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Islam is compatible with Western ideals of
freedom and democracy
By Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai
Kashmiri American Council
Istanbul,
Turkey. December 12, 2007. Much of the Western world is currently in a state of
fear over Islam. And while the threat is mostly imagined, this fear is not only
affecting individual Muslims in the form of increased discrimination,
harassment, and persecution, but is also finding its way into foreign policy
decisions all over the globe, said Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Executive Director of
the Kashmiri American Council/Kashmir Center, while speaking during the
International Conference on Islamophobia at Istanbul, Turkey. More than 1,000
people attended the conference that was organized by The Union of the NGOs of
the Islamic World. Dr. Fai presented a paper on, The Islamic Concept of Human
Rights VS Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Dr. Fai elaborated that Islam as a value system upholds the same human rights
precepts as contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). After
all, Islam means submission to God and does indeed encapsulate the same moral
principles as outlined in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, both of which
served as templates for the modern Western code of law and legal system. In
fact, Muslims should be defending the universal truths as conveyed through all
the sacred scriptures, and specifically the three Abrahamic faiths Islam,
Judaism & Christianity. Some of these timeless spiritual principles can indeed
be seen in the thirty articles of the United Nations, Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
The Executive Director reminded the audience that Prophet Muhammad introduced
the concept of human rights and international freedoms to Arabia, a place where
people were suffering the worst kind of human rights violations known to
humanity. Under these conditions, he promoted human rights and human dignity not
only for his followers, but also for all humankind irrespective of any religious
affiliations and cultural background.
Dr. Fai emphasized that Islam, as a growing force in the world, is not a threat
in its ideal form and is particularly compatible with Western ideals of freedom
and democracy. This is not to say that an Islamic society would look like an
American representative democracy, but neither do any of the socialist
democracies or monarchies found throughout Western Europe and much of the
Western world. The goal of the west should not be to impose a representative
democracy on the Islamic world but rather to support the rise of forces which
uphold the same tenants of equality, freedom, and justice that the West holds so
dear. Islam does just that.
Dr. Fai reiterated that Islamic ideals teach universal values, all of which
naturally extend out of the ethic of reciprocity. "Do unto others as you would
have others do unto you.". If individuals follow this basic tenant, then there
would be no oppression or denial of human rights because no one would ever
oppress or deny themselves of any rights. Beyond that however, the Qu ran always
encourages the enjoining of good practices that benefit the individual spirit as
well as the greater peace of society as a whole. However under the spirit of
peace and brotherhood, there are no limits to individual freedom as long as it
doesn t lessen other s basic rights or create disharmony in society.
Dr. Fai concluded that the Quranic teachings are timeless and universal. The
beauty and grace of God s word can be applied anytime, anywhere and is robust
enough to address all social issues that arise. The West should be partnering
with Muslims across the globe to manifest societies and governments that embody
these ideals rather than suffer from the ignorant fear of Islam that colors the
geopolitical landscape today.
Those who spoke during the two day conference included: Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin
IHSANOGLU, the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Conference
(OIC); Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, former President, Azad Kashmir; the Jewish
academic Prof. Dr. Norman Finkelstein famous for his book the Holocaust, Dr.
Vincent Geisser, France; Ms. Karen Armstrong, England; Prof. Dr. Susana Mangana,
Uruguay; Prof. William Baker, USA; Mr. Necmi Sadikoglu, Turkey; Dr. Bernard
Goddard, France; Eric K. Nisbet, Turkey; Dr. Tariq Said Ramadan, Switzerland;
Prof. Norman Finkelstein, USA; Mr. M. Fahmy Howeidy, Egypt; Lord Nazir Ahmed,
England; Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, the Former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; Mr.
Ahmed Von Denffer, Germany; Dr. M. Louay Safi, USA; Prof. Dr. Anis Ahmad,
Pakistan; Dr. Iqbal Unus, USA; Dr. Ahmet Bakcan, Turkey; Mr. Shahid Malik, M.P.,
England; Dr. Merve Safa Kavakç, USA; Dr. Salah Abdel Mutaal, Egypt; Dr. Olsi
Jazexhi, Albania; Mr. Ahmed Azam, Malysia; Mr.
Mubarak El-Mutawwa, Kuwait; Dr. Sulayman Nyang, USA; Dr. Mohammad Rayan, Jordan;
Dr. Taskin Soykan, Poland; Dr.Ibrahim Kal n, Turkey; Prof. Dr. Numan Kurtulmu ,
Prof. Dr. Mümtazer Türköne, Prof. Dr. Ömer Faruk Harman, Prof. Dr. Mehmet
Görmez, Mr. Ali Kurt, Turkey; Prof. Dr. Yasin Aktay, Fatma Benli from Turkey and
many more.
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Kashmiri American Council (KAC)
1111 16th Street, N.W. Suite 420, Washington, DC 20036
by phone:Tel: 202-628-6789, Fax: 202-393-0062 / 703-295-8683
by e-maI:
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