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A
Diplomatic Strategy for the Defense of Democracies
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 A.
Defining the Issues |
It is clear to any informed observer of
developments in international affairs that the moral values
of the Judeo-Christian civilization and democracies in general
are under savage assault. It is also clear to any informed
observer that a major and - without doubt, the most proactively
vehement - source of this assault is radical Islam and its
aggressive and intolerant expansionism.
However, what is perhaps less obvious, and certainly less
articulated, is the fact the half of the human race - regardless
of religious affiliation - has a vested and vital interest
in arresting the onset of Islamic radicalism, in containing
its influence and in extricating itself from the threat of
its oppressive grasp. This imperiled segment of humanity comprises
- all the woman of the world.
A.1.
Gender Apartheid
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If we do not oppose and defeat Islamic
Gender Apartheid, democracy and freedom cannot flourish
in the Arab and Islamic world… If we do not join forces
with Muslim dissident and feminist groups; and, above
all, if we do not have one universal standard of human
rights for all - then we will fail our own Judeo-Christian
… ideals.
Prof. Phyllis Chesler
Testimony on
"Gender Apartheid in Iran and the Muslim
World" before US Senate,
December 2005
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Under any regime of Islamic fundamentalism, the prospects
for womenfolk are likely to be dismal indeed - as is borne
out by bitter experience across most of the Moslem world where
"gender apartheid" of varying degrees of
severity is a part of everyday life. Various forms of harsh
gender persecution and discrimination are part of social norms
and even formal legislation (Also
see Appendix I).
Perhaps the one most blatant instances is that of Saudi Arabia
where women, whether Saudi or foreign, suffer discrimination
and human rights violations as a matter of routine - not only
because of the gender bias in social mores and traditions,
but because such apartheid-like discriminatory practices are
prescribed by law. Strict segregation of the sexes, an integral
part of Saudi Arabian society, has adverse and unfair effects
on women, who are denied equal educational opportunities,
are forbidden to drive, and may work only in certain vocations.
Human Rights Watch reports that apart from Saudi Arabia,
women in Morocco, Jordan, and Kuwait, face government-sponsored
discrimination that renders them unequal before the law -
including discriminatory family codes that take away women's
legal authority and place it in the hands of male family members
- and restricts women's participation in public life. Indeed,
women's empowerment and employment in the Arab world are among
the lowest in the world and as is their participation in their
countries' political and economic life (The Economist, July
4, 2002).
A.2.
Religious Persecution
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Violence also occurs between Muslims,
on the one hand, and Orthodox Serbs in the Balkans,
Jews in Israel, Hindus in India, Buddhists in Burma
and Catholics in the Philippines… Islam has bloody borders.
Prof
Samuel Huntington. Clash
of Civilizations, Foreign Affairs, Summer
1993
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Islamic intolerance is not confined to the gender issue and
across the Moslem and Arab world, religious repression is
the rule rather than the exception. This is certainly not
a phenomenon limited to antagonism towards Israel, the Jews
and Judaism (as reflected by the vitriolic and ubiquitous
anti-Jewish invective - see Appendix II), but is far-more
wide-ranging and extensive. In fact it is directed toward
virtually all other forms of non-Moslem faiths, from the prohibition
of churches in Saudi Arabia to the destruction of Buddhist
statues in Afghanistan. However, perhaps the fiercest onslaught
of Islam is against Christianity - particularly in Africa
and particularly against the Evangelical movement which is
proving to be the major - perhaps the only spiritual bulwark
against the relentless advance of Islam in this continent
(see Appendix II).
In many countries, conversion to Christianity is a punishable
offence that carries heavy penalties - including lengthy imprisonment
and even death. The unfortunate fate of Copts in Egypt and
their persecution is a matter of documented record. In Saudi
Arabia, it is illegal for Christians to gather together to
practice their faith. Churches are totally forbidden and nothing
relating to the Christian faith may be displayed, including
personal items such as a necklace with a cross or a Bible.
In Sudan, the horrendous plight of Christians (of whom, according
to some reports, over one million have been butchered by official
and unofficial Moslem militias) and other non-Arab ethnicities
are regularly reported in the world media… and equally regularly
ignored.
But even in outside the geographic confines of Moslem countries,
the adherents of Islam persist with an arrogant and discordant
asymmetry in their attitude to religion. Thus when
Muslim communities immigrate to democratic countries and open
societies, they invariably demand, very vocally and assertively,
that their customs be respected and that they be allowed to
practice these customs openly - in accordance with the commitment
to pluralistic tolerance in these societies.
