March 10, 2009
President Barack Hussein Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
First of all, congratulations on your victory in November. Like so many others throughout the world, we find ourselves both hopeful and inspired. Your election is proof of America’s continued promise as a land of opportunity, equality, and freedom.
Your presidency presents a historic opportunity to chart a new course in foreign affairs, and particularly in the troubled relationship between the United States and the Muslim world.
We are heartened by your promise to listen to and understand the hopes and aspirations of Arabs and Muslims. By shutting down Guantanamo Bay and forbidding torture, your administration will inspire greater confidence between the United States and the Muslim world.
Last month, in your first major interview, millions of Arabs heard your call for mutual respect on one of the Middle East’s most watched television channels.
They were encouraged to find that you hold a resolution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict as an urgent priority, as evidenced by the appointment of Senator George Mitchell as your envoy.
Reaching out to the people of the region so early on in your presidency is a step of no small significance. But it is a step that must be followed by concrete policy changes.
Improving relations between the United States and Middle Eastern nations is not simply a matter of changing some policies here and there. For too long, U.S. policy toward the Middle East has been fundamentally misguided.
The United States, for half a century, has frequently supported repressive regimes that routinely violate human rights, and that torture and imprison those who dare criticize them and prevent their citizens from participation in peaceful civic and political activities.
U.S. support for Arab autocrats was supposed to serve U.S. national interests and regional stability. In reality, it produced a region increasingly tormented by rampant corruption, extremism, and instability.
In his second inaugural address, President Bush pledged that the United States would no longer support tyrants and would stand with those activists and reformers fighting for democratic change.
The Bush administration, however, quickly turned its back on Middle East democracy after Islamist parties performed well in elections throughout the region.
This not only hurt the credibility of the United States, dismayed democrats and emboldened extremists in the region, but also sent a powerful message to autocrats that they could reassert their power and crush the opposition with impunity.
In order to rebuild relations of mutual respect, it is critical that the United States be on the right side of history regarding the human, civil, and political rights of the peoples of the Middle East.
There is no doubt that the people of the Middle East long for greater freedom and democracy; they have proven themselves willing to fight for it.
What they need from your administration is a commitment to encourage political reform not through wars, threats, or imposition, but through peaceful policies that reward governments that take active and measurable steps towards genuine democratic reforms.
Moreover, the US should not hesitate to speak out in condemnation when opposition activists are unjustly imprisoned in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, or elsewhere.
When necessary, the United States should use its considerable economic and diplomatic leverage to put pressure on its allies in the region when they fail to meet basic standards of human rights.
We recognize that taking these steps will present both difficulties and dilemmas. Accordingly, bold action is needed today more than ever. For too long, American policy in the Middle East has been paralyzed by fear of Islamist parties coming to power.
Some of these fears are both legitimate and understandable; many Islamists advocate illiberal policies. They need to do more to demonstrate their commitment to the rights of women and religious minorities, and their willingness to tolerate dissent.
However, most mainstream Islamist groups in the region are nonviolent and respect the democratic process.
In many countries, including Turkey, Indonesia, and Morocco, the right to participate in reasonably credible and open elections has moderated Islamist parties and enhanced their commitment to democratic norms.
We may not agree with what they have to say, but if we wish to both preach and practice democracy, it is simply impossible to exclude the largest opposition groups in the region from the democratic process.
At the same time, to reduce the future of the region to a contest between Islamists and authoritarian regimes would be a mistake.
Promoting democratic openings in the region will give liberal and secular parties a chance to establish themselves and communicate their ideas to the populace after decades of repression which left them weak and marginalized.
More competition between parties of diverse ideological backgrounds would be healthy for political development in the region.
In short, we have an unprecedented opportunity to send a clear message to the Arab and Muslim world: the United States will support all those who strive for freedom,
democracy, and human rights.
You, Mr. President, have recently relayed such a message in your inaugural address when you said: “To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
We are fully aware that, with a worsening global economic crisis, and continuing challenges in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, political reform and progress toward democratic reform in the Middle East will need to compete with a whole host of other priorities on your agenda.
Policy is often about making difficult choices. However, as you work on other Middle East priorities, we urge you to elevate democratic reform and respect for human rights as key considerations in your engagement with both Arab regimes and Arab publics.
In conclusion, we are writing this letter to raise our profound belief that supporting democrats and democracy in the Middle East is not only in the region’s interests, but in the United States’ as well.
Perhaps more importantly, what we choose to do with this critical issue will reveal a great deal about the strength of American democratic ideals in this new era – and whether or not we will decide to respect and apply them in the Middle
East.
