" The Dinar Daily ", Friday, 12 July 2013
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  1. #1

    " The Dinar Daily ", Friday, 12 July 2013

    Secularism and Islamism

    By David Romano


    Yesterday I heard America’s National Public Radio quote Tariq Ramadan, an Oxford University professor of Islamic studies and grandson of the founder of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. Dr. Ramadan lamented the recent events in Egypt, stating something along the lines of “Islamists and secularists must learn to live together and accept each other” (I can’t find a transcript of his exact words, but this was the gist of it if memory serves me faithfully). This probably strikes people as a very reasonable view, akin to “we must learn to make peace, not war.”

    Secular and Islamist co-existence, however, is a contradiction in terms. Islamists, by definition, engage in politics in order to insert religion into the realm of public policy. If this were not their objective, they would simply be religiously devout politicians in some other political party. Also by definition, secularists believe in not allowing religion to dictate public policy. We might just as well wish for the Klu Klux Klan and African Americans to get along.

    Some readers may, at this point, exclaim “Wait! There are many different kinds of Islamists, as well as different sorts of secularism!” As far as I can tell, however, there are only really two kinds of Islamists–the patient, “play by the rules” kind, and the impatient, “take power by any means” kind. Of course there are many, many different interpretations of Islam and Islamic law and varying levels of enthusiasm for imposing religious rules throughout a society. In both kinds of Islamism, however, the same basic logic applies: a view that religion enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong, and that these things should be translated into public policy one way or the other.

    Islamists, by definition, engage in politics in order to insert religion into the realm of public policy.

    In Islam, alcohol, blasphemy, adultery and usury, among other things, are wrong. Some Islamists may therefore enact forthright bans on such practices, as in Iran and Saudi Arabia, while others take a more indirect approach, as in Turkey. Since Turkey’s constitution mandates secular politics, the Justice and Development Party’s (AKP) approach has been to increasingly curtail alcohol as part of a public health campaign, outlaw blasphemy and adultery as part of public morality campaign (they have been stymied on the adultery issue to date), and spout conspiracy theories and vague threats against the “interest rate lobby”. Turkey under the AKP thus travels to the same general destination of “life dictated by religion and those who interpret it” as Iran and Saudi Arabia, but does so on a slower, more circuitous train.

    The mirror image of such an outlook comes in the form of a French style approach to secularism, or “laïcité.” In this understanding, religion is subservient to the state, and politics even dictates and constrains religion. Kemalism in Turkey adopted such an approach when it trained and licensed all imams in the country according to state-sanctioned doctrine, outlawed the wearing of veils in public institutions and forbade public officials from growing beards, for instance. This is the kind of secularism that sparked so much resentment amongst Islamists, and which Prime Minister Erdogan referred to when he recently proclaimed “They humiliated our values for years. They despised our beliefs, ignored our choices, desires, demands and expectations.” Islamism, including Mr. Erdogan’s patient brand of Islamism, bears a remarkable similarity to this kind of secularism in that both seek to impose one group’s values on the other. They can not coexist.

    What of American-style secularism, however? In the American understanding, secularism means a separation of church (or mosque) and state, with neither subservient to the other. Just as the state should not mandate or favor certain religions or interpretations of religious doctrine, religion should not serve as a determiner of public policy. Although this separation faces constant challenges in the United States, the principle seems clear enough: politics dirties religion, and religion wrecks politics. Surely political parties of socially conservative Muslims, as opposed to Islamists, could coexist with this kind of secularism? When I spoke to AKP deputies about this in 2008 and 2009, they told me that they very much support secularism in this American sense of the term. I wish I could believe them. Perhaps if they had not organized their political party on the ashes of the banned Islamist Refah party, if they had not made its Sunni Islamic nature so central, I could. Millions of protestors in Turkey no longer seem to believe them either, just as a good number of the millions who protested in Egypt no longer believe the Muslim Brotherhood.