However, when Westerners visit the Islamic countries, they
are expected to show their respect for the prevailing customs
by adhering rigidly to them and by refraining from any public
display of their own religion or customs.
| B.
Prescribing the Strategies |
B.1.
The Conceptual Design
These topics of gender apartheid and religious
intolerance/persecution, which arguably embody the two
most objectionable aspects of Islamic radicalism today, can,
and should, become the target for assertive action by those
who feel that their entire system of values and world view
are gravely imperiled by the spread of Islamic extremism.
For a concerted drive to abolish gender apartheid and religious
repression on the one hand, and to enhance the status of Moslem
women and install religious pluralism/tolerance in the Moslem
world, on the other, would do much to underpin Judeo-Christian
values and undermine the cause of Islamic radicalism across
the international stage. Indeed, an endeavor of this kind,
if successful, could be a major force for promoting positive
and moderating change in the very fabric of Islamist regimes.
In implementing of such a drive, the major thrust of effort
should be focused on persuading governments to adopt the type
legislation which reflect the spirit of the Jackson/Vanik
amendment in the conduct of their foreign policy. It was
this amendment, which made benefits contingent on domestic
reform and liberalization, that eventually succeeded in applying
pressure on the USSR to allow Jewish emigration and induced
greater tolerance in the Soviet's regime attitude to minority
groups.
Similarly, groups that hold Bible-based, Judeo-Christian values
dear should marshal their resources to influence both incumbent
politicians, government officials and civil society elites
and opinion makers for the incorporation of similar morally
sound principles in their country's foreign policy.
B.2.
The Practical Measures
In order to bring pressures to bear on decision-makers to
implement the desired changes in policies, various channels
of action are open to concerned individual and groups - vis-a-vis
the political system and influential elements within
the civil society of their countries - such as the
media and educational institutions - in order to create a
public climate amenable to introduction of these changes.
These include:
The
canvassing of politicians and policy makers (including face
to face meetings with them) to explain to them the iniquities
of gender apartheid and religious persecution that prevail
today in the Islamic world.
The
organizing of demonstrations and other protest actions decrying
the injustices of discrimination on the basis gender or
faith.
The
initiation of mass letter campaigns to both to politicians
and major media organizations (printed and electronic) calling
public attention to the injustices perpetrated against women
and adherents of Judeo-Christian beliefs.
The
establishment of contacts with major media personalities
and the conveying to them of factually accurate material
on the grim realities in the Islamic world.- in particular
with regard to the repression of women and non-Moslem believers.
The
dissemination of truthful accounts and reliable data on
religious and gender persecution in across the Moslem world
via internet, e-mail mailing lists or and other available
communication vehicles.
The
setting up of pro-active monitoring facilities to document
and disseminate information on gender and religious discrimination,
repression and persecution.
The
monitoring of academic organizations and research institutes
that tend to understate, conceal, disguise or distort the
cruel realities which women and non-Moslems are exposed
to.
Engaging
educators, heads of teachers' organization, school principals
etc. to inform and educate on the true fate of the victims
of gender and religious persecution in the Islamic world.
In all cases it should be emphasized that the advocated policy
proposals should be adopted not only because of the overwhelming
moral merit they embody but also because of the long-term
practical benefits that they are likely to provide if successful.
For if the status of women is indeed enhanced and the greater
religious tolerance is indeed introduced into Moslem world,
there can be little doubt that the result would be a dramatic
and positive transformation of Islamic society.
There can be little doubt this would be a development of
tremendous benefit not only to those who hold the Judeo-Christian
values dear - but to the entire international community as
a whole.
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The ensuing appendices present additional
information that could contribute toward the design
and promotion of a framework for the formulation of
the proposed legislative and/or policy initiatives.
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| Appendices |
Appendix
I
| Topic: |
Eradication
of "Gender Apartheid" and Enhancement of Status
of Women |
| Objective: |
Passing an
expanded Jackson/Vanik- type amendment focusing on :
The Enhancement/Advancement of the Status Women -- as
Major Force for Promoting Change in Islamist Regimes.
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Background/
Rationale
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1. One of
the major fault lines in fundamentalist Islamist society
is that of gender with harsh discriminatory practices
in place in most countries where such radical theocratic
values prevail.
