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CSID Participates in Sixth Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy
A View of the World Movement Sixth Assembly, in Jakarta, Indonesia.  | CSID President, Dr. Radwan Masmoudi, represented CSID in the sixth assembly of the World Movement for Democracy, which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 11-14, 2010. Speakers included Anwar Ibrahim, Leader of the Opposition in Malaysia, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, and over 550 activists and scholars from 120 countries. During the Assembly, CSID co-sponsored a regional workshop on democracy in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA), and a thematic workshop on "Religion, Tradition, and Rights: How Can Civic Educators Help Build the Bridges?". The Assembly was a wonderful opportunity for democracy activists from across the world to network and to share their knowledge and experiences in the field of promoting and defending human rights and democracy in their countries and around the world. During a visit to a Muhammadiya Madrasa (middle school), Dr. Masmoudi presented the school officials with a copy of CSID's training manual on "Islam and Democracy".
Visit to the Muhammadiya School  | During the MENA regional workshop, Dr. Masmoudi presided over a working group on building coalitions between Islamists and secularists, in order to support democracy in the MENA region. The working group agreed on the following points: - Dialogue and coalition-building between pro-democracy Islamist and secularist groups in the MENA region is a necessary and critical issue not only for for realizing a peaceful transition to democracy, but also to determine a democratic future for the region,
- It is necessary to push both sides to be self-critical and re-evaluate many of their political and ideological positions,
- We need to build upon the common denominator between the two sides, which consists of defending basic freedoms and human rights, while also starting a dialogue on long term issues and strengthening the concept of citizenship.
The Working Group came out with the following five recommendations: A View of the MENA Regional Workshop  | Produce a variety of programs on self-criticism, dialogue, and coexistence between Islamists and secularists, through organizing various workshops and camps whenever possible, Organize forums on the experiences in the field of role of religion in politics in other non-Arab Islamic countries, such as Turkey, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Develop and implement seminars and conferences on the issue of religious reforms, and disseminate texts and articles that support renewal, realism, and pragmatism in Islamic culture and modern intellectual thought. Encourage the production of joint media projects between Islamists and secularists. Support dialogue between civil society groups and political organizations and leaders, both Islamists and secularists, and highlight and document success stories in building coalitions between the two groups to support democracy.
For more information, please Go to the World Movement Assembly Website |
Democracy Promotion & US National Security
The Obama Administration releases the National Security Strategy, a comprehensive articulation of the President's national security strategic approach and priorities. Here are a few excerpts that emphasize the importance of promoting democracy and defending human rights around the world.
Promote Democracy and Human Rights Abroad
 The United States supports the expansion of democracy and human rights abroad because governments that respect these values are more just, peaceful, and legitimate. We also do so because their success abroad fosters an environment that supports America's national interests. Political systems that protect universal rights are ultimately more stable, successful, and secure. As our history shows, the United States can more effectively forge consensus to tackle shared challenges when working with governments that reflect the will and respect the rights of their people, rather than just the narrow interests of those in power. The United States is advancing universal values by:
Ensuring that New and Fragile Democracies Deliver Tangible Improvements for Their Citizens: The United States must support democracy, human rights, and development together, as they are mutually reinforcing. We are working closely with citizens, communities, and political and civil society leaders to strengthen key institutions of democratic accountability-free and fair electoral processes, strong legislatures, civilian control of militaries, honest police forces, independent and fair judiciaries, a free and independent press, a vibrant private sector, and a robust civil society.
Practicing Principled Engagement with Non-Democratic Regimes: Even when we are focused on interests such as counterterrorism, nonproliferation, or enhancing economic ties, we will always seek in parallel to expand individual rights and opportunities through our bilateral engagement. The United States is pursuing a dual-track approach in which we seek to improve government-to-government relations and use this dialogue to advance human rights, while engaging civil society and peaceful political opposition, and encouraging U.S. nongovernmental actors to do the same.
Recognizing the Legitimacy of All Peaceful Democratic Movements: America respects the right of all peaceful, law-abiding, and nonviolent voices to be heard around the world, even if we disagree with them. Support for democracy must not be about support for specific candidates or movements. America will welcome all legitimately elected, peaceful governments, provided they govern with respect for the rights and dignity of all their people and consistent with their international obligations.
Supporting the Rights of Women and Girls: Women should have access to the same opportunities and be able to make the same choices as men. Experience shows that countries are more peaceful and prosperous when women are accorded full and equal rights and opportunity. When those rights and opportunities are denied, countries often lag behind. Furthermore, women and girls often disproportionally bear the burden of crises and conflict. Therefore the United States is working with regional and international organizations to prevent violence against women and girls, especially in conflict zones.
