Are we surprised with the troubles inflicted in Tunisia and now spreading to other neighbouring Arab countries? The answer is definitely a ‘no’. But it should also be understood that these troubles that are taking place in these countries are huge threat to ‘Secularism’.
All these countries that have been plagued by days of rioting have been reported in the Western media as ‘dictatorships’ which rule these nations. These countries strictly divide religion from state affairs and politics. This is crucially important fact and unfortunately is rarely mentioned by the western media in its reporting of these events.
Human rights abuses in Jordan, Tunisia, Yemen and Egypt are now commented on blogs and media generally. However, not many political and economic correspondents analyse the root causes that have led to these troubles.
Following the recent credit crunch which left all the world economies badly damaged with rising commodity prices and high youth unemployment. Not many people talk about the economic instability in those countries which are the main reasons for these street protests that are happening. And it is not just the political freedom, now everybody has started to talk about.
Have we not witnessed similar scenes in our media, of protests and violence on the streets of Athens in Greece? Have we not also seen the government of Greece, on the edge of collapse and only survived with the help of Europe’s rich countries with the bailout of their economy with the lifeline of the Euro?
Yes, unfortunately Egypt imposes night curfew after a day of riots. Cairo, Alexandria and Suez have been placed under curfew as the Egyptian government battles to restore control after the biggest protests so far. The internet and mobile signals being turned off by the authorities in order to control the public’s ability to communicate and to organise. The army is on standby to help support the besieged police forces across Egypt.
Were we expecting something different as most of the reporting is as if there is another alternative to resorting to violence?
Has Britain already forgotten how the government dealt with the young students who went to raise their voice on the doorstep of power and mother of all Parliaments in London? The protests which took place at the unjust level of increases in the University tuition fees.
Have the people and students not been arrested and prosecuted for violent disorder? How would have the British government reacted if those protests had become violent and spread across the country? Would they have stood by on the sidelines and watched and to accept that it was an act of ‘freedom of speech’ and political freedom is important in this country?
I think the western media should be more precise and not be hypocritical by analysing the troubles in international settings as they see fit. They should be analysed in depth and not in a lazy short hand of some of the journalists.
Where are these troubles going? Some mention that the Arab world is going to choose its leaders without the influence of the United States? Yes, perhaps as the good governance examples of Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrate; create the trouble and leave the troubled country so the people can choose its leaders. And often the troubles moves on by adopting a strong and fundamental Islam and the leaders grab power in politics by destroying a secular state and secularism in the process.
It is very sad to have to read in some of the reports of these events that if Hosni Mubarak’s son is chosen as the successor, it might not be welcomed by the Egyptians as there is only one Caliphate in the Muslim world, and that is Syria.
Well, it is worth mentioning again that the last Caliphate of the Muslim world was the last Sultan in the Ottoman Empire which was eventually replaced by Secularism led by M.K. Ataturk. And for those journalists who have forgotten what they learnt in their history lessons: after the abolition of Caliphate, Secularism took power in Turkey.
Perhaps we now may be able to see why all these protests can be a threat to Secularism?
Copyright Semra Eren Nijhar – All rights reserved
Semra Eren-Nijhar 