The people annoyed of the despotic rules in the Muslim countries bitterly long for justice, honor, freedom, basic needs of life, human rights and a rise in their living standard, of which they have been deprived of for quite a long time of their history. While being subject to the nasty stings of stubbornness of headstrong rulers, they have always yearned for some accountability measures to bridle at uncontrolled authorities of the rulers. In absence of accountability measures the rulers themselves and their cronies and retinues are free to plunder the national wealth.
Though all such measures are assured in Islam but it was unfortunate that the corrupt ruling elites remained main impediment in getting the Islamic Sharia come in practice. An intriguing relationship developed between the materialistic minded and ignorant religious and spiritual leaders and evil authoritative rules of the kings, sultans, sheikhs and military dictators, who deliberately kept their communities away from and created remoteness between the Muslim masses and Islam. They portrayed Islam to be only a collection of some rituals of Ibadat, which has little to do with their worldly life.
In divesting the blissfulness and conspicuousness of Islamic System, only democracy remains the alternate to attract the people of the Muslim countries because to a far extent it can prove a remedial measure for the the problems they face.
Pew's survey report given below indicates that the most of the people in Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia, Pakistan, Jordan and Lebanon favour the democratic system. The first four of the six countries mentioned above have experienced the worst kind of military rules. So their thirst for democracy is a natural thing.
Very interestingly majority there has voiced for a major role of Islam in the politics of the state. Implementation of the laws purely in the light of the Quran and Sunnah has been a serious demand in Pakistan since the foundation of this country. Once only Jamat Islami was there demanding all the social, economic and political realms of life be blended with Islamic traits and values. Now almost all of the religious elements have the same demand.
The survey shows that most of the people still want their governments strictly follow the teachings of the Quran. The opinion taken from Turkey and Tunisia about the laws be influenced by Islamic values and principles instead of deriving them directly from the Quran is logically not too much different from standing point of the people of Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan who want Islam playing a vibrant role as a code and system of life.
Jordan has a monarchical system not so different from tyrannical dictatorship of the military generals but because this country has its traditionalist nature and also because Muslim Brotherhood has its deep roots in Jordanian society, so it is not strange that the people there show their want for Islam as a dynamic system.
After abolition of Caliphate, the Kamalists forcefully westernized the Turkish society but only the democracy, a popular political system nurtured in the West, remained barred to get roots till long after Mustafa Kamal. It is only a matter of only a decade when Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party rose to the power through free will of the people and power hungry military generals was overcome with democratic values.
Tunisia was a French colony before it got independence but the colonists had arranged to keep the country under their cultural influence. Both Habib Bourquiba, the first president after independence and his successor Zain el-Abidin Ali who took the power in November, 1987 when the doctors declared Bourquiba's unfit to run the country, were the lackeys of the Western powers, ensuring them keep the society under the influence of the Western powers and not letting the Islamic elements achieve any advance. Hence it is not surprising that the opinion in the both above mentioned countries a bit different from Pakistan, Egypt and Jordan. Turkey and Tunisia are passing through a transitional era, from thick Westernism to soft Islam.
Lebanon has been ideologically a split society and got colour of the Western culture on it. All the three communities, the Christians and the Sunni and Shia Muslims have been at odds there. Lebanon has lived through a civil war for above one and half decade and still unrest and instability hounds this country. It has no way other than democracy to attain communal and ideological harmony, peace and stability.
Pew's Survey Report taken from Turkish English Daily Today's Zaman
A majority of Muslims in six predominantly Muslim countries want democracy, personal freedoms and the ability to voice their support for Islam in political life, though at different levels, a Pew poll has shown.
A majority of Muslims in six predominantly Muslim countries want democracy, personal freedoms and the ability to voice their support for Islam in political life, though at different levels, a Pew poll has shown.
The survey was conducted by the Pew Research Center's Global Attitudes
Project in Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Pakistan from March
19-April 20. The poll found that a majority in five of the six nations polled
(and a plurality of Pakistanis) believe democracy is the best form of
government. Moreover, there is a strong desire in these nations for specific
democratic rights and institutions, such as competitive multi-party elections
and freedom of speech. Eight-four percent of the respondents in Lebanon, 71
percent of the respondents in Turkey, 67 percent of the respondents in Egypt, 63
percent of the respondents in Tunisia, 61 percent of the respondents in Jordan
and 42 percent of the respondents in Pakistan said democracy is preferable.
Only in Jordan has support for democracy declined when compared with the 2011 Pew survey, which had revealed 72 percent support democracy, while it is consistently strong in Lebanon and Turkey.
A substantial number of people in these countries also voiced their support for a large role for Islam in political life. However, there are significant differences over the degree to which the legal system should be based on Islam.
Majorities in Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt believe laws should strictly follow the teachings of the Quran, while most Tunisians and a 44 percent plurality of Turks want laws to be influenced by the values and principles of Islam, but not strictly follow the Quran.