Strengthening International Norms Against Corruption: We are working within the broader international system, including the U.N., G-20, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and the international financial institutions, to promote the recognition that pervasive corruption is a violation of basic human rights and a severe impediment to development and global security.
Building a Broader Coalition of Actors to Advance Universal Values: We are working to build support for democracy, rule of law, and human rights by working with other governments, nongovernmental organizations, and multilateral fora. The United States is committed to working to shape and strengthen existing institutions that are not delivering on their potential, such as the United Nations Human Rights Council. We are working within the broader U.N. system and through regional mechanisms to strengthen human rights monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, so that individuals and countries are held accountable for their violation of international human rights norms.
Marshalling New Technologies and Promoting the Right to Access Information: The emergence of technologies such as the Internet, wireless networks, mobile smart-phones, investigative forensics, satellite and aerial imagery, and distributed remote sensing infrastructure has created powerful new opportunities to advance democracy and human rights. These technologies have fueled people-powered political movements, made it possible to shine a spotlight on human rights abuses nearly instantaneously, and increased avenues for free speech and unrestricted communication around the world.
Read Entire Strategy Document |
Is Obama starting to prod Egypt on human rights?
Many
human rights and democracy activists in the Middle East are
disillusioned with Obama's lack of action. But Egypt's acceptance today
of 21 human rights recommendations after a visit by Vice President
Biden may signal a shift.
By Kristen Chick | The Christian Science Monitor
Peaceful demonstration in Egypt  | Egypt, which had accepted 119 of the UN Human Rights Council's 165 recommendations in February, agreed to another 21 after Vice President Joe Biden had publicly urged it to implement the recommendations on a visit here earlier this week. They included those calling for better treatment of religious minorities, changes in its penal code to bring it into line with the UN Convention Against Torture, and the establishment of a fully independent electoral commission.
Human rights organizations are not hopeful that Egypt will live up to the commitments it made to the council, and pointed out that the regime has already violated the promises it made in February. But Egypt's move comes after the US has begun to show a slight shift in policy by nudging Egypt on human rights and reform.
"Biden could have easily gone to Egypt and spoken only about Gaza and Iran. I think it's notable that he raised those issues in Egypt," says Michele Dunne, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "It's not a really high level of engagement, but at least these issues are starting to reemerge in the US-Egypt relationship."
Ms. Dunne says Biden's soft public chastisement of Egypt could be evidence that President Obama's administration is responding to widespread disappointment that it has largely ignored human rights and democracy promotion, favoring instead stability and progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Egypt last month extended its state of emergency by two years, after promising in February to replace the emergency law with antiterrorism legislation. The emergency law allows indefinite detention without charge, and has often been used against activists and journalists rather than the terrorists and drug traffickers the government says it is intended for.
Read Full Article Back to top |
TUNISIA - IFEX-TMG condemns adoption of new law against government critics
Photo of President Ben Ali in Downtown Tunis  | The International Freedom of Expression Exchange Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), a coalition of 20 IFEX members, condemns the adoption by the Tunisian Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday of a new law hastily tailored to stifle freedom of expression both inside and outside Tunisia and to threaten government critics with heavy jail sentences.
The amendment stipulates that any Tunisian who establishes "contacts with agents of a foreign power or a foreign organization" to harm "Tunisia's vital interests" and its "economic security" will be sanctioned, reported the official news agency TAP on Tuesday.
Local and international human rights groups expressed their deep concern in May when the Tunisian cabinet headed by President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali announced the draft law. It appeared to be created in reaction to calls by Tunisian human rights defenders for the European Union (EU) to tie Tunisia's promotion to an "advanced status" with the EU to the improvement of its alarming human rights record.
Article 2 of the 1995 association agreement between Tunisia and the EU stipulates that respect for democratic principles and fundamental rights guide the two parties' domestic and international policies.
The adoption of the new legislation occurred amid a smear media campaign orchestrated by the government against vocal human rights defenders who recently met with European Union officials. The Tunisian human rights defenders solely called on their European interlocutors to remind their Tunisian partners of the urgent need to abide by their human rights obligations, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Association agreement with the European Union.
On 6 June 2010 in Beirut, Lebanon, IFEX-TMG members launched a report on the fact-finding mission to Tunisia (25 April - 6 May 2010) titled "Behind the Façade: How a Politicized Judiciary and Administrative Sanctions Undermine Human Rights."