Signatures:
Coordination Committee:
1. Radwan A. Masmoudi - Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID)
2. Geneive Abdo - The Century Foundation
3. Larry Diamond - Ctr. on Democracy, Dev. & Rule of Law, Stanford University
4. Shadi Hamid - Project on Middle East Democracy
5. Michele Dunne- Carnegie Endowment for Int. Peace
6. Jennifer Windsor - Freedom House
American Scholars, Experts & Organizations:
7. Tamara Cofman Wittes - Saban Center, Brookings Institution
8. Francis Fukuyama - The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
9. Matt Yglesia - Center for American Progress
10. Mona Yacoubian - U.S. Institute of Peace
11. John L. Esposito - Georgetown University
12. Reza Aslan - UC Riverside
13. Morton H. Halperin - Formerly Office of Policy Planning, Department of State
14. Will Marshall - Progressive Policy Institute
15. Randa Slim - Rockefeller Brothers Fund
16. Neil Hicks - Human Rights First
17. Robert R. LaGamma - Council for a Community of Democracies
18. Jack DuVall - Int. Center on Nonviolent Conflict
19. Robert A. Pastor - Center for Democracy and Election Management, American University
20. Jean Bethke Elshtain - University of Chicago
21. Peter Beinart - Council on Foreign Relations
22. Bob Edgar - Common Cause
23. Rachel Kleinfeld - Truman National Security Project
24. Robert Kagan - Carnegie Endowment for Int. Peace
25. Dokhi Fassihian - Democracy Coalition Project
26. Dina Guirguis - Voices for a Democratic Egypt
27. Andrew Albertson - Project on Middle East Democracy
28. Nathan J. Brown - George Washington University
29. Marc Gopin - Ctr for World Religions, Diplomacy, & Conflict Resolution, GMU
30. Graham E. Fuller - Simon Fraser University, Vancouver BC.
31. Rabbi Michael Lerner - Network of Spiritual Progressives
32. Farid Senzai - Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
33. Frank Kaufmann - Inter Religious Federation for World Peace
34. Ammar Abdulhamid - Tharwa Foundation
35. Arsalan Iftikhar - Islamica Magazine
35. Richard Bulliet - Columbia University
36. Seth Green - Americans for Informed Democracy
37. Joseph Montville -Toward the Abrahamic Family Reunion
38. Joseph K. Grieboski - Institute on Religion and Public Policy
39. Jim Arkedis - Progressive Policy Institute
40. Asma Afsaruddin - University of Notre Dame
41. Anisa Mehdi - Arab-American Journalist
42. Mohammed Ayoob - Michigan State University
43. Peter Mandaville - Center for Global Studies, GMU
44. Omid Safi - University of North Carolina
45. Sulayman S. Nyang - Howard University
46. Naiem A. Sherbiny - Ibn Khaldun Ctr. for Development
47. Louay Safi - ISNA Leadership Development Ctr.
48. Najib Ghadbian - University of Arkansas
49. Aly R. Abuzaakouk - Libya Human and Political Dev. Forum
50. Robert D. Crane - The Abraham Federation
51. Sally Painter - Global Fairness Initiative
52. Steven Brooke - Independent Academic
53. Sheila Musaji - The American Muslim
54. Hashim El-Tinay - International Peace Quest Inst.
55. Antony T. Sullivan - Near East Support Services
56. Clement Moore Henry - Dept. of Government, U of Texas at Austin
57. Ahmed Subhy Mansour - The International Quranic Center
58. Yvonne Haddad - Georgetown University
59. Shahed Amanullah - altmuslim.com
60. Hakan Yavuz - The University of Utah
61. Ibrahim Kalin - Georgetown University
62. Mumtaz Ahmad - Hampton University
63. Charles Butterworth - University of Maryland
64. John P. Entelis - Fordham University
65. Nahyan Fancy - DePauw University
66. Jeffrey T. Kenney - DePauw University
67. Imad-ad-Dean Ahmad - Minaret of Freedom Institute
68. Jamal Barzinji - International Institute of Islamic Thought
69. H. Ali Yurtsever - Rumi Forum
70. Abubaker al Shingieti - American Muslims for Constructive Engagement
71. Nayereh Tohidi - California State University, Northridge
72. Nancy Gallagher - University of California, Santa Barbara
73. Safei Hamed - Alliance of Egyptian Americans
