Most Muslims want Democracy
The negative climate about Muslims and Islam has been changing. According to an article on BBC online titled ‘Most Muslims Desire Democracy’ , the Gallup Organisation conducted an opinion poll with more than 50,000 Muslims in 35 nations; the survey started following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US. With the largest survey to date of Muslims worldwide, Gallup found out that the vast majority of Muslims ‘want Western democracy and freedoms, but do not want them to be imposed’. The survey also suggests that most Muslims want ‘ the West to instead focus on changing its negative view of Muslims and Islam’. The majority of Muslims in the survey condemns the 11 September attacks. Although the US President George W Bush asked in a speech in 2001 after the 11 September attacks ‘Why do they [Muslims] hate us?’, the survey results show that most Muslims ‘in fact admire the West for its democracy and freedoms. However, they do not want such things imposed on them.’
The poll claims to represent the views of 90% the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims and next month it will be published as part of a book titled Who Speaks For Islam? What A Billion Muslims Really Think. John Esposito, the professor of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University in Washington and also one of the authors of the book, says ‘Muslims want self-determination, but not an American-imposed and defined democracy. They don’t want secularism or theocracy,’ and ‘What the majority wants is democracy with religious values.’ He points out that the radicals, who are ‘better educated, have better jobs, and are more hopeful with regard to the future than mainstream Muslims’, believes in democracy more than many moderate Muslims. And also majority of Muslims questioned in the survey want to have freedom of speech, and do not want ‘religious leaders to have a role in drafting constitutions’.
The link to the BBC article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7267100.stm)
If it’s true that “most Muslims want ‘ the West to instead focus on changing its negative view of Muslims and Islam’”, they can make this happen. Here’s how:
1. Acknowledge that the negative view that some in the West have towards Islam has been earned by the behavior of many Muslims, as well as the doctrines and texts of Islam itself.
2. Organize rallies well-attended by Muslims supporting freedom of expression even when the expression offends Muslims (e.g. Mohammed cartoons). Promote an “anti-boycott” of Danish products, so the “majority” of Muslims who want freedom of speech can buy Danish to counteract those who do not.
3. Pronounce takfir on any Muslim who believes in death for apostates, jizya tax (extra tax for non-Muslims, specified in Quran 9:29), or the idea that Jihad holy war is ever justified under any circumstances. (“Takfir” means a declaration that a Muslim is no longer a Muslim.)
4. Reform Islam to be something we can respect, rather than asking us to respect it as it is. Throw out the many Quran verses that call for violence and hate toward all unbelievers, especially Jews. Renounce the idea that Mohammed as portrayed in Islamic holy texts was a person that anyone should emulate today. Renounce Islamic Supremacy.
It’s great that Muslims want respect; now they just have to earn it.
Take a look at the Old Testament and get back to us.
all these polls are meaningless unless they ask if muslims who want democracy are ready to make the sacrifices necessary — e.g., giving up honor-killings. until then, “we want democracy” just means we want the power and wealth that democracy brings. as for the discipline democracy demands (tolerance, renunciation of violence) — i wonder if the western pollsters are aware of the issue.