Click here to read the report.
For more information:
Rohan Jayasekera, Chair
rj@indexoncensorship.org
IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group
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Morocco and U.S. spar over religious freedom
By Hannah Armstrong | Christian Science Monitor
 Months after Morocco deported nearly 100 Christian foreigners, the US Congress and Morocco are sparring over religious freedom, with both countries opening investigations that could strain relations between the two allies.
On Thursday, a congressional human rights commission is scheduled to hold a hearing on the status of religious freedom in Morocco, which receives nearly $700 million of American aid through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Rep. Tom Wolf (R) of Virginia, co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, urged suspension of MCC funding "to a nation which blatantly disregards the rights of American citizens residing in Morocco and forcibly expels American citizens without due process of law" in a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
That's unlikely to happen, since the US closely cooperates in military and antiterrorist programs with Morocco and has a long-standing free trade agreement with the country.
But some Moroccans, too, are upset with the US. Moroccans are asking if American missionaries were secretly - and illegally - spreading Christianity among the poor. Some charge that an American school advertised as secular was inculcating Christian beliefs in students. That has angered many Muslims here and fueled a debate on how religion should be taught in a globalizing world. The case is currently under investigation by Moroccan police.
Parents and former teachers charge that the George Washington Academy (GWA), a stately private school just outside of Casablanca, lured students with a facade of multicultural academic excellence, only to spread Christianity.
Although GWA denies wrongdoing, it is gaining notoriety, spurred by a website that spreads word of new tales of complaints by teachers and parents. Mustapha Ramid, a prominent Islamist politician whose complaint spurred the police investigation, is calling on judicial authorities to investigate the matter as well.
"It is out of the question to misuse a school to convert children - that's true for any school in this country," says Mr. Ramid, a member of parliament, in an interview in his Casablanca office. "Foreigners must respect our laws," Ramid adds.
Ramid's words resonate with many here, who feel deeply offended at the thought that foreign evangelists would spread their religion in secret, particularly among children.
Read full article Back to Top
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Anti-Muslim hate rides the bus:
'Leaving Islam' ads are prejudice disguised as assistance
By Joyce Dubensky | New York Daily News
Is it free speech, subliminal stereotyping or hatemongering? It is all three.
Leaving Islam Ads appeared on New York City buses  | Last month, about 30 buses in New York City's fleet started running ads professing to assist individuals trying to leave Islam; they'll continue to run through the middle of next week.
These are messages of hate masquerading as messages of help - and all New Yorkers who believe in peaceful coexistence should reject them.
Sponsored by an organization called Stop the Islamization of America, led by Pamela Geller, the ads read like something aimed at battered women trying to escape abusive relationships: "Fatwa on your head? Is your community or family threatening you? Leaving Islam?" Readers are then directed to a Web site aimed at providing support as they "escape" their religion.
The implication: Countless American Muslims are trapped in an oppressive and violent faith, dying to get out. And if they dare try, they could be injured or killed.
These are lies, and offensive ones at that. We should be clear: Few of the 5 million to 7 million Muslims in America want to escape their faith - and those who do are free to do so. There are extremists of all faith traditions, including those who identify as Muslim. But they are a small minority and do not represent Islam as a whole or American Muslims, for whom Islam is a beautiful and inspiring faith - not a prison.
So should the ads be banned from the buses? No. That's not the solution. Instead, the message should be countered by informed people of goodwill, who are ready to demand that we treat one another with respect.
Islamophobia and anti-Islam hatred are on the rise in the U.S., especially after the events of 9/11. Even before that fateful day, Muslims were often portrayed in the media as democracy- and America-hating terrorists - a portrayal that, unfortunately, has increasingly seeped into our consciousness. In 2002, 41% of respondents in a national poll admitted to harboring anti-Muslim sentiments (even though only 7% said they understood Islam very well). In 2009, the percentage of those admitting anti-Islam attitudes reached 46%.
Geller's group has the right to buy ads that are within the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's regulations. And those of us who find the message offensive have the obligation to condemn them for what they are - statements designed to stoke fear and hatred, without cause, without facts, without justice. To do anything less is to let hate win.
Dubensky is CEO of the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, a secular, nonsectarian not-for-profit organization.
Read full article Back to Top
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Brookings Event Announcement
Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam
Thursday, June 24, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
The Brookings Institution, Falk Auditorium
1775 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC
 CSID Board Member and Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Akbar Ahmed conducted a cross-country study of the American Muslim community, recounted in his new book, Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam. The book examines questions of the acceptance of Muslims as truly "American," and what being "American" means, as well as issues such as how Muslims in the United States relate to other religious communities. The book also explores the potential threat of increased "homegrown terrorism" like the attempted bombing of Times Square and the deadly shooting spree at Fort Hood.