    But what if Islamists just use religion cynically to gain political support? What if they don't believe in a heavenly mandate at all, and are quite ready to compromise on every issue?

    Even American-style secularism and moderate Islamism are not equivalent or compatible, unfortunately. One promises to leave people alone when it comes to their beliefs and their lifestyles (although even these promises sometimes face problems, as the Christian conservative component of the American Republican Party attests to). The other believes itself to have a mandate from God. Fulfilling God’s Will does not easily lend itself to compromise, sharing political power or staying out of people’s daily lives, no matter how “moderate” your tactics are. Who would want to compromise on their vision of the Divine Will? That’s one reason the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt sparked so much opposition in such a short time, and why Turkey’s AKP looks more and more like the Muslim Brotherhood every year.

    But what if Islamists just use religion cynically to gain political support? What if they don't believe in a heavenly mandate at all, and are quite ready to compromise on every issue? In this case, they formed a religiously-based political party for mainly strategic reasons rather than any deeply held convictions. Perhaps there's more hope for coexistence with secularists in such a scenario, although many people who vote for such "Islamist" leaders might not accept many compromises before they vote for a different, less moderate Islamist pretender. These kinds of Islamist leaders would also have to be cynics and liars before they even entered politics, which hardly inspires confidence...

    David Romano has been a Rudaw columnist since August 2010. He is the Thomas G. Strong Professor of Middle East Politics at Missouri State University and author of The Kurdish Nationalist Movement (2006, Cambridge University Press).
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 10:55 PM.



  2. #2
    Kareem confirms Talabani’s health improvement continuously
    Thursday, 11 July 2013 18:17

    Baghdad (AIN) -Doctor, Najim al-Din Kareem, who is authorized to launch statements about the health of the President, Jalal Talabani, confirmed “Talabani’s health is improving continuously and the decision of his return to the country is to be determined according to the responsible medical committee.”

    He stated in press statements “Talabani is responding to the treatment very well and his condition is getting better gradually.”

    “Talabani’s situation is different from the previous bad situation to a large extent,” he concluded.

    https://www.alliraqnews.com/en/index....tical&Itemid=2
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 10:56 PM.

  3. #3
    Regions parliamentary longer proposed law on devolution of powers to the provinces for approval during the current legislative term

    12-07-2013 | (Voice of Iraq)

    {Baghdad: Euphrates News} announced Chairman of the Committee of the Regions and provincial parliamentary Mohammed Kayani that "his committee is currently working on the preparation of the proposed law on devolution of powers from the central government to the provinces to be passed in the House of Representatives during the current legislative," noting that "this law is a complement to modify the second to provincial law to give sufficient powers to local governments and the consolidation of decentralization.

    He said Kayani in a press statement received by the agency {Euphrates News} copy of it on Friday that "this law comes for the purpose of decentralization real, and we need to change the legislative structure of the Iraqi state based on the central to the structure of decentralization based on the sharing of powers between the center and local governments, both according to its competence" .
    He pointed out that "to get to it has to be from the age group of laws that complement each other to complete the decentralization project, including the law of the delegation of authority from the central government to the provinces, according to Article {123} of the Constitution, and the law of the General Authority to monitor the allocation of federal revenues mentioned in article {106} of the Constitution, the law of the General Authority for ensuring the rights of the regions and governorates that are not organized in a region mentioned in the article {105} of the Constitution, and revision of laws relating to financial resources and tax regimes in Iraq. "

    Kayani added that "the bill devolution of powers from the central government to the provinces delayed the executive power for more than a year, has approached our government committee on the law and the book came to us that this law is done with the government."

    And he "surprised last letter from the Ministry of State for Provincial Affairs stating that the bill has been stalled in the Council of Ministers and sent back to the Shura Council, and even to this day has not arrived Alina powers authorization bill for the purpose of deciding when and legislation."
    He explained that "the Committee of the Regions and provincial parliamentary began currently working on the preparation of the proposed law on devolution of powers to be passed in the House of Representatives as soon as possible during the current legislative, because of its importance and contribution to the development of a final solution to the suffering of the citizens in the provinces of poor services, including electricity crisis."