74. Ali Akbar Mahdi - Ohio Wesleyan University
75. Nader Hashemi - University of Denver
76. Timothy Samuel Shah - Council on Foreign Relations
77. Sondra Hale - Islamic Studies, UCLA
78. Lester Kurtz - George Mason University
79. Mehrdad Mashayekhi - Georgetown University
80. Fatemeh Haghighatjoo - University of Massachusetts, Boston
81. Salah Aziz - American Society for Kurds
82. Ali Banuazizi - Boston College
83. Mehrangiz Kar - Harvard University Human Rights Program
84. Tamara Sonn - College of William & Mary
85. Salam Al-Marayati - Muslim Public Affairs Council
86. Stephen Zunes - University of San Francisco
87. Mike Ghouse - World Muslim Congress
88. David A. Smith - University of California, Irvine
89. Ziad K. Abdelnour - US Committee for a Free Lebanon
90. Samer Libdeh - Center for Liberty in the Middle East
91. Javed Ali - Illume Magazine
92. Selahattin Oz - Georgetown University
93. Amin Mahmoud - The Alliance of Egyptian Americans
94. Maher Kharma - Islamic Society of Annapolis
International Scholars & Organizations:
95. Saad Eddin Ibrahim - Ibn Khaldoun Center
96. Radwan Ziadeh - Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard Univ.
97. Atef Saadawy - Al-Ahram Democracy Review
98. Obaida Fares - Arab Foundation for Development and Citizenship
99. Mona Eltahawy - Commentator and public speaker, Egypt
100. Usman Bugaje - Action Congress, Abuja, Nigeria
101. Dogu Ergil - Ankara University, Turkey
102. Mohamed Elshinnawi - Journalist/Consultant
103. Mohammad Fadel - University of Toronto Faculty of Law
104. Jamal Eddine Ryane - Global Migration and Gender Network, Amsterdam
105. Najah Kadhim - International Forum for Islamic Dialogue-London-UK
106. Anwar Ibrahim - People’s Justice Party, Malaysia
107. Emad El-Din Shahin - Dept. of Government, Harvard University
108. Maajid Nawaz - The Quilliam Foundation, London, UK
109. Sameer Jarrah - Arab World Center for Democratic Development, Jordan
110. Ihsan Dagi - Insight Turkey
111. Santanina T. Rasul - Former Senator, The Philippines
112. Can Kurd - Kurdish PEN Club / Germany
113. Muna AbuSulayman - UNDP Goodwill Ambassador in KSA
114. Saoud El Mawla - The Islamic Council for Dialogue, Justice and Democracy, Lebanon
115. Amina Rasul-Bernardo - The Philippines Council on Islam & Democracy
116. Sayyed Nadeem Kazmi - The britslampartnership Ltd, UK
117. Muhammad Habash - Islamic Studies Center, Damascus, Syria
118. Boudjema Ghechir - Algerian League for Human Rights
119. Kais Jawad al-Azzawi - Al-Jareeda Newspaper, Baghdad, Iraq
120. Rola Dashti - Kuwait Economic Society
121. Zainah Anwar - Sisters in Islam, Malaysia
122. Jafar M. Alshayeb - Writer and Advocate, Saudi Arabia
123. Daoud Casewit - American Islamic Scholar, Morocco
124. Anwar N. Haddam - Mvt. for Liberty & Social Justice, Algeria
125. Ashur Shamis - Libya Human and Political Dev. Forum
126. Hamdi Abdelaziz - Journalist & Human Rights Activist, Egypt
127. Dalia Ziada - The American Islamic Congress, Cairo, Egypt
128. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla - Dept. of Political Science, United Arab Emirates
129. Wajeeha S. Al- Baharna - Bahrain Women Association for Human Development
130. Abdullahi Mohamoud Nur - Community Empowerment for Peace and Integrated Development, Somalia
131. Brendan Simms - The Henry Jackson Society: Project for Democratic Geopolitics, London, UK
132. Alan Mendoza - The Henry Jackson Society: Project for Democratic Geopolitics, London, UK
133. Ashraf Tulty - Justice & democracy for Libya
134. Hadi Shalluf - International Criminal Court, Paris
135. Aref Abu-Rabia - Fulbright Scholar
136. Omar Affifi - Hukuk Elnas
137. Jacqueline Armijo - Zayed University, United Arab Emirates
138. Sliman Bouchuiguir - Libyan League for Human Rights
139. Mohammed Mahfud - Al-Kalima Magazine, Saudi Arabia
140. Walid Salem - Panorama, East Jerusalem
sumber - islam-democracy.org
Tiada ulasan:
Catat Ulasan