Muslim Democrats of the World, Unite!
A translated statement by four progressive Muslim intellectuals calling for unity among Muslim Democrats worldwide to promote reform, democracy, and peaceful coexistence.
At the beginning of February 2015, four progressive Muslim intellectuals (Ghaleb Bencheik, Anwar Ibrahim, Felix Marquardt, and Tariq Ramadan) released a statement essentially calling Muslim "Democrats" to unite. Religious reform must be revived amid a world filled with prejudice and misunderstanding. Democracy must be upheld in its progressive meaning. Muslims must be actively involved in matters of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. Muhammad Ihsan Harahap, a contributor to KAMMI Cultural Journal, translates this statement for readers.
By: Ghaleb Bencheik, Anwar Ibrahim, Felix Marquardt & Tariq Ramadan
Since the late 19th century, the movement for critical reflection on the foundations and interpretation of Islam has lost momentum, replaced by the dominance of "sclerotic" Islamic discourse (unresponsive to contemporary developments), Arab-centric, and based on outdated worldviews that often marginalize non-Arab Islam.
Today, we earnestly call on Muslim leaders committed to democracy---whether political figures, intellectuals, or religious scholars---to meet in France in early 2016 to define the contours of a progressive Islamic interpretation for the 21st century.
Following intellectuals like Malek Bennabi, we must begin questioning the "romantic" historical nostalgia spread throughout Muslim society. It is important to carefully reexamine the causes of our civilization's failures, from the pre-colonial era through globalization, and why past calls for Islamic Renaissance disappeared without definitive answers.
We must also recall the works of ijtihad by reformists including Muhammad Abduh, Abdurrahman Al Kawakibi, and Muhammad Iqbal in the early 20th century: critical analysis of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
It is time we stop cultural parochialism toward religious dogma. Muslims worldwide must understand more deeply and clearly where Islam ends and where cultural practices begin.
It is time we question the legitimacy and influence that tends to dominate certain states with particular political and social backgrounds in determining what is "Islamic" and what is "not Islamic," who is a "good" Muslim and who is not. And importantly, it is time we give greater attention to the problems of Asian Muslims, which are often underestimated, democratically and legitimately, based on demographics, in the 21st century.
Asian Muslim societies, like Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and America, are not second-class Muslims. Too often, conflicts between the West and certain Arab governments are disguised as conflicts between the West and Muslim communities. Whatever nation and religious belief, people must be free to obtain their citizenship status and religion as they see fit. In 2015, we emphasize this world belongs not only to the West but also the East, not only to Judeo-Christianity but also to Islam.
What is also crucial is that we will not allow autocrats again to tarnish our reputation as Muslims by hijacking our reformist goals, and dismissing one of the greatest aspirations of Muslim communities worldwide in the 21st century: living in just and democratic societies. When we must stand as Muslims to openly voice our commitment to secular politics, let us never forget that on a global scale, Muslims themselves are the first victims of both dogmatic-literalists claiming to represent Islam and secular autocrats claiming to be the only solution. Dictators like Bashar al Assad in Syria and Abdul Fattah Al Sisi in Egypt, to name some, can trumpet reform of Islam as much as they like, but let there be no ambiguity: they are not part of us, and we are not part of them.
We must also take ISIS and Boko Haram seriously when they claim to practice true Islam---let us show that terrorism committed in Islam's name has nothing to do with Islam, just as the Crusades had nothing to do with Christianity. The accusations directed at Muslims as a silent majority resulting from terrorist groups' actions may feel unjust, but this must still be addressed. Again, we must make these barbaric murderers who believe their crimes are committed in Islam's name know: when they attack someone, they are actually attacking us as Muslims, our faith and values, first and foremost.
Muslim opinion leaders must recognize their important responsibility in this area. If we don't want Islam permanently hijacked, it is our duty to continue supporting moderation and reformist approaches to issues of religious education, governance, law enforcement, freedom of expression, and protection of fundamental liberties, while simultaneously taking clear positions on scriptural interpretation.
Those who want to divide humanity use entirely unintelligent shortcuts to associate Islam with barbarism and imply there is intrinsic violence in our religion, as if there were natural solidarity between Muslims and terrorists. They imply Islam is intrinsically incompatible with democracy.
In reality, most Muslims reject violence. And when freedom and democracy are at stake, they too will be at stake, as with Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, or Jews. Our enemy is not our neighbor who goes to synagogue, church, or temple. What is dangerous is not our neighbor who covers her hair with a hijab, or chooses not to wear one. The real danger is actually: ignorance and stigmatization of others; it is the prejudice that divides us when we should unite as humans.
The time has come for us to change the situation and set a new direction for Islam in the 21st century. Our future, as moderate, peace-loving Muslims, is at stake!
Muslim Democrats of the World, Unite!
February 9, 2015
Translator's Note: Muhammad Ihsan Harahap, KAMMI activist at Hasanuddin University, Makassar. Also available at KAMMI Cultural Journal. Published in various media in multiple languages on February 9, 2015.