    He continued by saying that "under the laws issued in this regard, which will be issued post of provincial councils to buy electricity from neighboring countries, in coordination with the central government, and the pass laws mentioned above will help open the door to Almstthmrn locals and foreigners for the advancement of urbanization and services, including electricity, cut the road on the rampant corruption that caused impede progress in the service areas, particularly with regard to the electricity file. ended

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c...#ixzz2YohruosL
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 10:57 PM.

  4. #4
    Ammar al-Hakim and al-Jaafari: the need to intensify efforts and communication between the political powers to pass laws
    12-07-2013

    {Baghdad: Euphrates News} The head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Ammar al-Hakim and President of the National Alliance, Ibrahim al-Jaafari on the need to intensify efforts and communication between the political powers to pass laws

    A statement by Jaafari's office received by the agency {Euphrates News} a copy of it on Friday, "The head of the Iraqi National Alliance, Ibrahim al-Jaafari met at his office in Baghdad head of the Islamic Supreme Council Ammar al-Hakim and his accompanying delegation on Thursday evening, and during the meeting, assess the political circumstances taking place in the political arena Iraq and the whole region. "

    The statement added that "the two sides exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, wishing to be a good month, security, stability, and prosperity for the Iraqi people."

    "It was also emphasized the need to intensify efforts and communication between all political forces, and cooperation for the passage of laws pending in the House of Representatives, and the importance of the Iraqi National Alliance takes its role in the next phase to provide better services to the citizens.

    And still the adoption of some important laws such as the law of the Federal Court, oil and gas and other important laws hostage comment within the Iraqi Council of Representatives because of the continuing political crisis ravaging the country against the backdrop of the non-arrival of the political blocs to form a solution to the outstanding problems between them. Ended

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c...#ixzz2YoifgHkD
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 10:58 PM.

  5. #5
    President Barzani’s Baghdad Visit Draws Mixed Reactions from
    by RUDAW

    ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdish and Iraqi MPs express mixed reactions to whether a rare visit by Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani to Baghdad last Sunday has diluted some of the mutual animosity and distrust between the Arab central government and the autonomous northern enclave.

    A multi-party delegation accompanied Barzani to discuss issues such as Article 140 that is set to solve the solve the disputed territories; the budget for Peshmarga forces, held up by Baghdad; as well as the issue of Kurdistan’s oil and gas sector which the central government often frowns upon.

    Fatih Daraghayi, an Iraqi MP from the Kurdistan Islamic League (Komal), says it is too soon to judge the visit’s possible outcome.

    “The major issues like Article 140, Peshmarga forces, and oil and gas are very complicated and need a long time to solve,” he says. “A visit or two will not bear any fruit in this regard. But they could lead to solving some of the minor issues and thus break the ice.”

    The Kurdish delegation included representatives of all parties in parliament, except members of the opposition. Following the visit Barzani’s chief of staff, Fuad Hussein, said that the opposition was not invited because it was certain “they would have turned down the invitation,” as they have done in the past.

    However, Latif Mustafa, a Kurdish MP in the Iraqi parliament from the main Change Movement (Gorran), dismisses the visit as a public relations exercise.

    “The past several years have shown us that neither the Kurdish leadership nor the officials in the federal government intend to solve the issues,” he claims, charging that the Kurdish president and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki use such meetings only to bolster their own political positions.

    “Barzani and Maliki do not discuss the issues between Erbil and Baghdad,” he alleges. “Now Maliki needs Barzani, and vice versa. That is because Barzani’s situation in Kurdistan is not good. Also Maliki’s popularity has declined in Iraq.”

