 09:0510179
Female political leaders in Islam and in Muslim-majority countries [35 words]Dr. Fawzy SaadJul 27, 2011 11:2010179
Muqtedar! You are utterly WRONG! [231 words]Lakshmi NarayainJul 23, 2003 02:0510165
religion and democracy: can islam do it? [1285 words]Peter J. HerzJul 22, 2003 23:3810154
1Islam & democracy [874 words]SaankhyaJul 21, 2003 03:1010095
Islam is better than democracy and Muslim women have all the rights and freedom since 1400 yrs ago [176 words]Nur IbrahimFeb 16, 2011 10:4810095
A Leopard Can't Change Its Spots [126 words]James CartwellJul 20, 2003 11:2210093
Our is the best society? [149 words]JafetyJul 19, 2003 13:5410087
What is the real problem? [469 words]Dennis WheelerJul 18, 2003 22:3810086
PEW Report [119 words]Julian WassermanJul 18, 2003 17:5010085
Islam and Democracy [671 words]Vijay DandapaniJul 18, 2003 15:2410084
Dr. Muqtedar Khan [26 words]Dan GurtaJul 18, 2003 13:4710083
Islam itself [36 words]Regan HuffmanJul 18, 2003 13:1410082
Muqtedar Khan is wrong [118 words]Malolan CadambiJul 18, 2003 04:1310080
The real question [72 words]William PapkeJul 17, 2003 17:4710075
1Biblical criticism & the truth about stoning in Islam. [388 words]Richard BurdJul 17, 2003 17:4110074
Appreciaton for #1167 article [29 words]Mike HeibergJul 17, 2003 12:4610066
Khan misses several key points [222 words]Jane AdlerJul 17, 2003 12:3810065
Debate: Islam and Democracy [1434 words]Gabriele (Gila) KleinJul 17, 2003 12:0210064
Debate: Islam and Democracy [48 words]Mike RamirezJul 17, 2003 12:0210063
What others have said about this topic [601 words]Karl EricsonJul 17, 2003 11:4310061
Different perspectives [214 words]Kenneth BesigJul 17, 2003 11:2610059
Islam's "civil war" [43 words]Glenn KlotzJul 17, 2003 08:4310055

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)