2. Focusing on this issue of what is in effect "gender
apartheid", would permit the mounting of a sustainable
offensive strategy against repressive Islamist regimes.
Such an ideological offensive would conform entirely to
the moral tenets of liberal democracy - and thus be relatively
immune to criticisms from the usually obstructive "politically-correct"
left.
3. Moreover such an offensive would on, the one hand,
effectively target one of the most sensitive foundations
of fundamentalist fanaticism and, on the other generate
pressure for a positive, moderating transformation in
Islamic society.
4. It would be difficult to imagine any other measure
which would cut the ground more effectively from under
the pillars of extremist Islamist society than a radical
upgrading of the status of women in such societies. Indeed,
experience shows that advancement of women produces effects
that run strongly against the factors which nourish fundamentalist
extremism.
5. For example, improvement of the status of women is
usually accompanied by lower birthrates (hence smaller
families), higher income levels, and better standards
of education. This is a phenomenon acknowledged by many
in the Muslim world itself. For example such source commonly
cited the low status of women in Arab countries as one
of the major causes of the underdeveloped and backward
state of this part of the globe.
6. There can in fact be little doubt that an Islamic world,
in which the status of women approached that of women
in the West, would constitute an entirely different and
a certainly less implacably hostile adversary than it
does at present.
7. It would therefore be a definite interest of the United
States and the wider libertarian world to prepare for
a long-term, comprehensive and vigorous campaign, designed
to foment demands for women's liberation in Muslim societies,
to promote pressure for upgrading their status and for
acquiring civil rights currently denied them.
8. Such an initiative would provide considerable PR and
diplomatic advantages:
(a) It would facilitate a diplomatic offense against repressive
extremist regimes- underscoring that if half their population
is kept in state of unproductive suppression, lack of
economic progress in ther countries is inevitable.
(b) Since women are clearly the group likely to most drastically
and adversely affected by the propagation of Islamist
values, focusing on the issue of the plight of women under
such values, will contribute to raising public awareness
of the inherent special menace such doctrine entails for
half of humanity.
(c) As this issue transcends conventional political divisions,
it has potential for harnessing considerable public support
regardless of party affiliation. It is thus likely to
provide a rare opportunity where both religious conservative
and secular liberal forces can combine efforts and cooperate
in promoting an issue which, for differing reasons, coincides
with their opposing world views.
9. Due to the explosive sensitivity of the gender issue
in Islamist countries, even if the proposed measures -
see blow - do not succeed in bringing about a tangible
positive transformation, it will at least throw these
repressive regimes off balance and onto the defensive,
forcing them to divert significant resources to deal with
the consequences of the initiative. |
Selected
References
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Salman Masalha, The Arab Man is the
Problem, The [Arab] Woman is the Solution, October
28, 2004 http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=subjects&Area=reform&ID=SP80704
Original Arabic: http://www.elaph.com/ElaphWriter/2004/9/11931.htm,
The destructive forces of honour killing in the Middle
East, The Age - January 16, 2004 , http://www.aijac.org.au/resources/aijac-media/tl_age_160104.html,
The Correlation Between the Status of Women &
Weak Democratization, May 16, 2003, http://www.islam-democracy.org/4th_Annual_Conference-Khandwala_paper.asp
Arab Human Development Report 2002, United Nations
Development Programme, Arab Fund for Economic and Social
Development.
Self-doomed to failure, Jul 4th 2002 The Economist,
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=1213392
Amnesty International Report on Saudi Arabia
http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intcam/saudi/index.html |
Appendix
II
| Topic: |
Religious
Tolerance, Pluralism and Freedom of Faith |
| Objective: |
Passing an expanded Jackson/Vanik- type amendment
focusing on:
Propagation of Religious Tolerance and Pluralism
Protection/Empowerment of Christians /Christian Heritage
from Persecution/ Eradication in Muslim Countries
- In Africa
- In the wider Middle East
- In the Palestinian Authority
Elimination of anti-Semitic incitement and the racist
hatred propagated by the Palestinian Media.
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Background/
Rationale
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1. Christians
and Christianity are under savage assault across the Muslim
World. Religious repression is the rule rather than the
exception. In many countries, conversion to Christianity
is a punishable offence that carries heavy penalties -
including lengthy imprisonment and even death.
2. This is particularly true in Africa
and the Middle East.
3. In Africa Christianity is emerging as the
only spiritual bulwark against Islamist domination of
the he continent. This is perhaps why it and its
adherents have been subjected to such virulent attacks
from their Muslim compatriots.