    “The issues of Article 140, oil, and Peshmarga forces are the main issues. But these issues are all set aside and ignored,” according to the opposition MP.

    Bakir Hamasidiq, an MP from the Islamic Union which is also in the opposition, says that his group has been kept in the dark about details of the visit and the discussions that took place.

    “We have contacted the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) MPs, but have not gotten any information,” he says. “Therefore, we do not know what will be the results of this visit.”

    Hamasidiq believes that the Iraqi prime minister and his State of Law coalition wanted to talk about Barzani taking the place of Jalal Talabani, Iraq’s ethnically Kurdish president who has been recuperating in Germany since a stroke in December.

    “Some of the Iraqi parties, particularly the State of Law MPs, insist on discussing the subject of the post of the Iraqi president. On this visit they wanted to negotiate with Barzani about him assuming the post of Iraqi president,” he claimed.

    But Shwan Muhammed Taha, an MP for Kurdistan’s ruling parties – the PUK and KDP who are partners in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) -– says that Barzani’s visit was meant to turn a new leaf in soured relations with all parties in Iraq.

    “All the rival political parties have been distanced from each other for a long time,” he says. “President Barzani’s visit is meant to start a new chapter in relations. We clearly heard from Iraq’s parliamentary speaker pointing to president Barzani’s role in bringing the political parties closer to each other,” he said.

    https://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/12072013
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 10:59 PM.

  6. #6
    Othman: the lack of agreement blocs leave important laws for the next parliamentary session
    Posted on: 12/07/2013 14:24:10 Category: Political Written by: falah


    BAGHDAD / With: MP for the Kurdistan Alliance, Mahmoud Othman said the lack of agreement of the political blocs to pass important laws will lead to deportation for the next parliamentary session.

    And political views agree that the differences between the parliamentary blocs in the parliament prevented the adoption of several laws and adversely affected the performance of the House of Representatives, including the laws of (oil and gas, the Federal Court, the consolidated retirement year, and other laws)

    Osman said in a press statement that "the blocks different views on laws, including the Law of the administrative border and the Federal Court and the parties," adding that "those who disagree are the heads of the masses and their leaders."

    Osman said that "it is not normal and should solve those problems and remove differences between the political blocs and attention to the interests of Iraq," noting that "if the political leadership is keen on the country's interests would have been easy to pass these laws, but the partisan interest has become over the interest of the country."


    Osman noted that "when voting on the law of the Federal Court and after failing to get the first article of a quorum announced by Speaker Osama Najafi postpone the vote," surprising "continued to postpone the law two years ago."

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c....guxyoGP4.dpuf
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 11:00 PM.

  7. #7
    Kurdistan confirms the existence of a genuine desire to end the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil
    Posted on: 12/07/2013 10:54:23 Category: Political Written by: falah

    BAGHDAD / With: confirmed the Kurdistan Alliance bloc in the Iraqi Council of Representatives and a "desire" real from the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to resolve the outstanding issues between the parties, noting that the joint committees will begin developing solutions to problems.

    A spokesman for the mass pro-Tayeb said in a statement that "the important thing in the talks between Baghdad and Erbil in principle is the existence of a genuine desire to resolve outstanding issues, particularly those relating to the peshmerga and Article 140, the law of the demarcation of the administrative border between the provinces, and oil and gas law."

    Taib explained, "We know that the legislative life of the House of Representatives is nearing completion legislation may not be all the laws that contribute to the solution with the differences between Arbil and Baghdad, but the important thing is to initiate legislation through committees laws that formed between the two parties."

    The President of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, has arrived in Baghdad this week, accompanied by a high-level delegation, held talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and officials in the government and the House of Representatives.

    Oil accounted for differences and other focus of the talks between the two sides when they met for a joint committee on resolving outstanding issues between the two sides also discussed Maliki privately with the President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani on those files.