About four-in-10 Lebanese say laws should not be influenced at all by the teachings of the Quran, although on this issue -- as on many issues -- views vary sharply along religious and sectarian lines. While 63 percent of Lebanese Christians and 38 percent of Sunni Muslims say laws should not be guided by the Quran, just 13 percent of Shiite Muslims agree.
Regarding the issue of gender equality, Pew found out that majorities in all six countries support the principle of gender equality, while there are significant differences between men and women on this issue. The most striking gender gap is in Jordan where 82 percent of women but just 44 percent of men say women should have the same rights as men.
Moreover, while there is majority support for the idea of gender equality, this does not necessarily apply to specific aspects of public and private life. For instance, at least half in Tunisia, Pakistan, Turkey and Jordan say men make better political leaders. When it comes to economics, most say women should be able to work outside the home, but most also believe that when jobs are scarce, jobs for men should be the first priority. And in the personal realm, many of those surveyed believe a woman’s family should help choose her husband, rather than the woman herself -- indeed, in Pakistan and Jordan this is the majority view.
The Pew survey also revealed the significance of a strong economy in these six nations. Many said political stability is a crucial priority, and even more prioritized economic prosperity. When respondents are asked which is more important, a good democracy or a strong economy, Turkey and Lebanon are the only countries where more than half choose democracy. Egyptians are divided, while most Tunisians, Pakistanis and Jordanians prioritize the economy.
Overall, views about the economic situation in these countries are grim, although Turkey is a notable exception. Nearly six-in-10 Turks (57 percent) say their country’s economy is in good shape, but at least seven-in-10 in Pakistan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan offer negative assessments.
Most of those surveyed believe Turkey favors democracy in the Middle East, including roughly three-in-four in the newly democratic nations of Egypt and Tunisia. Fewer say this about Saudi Arabia, although more than half in Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan think the oil-rich kingdom does support democracy in the region.
Yet, relatively few believe the United States wants democracy in the Middle East, including just 37 percent in Egypt, a major recipient of American democracy promotion funds in recent years. Exceedingly few think Israel favors democracy in the Middle East -- just 10 percent or less in all six nations hold this view.
Only in Jordan has support for democracy declined when compared with the 2011 Pew survey, which had revealed 72 percent support democracy, while it is consistently strong in Lebanon and Turkey.
A substantial number of people in these countries also voiced their support for a large role for Islam in political life. However, there are significant differences over the degree to which the legal system should be based on Islam.
Majorities in Pakistan, Jordan and Egypt believe laws should strictly follow the teachings of the Quran, while most Tunisians and a 44 percent plurality of Turks want laws to be influenced by the values and principles of Islam, but not strictly follow the Quran.
About four-in-10 Lebanese say laws should not be influenced at all by the teachings of the Quran, although on this issue -- as on many issues -- views vary sharply along religious and sectarian lines. While 63 percent of Lebanese Christians and 38 percent of Sunni Muslims say laws should not be guided by the Quran, just 13 percent of Shiite Muslims agree.
Regarding the issue of gender equality, Pew found out that majorities in all six countries support the principle of gender equality, while there are significant differences between men and women on this issue. The most striking gender gap is in Jordan where 82 percent of women but just 44 percent of men say women should have the same rights as men.
Moreover, while there is majority support for the idea of gender equality, this does not necessarily apply to specific aspects of public and private life. For instance, at least half in Tunisia, Pakistan, Turkey and Jordan say men make better political leaders. When it comes to economics, most say women should be able to work outside the home, but most also believe that when jobs are scarce, jobs for men should be the first priority. And in the personal realm, many of those surveyed believe a woman’s family should help choose her husband, rather than the woman herself -- indeed, in Pakistan and Jordan this is the majority view.
The Pew survey also revealed the significance of a strong economy in these six nations. Many said political stability is a crucial priority, and even more prioritized economic prosperity. When respondents are asked which is more important, a good democracy or a strong economy, Turkey and Lebanon are the only countries where more than half choose democracy. Egyptians are divided, while most Tunisians, Pakistanis and Jordanians prioritize the economy.
Overall, views about the economic situation in these countries are grim, although Turkey is a notable exception. Nearly six-in-10 Turks (57 percent) say their country’s economy is in good shape, but at least seven-in-10 in Pakistan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan offer negative assessments.
Turkey, Erdoğan popular in Middle East
The survey revealed that Turkey, which has significantly increased its diplomatic profile in recent years, particularly in the Middle East, and its prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, are held in high regard in the predominantly Muslim nations surveyed. Solid majorities in all six nations express a favorable opinion of Turkey, and Erdoğan receives largely positive reviews.Most of those surveyed believe Turkey favors democracy in the Middle East, including roughly three-in-four in the newly democratic nations of Egypt and Tunisia. Fewer say this about Saudi Arabia, although more than half in Egypt, Jordan and Pakistan think the oil-rich kingdom does support democracy in the region.
Yet, relatively few believe the United States wants democracy in the Middle East, including just 37 percent in Egypt, a major recipient of American democracy promotion funds in recent years. Exceedingly few think Israel favors democracy in the Middle East -- just 10 percent or less in all six nations hold this view.
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