In Sudan particularly in the Darfur region, the horrendous
plight of Christians (of whom, according to some reports,
over one million have been butchered by official and
unofficial Moslem militias) and other non-Arab ethnicities
are regularly reported in the world media… and equally
regularly ignored. Relief aid to starvation-hit areas
is also reportedly made contingent on conversion to
Islam. Across the continent, forced conversions to Islam
are said to be conducted via the kidnapping of young
Christian boys and girls. In Nigeria, Africa most populous
nation, there appears to be a determined attempt by
the Moslem North (which makes up about a half of the
population) to impose Islam - including Sharia Law -
on the entire country. Indeed, some commentators claim
that an endeavor is underway to make Africa into the
first Islamic continent.
4. In the wider Middle East: Across the Arab
world, Christians also face grim realities. The unfortunate
fate of Copts in Egypt and their persecution is a matter
of documented record. In Saudi Arabia, it is illegal
for Christians to gather together to practice their
faith. Churches are totally forbidden and nothing relating
to the Christian faith may be displayed, including personal
items such as a necklace with a cross or a Bibles. In
some places, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, coverts
to Christianity even face death. Significantly, the
only country Middle East country where the Christian
community is not decreasing is the much-maligned, always-reviled,
often-boycotted Israel. Here the Christian community
has grown in the last decades, despite emigration and
a low birthrate. According to Le Figaro, in the last
30 years, the Christian-Arab population grew to 117,000
in 2004 from 80,000 in 1976. This is in stark contrast
to the situation throughout the region - including the
Palestinian Authority (see below)
5. In the Palestinian Authority. Under the Palestinian
regime Christians also have to face discriminatory and
intimidating policies which are reducing the Christian
population at an alarming rate and obliterating signs
and symbols of Judeo - Christian heritage in the Holy
Land. Documented research of persecution of Christians
by the Palestinian Authority includes Social and
Economic Discrimination; Boycott and Extortion of Christian
Businesses; Violations of Real Property Rights; Crimes
Against Christian Women; Palestinian Authority Incitement
Against Christians; and Failure of the Palestinian Security
Forces to Protect Christians. One of the places
most affected is the birth place of Christ, Bethlehem.
Although for decades they constituted the majority,
today Christians currently make up only 30,000 of the
district's 130,000 residents. Numerous accounts point
to a purposeful Palestinian effort to undermine - even
eradicate - the Christian character of Bethlehem in
favor of an overwhelming Muslim dominance. Complaints
included cases of the defacing Christian property, appropriating
lands of the Greek Orthodox Church in Bethlehem and
the building mosques on the formerly Christian land.
6. Anti-Semitic Incitement and Racist Hatred in
the Moslem World.
(a) The Moslem media (including that under the
direct government control) continuously propagate messages
of hate and demonization of Israel and Zionism, and
well as of Jews and Judaism.
(b) In many respects, the diatribes of media
in the Moslem world (particularly in Arab countries
including the Palestinian Authority) strongly resemble
that of the Nazi propaganda machine.
(c) Needless to say, the conduct of the Arab
media serves to deepen the feelings of enmity, widen
the rift between Jews and Arabs and perpetuate the violence
in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Similar sentiments are cultivated in Moslem and Arab
education systems (including the Palestinian system),
where the same Nazi-like, dehumanized portrayal of Israelis
and Jews, and the same hateful racist sentiments are
conveyed to the youth via the school textbooks and other
pedagogic materials.
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Selected
References
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Justus Reid Weiner, Human Rights of
Christians In Palestinian Society, JCPA, 2005, http://www.jcpa.org/text/Christian-Persecution-Weiner.pdf
Robert S. Wistrich, Islamic Judeophobia:
An Existential Threat, 2004, http://www.acpr.org.il/english-nativ/02-issue/wistrich-2.htm
Serge Trifkovic, Islam's Other Victims:
Africa, February, 2003 http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Printable.asp?ID=6099
David Raab, The Beleaguered Christians of the Palestinian-Controlled
Areas, January 2003, http://www.jcpa.org/jl/vp490.htm
Persecuted Church, http://www.bibleleague.org/persecuted/africapers.php
Bethlehem Christians under Palestinian
Authority, http://www.jerusalemsummit.org/eng/bethlehem.php
Yossef Bodansky, Islamic Anti-Semitism as a Political
Instrument, The Ariel Center for Policy Research,
1999.
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