HASSAN: How the Islamic world is moving both towards and away from radicalism
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The Islamic world is in flux, and that’s hardly a secret. Afghanistan recently witnessed an appalling drift back to medieval times. Millions of young girls are being denied a basic education in the country. The Taliban is placing drastic checks on their movements and opportunities by confining them in burkas. There seems to be no end in sight to the oppression women suffer under the Islamist regime.
Elsewhere, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan works tirelessly to inspire Muslim nationalism. His government routinely sponsors the production of drama serials with Islamist agendas and aspirations. Additionally, historical sites like the Hagia Sophia have been turned into mosques, and the hijab, that pesky symbol of female Islamism, has resurfaced in the formerly secular Turkish Republic.
On the other hand, there is a parallel movement towards modernity in Islam. The Saudi crown prince Mohammad Bin Salman, popularly known as MBS, has introduced bold measures to expunge certain religious narratives from the Islamist mindset. Reforms by him have brought about positive changes in the lives of Saudi women.
He recently enacted laws that would allow women to drive. The move has had enormous implications for women’s freedoms in the country, as now they are at liberty to roam around without a male escort. Other reforms include restricting the powers of the clergy class and religious police. The country has also adopted a codified legal system, thus enabling speedier justice, particularly for women.
These conflicting trends are also palpable at the societal level. While some, like Malala Yousafzi, protest the plight of girls in Afghanistan, other lesser-known activists justify the trends by citing Western cultural shortcomings. Such comparisons never hold as young women and girls must be accorded basic human rights regardless of cultural paradigms.
Iran makes for an interesting case study. The country has lived under Islamic rule for decades now. This calls for an examination of the view that Muslims living under Sharia will eventually come to shun it. The argument is problematic when one considers the intransigence of sharia proponents.
It isn’t easy to dislodge Sharia once it is established in a country. However, we could validate the view partly by acknowledging that many Iranians have turned to secularism or Christianity. Only 33% identify as Shia or Sunni Muslims.
Iraq is yet another example of modernization. And it is happening under the notorious Muqtada Al Sadr’s watch. He now vows to modernize his country and give women their due in society. Furthermore, there appears to be a trend toward greater sectarian tolerance in the country, as evidenced in the recent Iraqi elections. There was more Sunni participation in the country this time around.
That there is a movement toward and away from radicalism is undeniable. With Saudi Arabia as the birthplace of Sunni Islam and Iran as the champion of Shia Islam, it remains to be seen which of these trends will prevail.
Public opinion plays a significant part in shaping politics. Leaders arise from amidst the public, and hopefully, more enlightened leadership will emerge from these countries.
This hasn’t occurred in Iran yet, but Saudi Arabia, a hitherto exporter of radicalism, is now on its way to rebranding Sunni Islam as more tolerant and inclusive. Let’s hope the Islamic world will take heed.
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