    It should be noted that the visit of Massoud Barzani to Baghdad comes a complement to the visit of Prime provincial government Barzani carried out recently to the Iraqi capital, during which he discussed outstanding issues between the two sides as well as the budget law and the law of oil and gas, Albeshmrگh and security in the disputed areas.

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c....LYqGAKSv.dpuf
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 11:02 PM.

  8. #8
    Kurdistan confirms the existence of a genuine desire to end the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil
    Posted on: 12/07/2013 10:54:23 Category: Political Written by: falah

    BAGHDAD / With: confirmed the Kurdistan Alliance bloc in the Iraqi Council of Representatives and a "desire" real from the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to resolve the outstanding issues between the parties, noting that the joint committees will begin developing solutions to problems.

    A spokesman for the mass pro-Tayeb said in a statement that "the important thing in the talks between Baghdad and Erbil in principle is the existence of a genuine desire to resolve outstanding issues, particularly those relating to the peshmerga and Article 140, the law of the demarcation of the administrative border between the provinces, and oil and gas law."

    Taib explained, "We know that the legislative life of the House of Representatives is nearing completion legislation may not be all the laws that contribute to the solution with the differences between Arbil and Baghdad, but the important thing is to initiate legislation through committees laws that formed between the two parties."

    The President of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, has arrived in Baghdad this week, accompanied by a high-level delegation, held talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and officials in the government and the House of Representatives.

    Oil accounted for differences and other focus of the talks between the two sides when they met for a joint committee on resolving outstanding issues between the two sides also discussed Maliki privately with the President of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani on those files.

    It should be noted that the visit of Massoud Barzani to Baghdad comes a complement to the visit of Prime provincial government Barzani carried out recently to the Iraqi capital, during which he discussed outstanding issues between the two sides as well as the budget law and the law of oil and gas, Albeshmrگh and security in the disputed areas.

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c....LYqGAKSv.dpuf
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 11:03 PM.

  9. #9
    Hassan Alawi: an alliance of the Supreme Council and the Sadrists, a glimmer of hope and a deliberate step to the formation of a political and social unit

    Friday, July 12 / July 2013 12:34

    {Baghdad: Euphrates News} Independent MP Hassan Alawi alliance of ISCI and the Sadrist movement as "a deliberate step to the formation of a political and social unit beyond partisan spammers.

    He said the top in a press statement received by the agency {Euphrates News} copy of it on Friday that "in a crowded social divide, religious, and who is responsible for the political divide, there is a glimmer of hope for some Iraqis in the sighting of the crescent political will grow even impossible to full, and is in the steps studied followed by the Each of the Supreme Council and the Sadrists to form a political and social unit beyond partisan frameworks. "

    He pointed out that "Iraq could be moved for the first time since 1968 to the rule of non-partisan and political system to the Aigrr secret party in the hallway as has been happening for more than forty years."

    The upper added that "feature and uniqueness of these steps it is issued by the two groups two do not take any political respective organization ballot, اتعتمد the any of the formulas party suffered by Iraq in previous eras."

    He explained, "but use these groups to see an open political society to not subject the individual for standard المتحزبين, and ايعدو sensitive seats responsibilities, people are coming from the presser regulation regardless of the restrictions and conditions of work and experience the culture and practice and others."

    And between the upper "which should be placed in front of those who are on the move venerable they but open the way for generations of independent intellectuals and ordinary citizens to play a role in the decision to draw the fate of the country bewildered and stepper always on the verge of death."

    He pointed out that it "is our chance we independents who faced dictators and hardened and spent Insaf our lives in exile, and when we returned to our country and we found governed by the mechanisms of the secret, only that this organization was secular and this takes the theory of Islamic In both cases, فالآلية party does not recognize non-regulatory framework and practiced a kind of discrimination within social circles large and small. "

    He pointed top that "in terms of a realistic and language communities prevailing the society, who hails from the assets of Shiite treated in ways that social isolation, and the same language, the proportion in the Shiite community of less than one out of every ten thousand Iraqis is Mndo in organizing partisan Shiite, and Shiite independents make up the majority Great position to stop the exclusivity and uniqueness and the cochlea that transformed Shia people known Bmlaenh to a group of people trapped on themselves disguised their Shia before Tnlm the environment to other environments. "

    He went his speech by saying that "I think that the opportunity favorable in front of a social unit on its way to conformation in the upcoming elections, a widening of the concept of political action led by scholars, as happened in the revolution of the twentieth in the shadow of references major reference Mr. Mohsen Hakim and Mr. Mohammed Baqir al-Sadr and Mr. Mohammed Mohammed Sadeq Sadr. "

    And went on his speech that "the community, especially the Shiite practiced against forms of political isolation, which did not pay attention to him people will find in this new alliance is room to give them the experience and effort, and will gain enough votes in alliance with other ingredients, it's not fair to isolate or marginalize رعيل after رعيل and generation after generation within the Shiite component because they are not registered in the party and did not give their opinion in partisan, although they dealt with the state and the government a positive lens. "

    He considered that "the Iraqi Shiites are the hardest hit by any other category of lack of access to education and employment opportunities and political freedom of movement, their will were confiscated by the groups were not faithful to history and faithful to the martyrs was not faithful to the imams."

    He concluded by saying that "the initiative of Messrs. Aljalilin Ammar al-Hakim and Muqtada al-Sadr in shaping the political front, broad and independent is the alternative to narrow-mindedness and palaces and political mistrust between the environment and elected rulers on them, and I am confident that hundreds of thousands of Shiites will vote for this experience if they exceeded themselves and dealt with the environment Independent Shiite open discourse. "

    The mass of the citizen and the Liberal bloc form alliance contract under which a number of provincial councils after achieved outstanding results in the provincial elections which took place on 20 April.


    The leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr, had confirmed the strength of its alliance with the citizen block of the Supreme Council, pointing out that he is not a political alliance, but aims to promote Islamic Shiite grade.

    He said in a press statement that "there are many who seek to thwart this alliance, but we nevertheless seek to have this alliance strategically as crossing and not limited to politics, but I wished that prevail things ideological, religious, social and other," explaining that "it enhances the grade of the Iraqi Islamic Shiite National, and makes the political arena with a clear equality of erases all shed and uniqueness to be an alliance, service to the oppressed Iraqi people. "

    https://translate.google.com/translat...ed=0CFYQ7gEwAA
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 11:04 PM.

  10. #10
    Karbouli: the solution is determined to block the vote to approve the draft laws that Andjtha the Committee of Five
    Friday, July 12, 2013 14:24

    Baghdad / Baghdadi news / .. Okdedo block solution parliamentary Mohammed Karbouli, Friday, that the mass of bent and determined to vote to approve bills that Andjtha Committee of Five, which represent the most important demands of the constitutional and legitimate protesters peaceful protesters for more than 230 days and the mobilization of votes necessary for approval of such projects under the dome of the parliament during the month of Ramadan, the ongoing .

    Karbouli said in a statement received / Baghdadi News / copy of it, he "became to be legitimate and constitutional responsibility and moral on the Iraqi political forces put Response sincere claims the legitimate rights and constitutional implementation on the ground, especially after the agreement of representatives of the main political forces represented in the Committee of Five on projects The endorsement by the Council of Ministers and the arrival of most of the projects to the House of Representatives away from the political calculations and partisan rivalries and boned media history. "

    It is noteworthy that the Committee of Five problem of the main forces in the government has been maturing bills represent the most prominent demands of the demonstrators in the provinces six Almentvdh since more than 230 days and approved by the Council of Ministers has been submitted to the House of Representatives for approval 3 months ago.

    https://translate.googleusercontent.c...Qpb61aYzjYYkZg
    Last edited by magnetlady; 07-12-2013 at 11:05 PM.

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