On Thursday, June 24, the Brookings Institution will host a discussion on the findings of the book and the experience of being Muslim in America. Following the presentation, Imam Mohamed Magid, vice president of the Islamic Society of North America, will discuss Ahmed's book and the crucial issues he raises.
Introduction and Moderator:
Stephen Grand
Fellow and Director, U.S. Relations with the Islamic World
The Brookings Institution
Featured Speaker:
Akbar Ahmed
Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution
Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University
Panelist:
Imam Mohamed Magid
Vice President
Islamic Society of North America
To RSVP, please call the Brookings Office of Communications at 202.797.6105, or visit here.
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Special Film Screening:
"Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think"
Followed by a Briefing on Security and Profiling
Thursday June 24th 6 - 8 PM2325 Rayburn House Office BuildingHouse Science Committee Room 2325 Light refreshments and drinks will be offered
6:00 - 6:10 Opening Remarks
Mr. Alex Kronemer, Executive Producer, Unity Productions Foundation
6:10 - 7:10 Film Screening
Inside Islam: What a Billion Muslims Really Think (55 minutes)
7:10 - 8:00 Panel Discussion/Briefing: The screening will be followed by a panel discussion considering issues raised by the film, including problems of racial profiling and recent legislative proposals such as a bill to strip the citizenship of suspected terrorists.
- Azizah al-Hibri, Founder and Chairperson, KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights
- Dalia Mogahed, Advisory Member, White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, and Director for the Center for Muslim Studies at the Gallup Organization
- Sharon Bradford Franklin, Senior Counsel, The Constitution Project
Questions please call (202) 298-8088, or email at outreach@upf.tv.
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The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) present:
Obama's Multilateral Engagement:
What Does It Mean for Democracy & Human Rights in the Middle East?
The Obama Administration has taken important steps to strengthen U.S. engagement with multilateral institutions, with an eye toward enhancing U.S. capacity to support human rights. However, additional questions remain for this agenda of multilateral engagement: What are some of the challenges and opportunities ahead for the U.S. in the Human Rights Council? What can be done to re-energize slumbering institutions like the Forum for the Future, and the human rights organs of the Arab League and OIC? Can the U.S. find ways to engage with or support Euro-Mediterranean regional institutions with the goal of strengthening rights and democracy clauses?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
12:00-2:00 PM
SEIU Building
1800 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Lunch will be served at 12:00 PM.
- Bahey Eldin Hassan, General Director, Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
- Neil Hicks, International Policy Advisor, Human Rights First
- Heather Hurlburt, Executive Director, National Security Network
With special opening remarks by Suzanne Nossel, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, U.S. Department of State Moderated by: Knut Panknin, Program Officer, Friedrich Ebert Foundation
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The 28th Annual Conference of the American Council for the Study of Islamic Societies:
CALL FOR PAPERS
"Religion, Nationalism, and Change in Islamic Societies"
College of William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA
April 8-9, 2011
Suggestions for proposals include, but are not limited to: - The role of religion in the foundation of states (Israel, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia).
- The role of religion in legitimating governance in Muslim majority countries.
- The relationship between religious and national identities in specific Muslim communities (majority and minority).
- Notions of citizenship in Islam.
- Suggestions for other topics not listed specifically are welcome.
Scholars from all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences are encouraged to submit proposals. Please email your proposal (max. 250 words) to hazanr@mscd.edu hazanr@mscd.eduRobert Hazan. Please include full name, title, and institutional affiliation with your proposal.
· Deadline for submission of proposal: December 15, 2010. · Notification of acceptance of papers: January 15, 2011. · Participants must submit e-copies of their paper to txsonn@wm.edu by March 15, 2011. · Participants must register for the conference at www.acsis.us www.acsis.us by March 15, 2011. |
About CSID
By supporting CSID, you help to: - Create a better future for our children so they can have more opportunities for improving their lives and realizing their dreams.
- Educate and inform Americans about Islam's true values of tolerance, peace, and good will towards mankind, including peoples of other faiths.
- Improve U.S. relations with the Muslim world by supporting popular movements rather than oppressive tyrannies and corrupt regimes.
- Replace the feelings of hopelessness, despair, and anger in many parts of the Muslim world, especially among the youth, with a more positive and hopeful outlook for the future.
- Encourage young Muslim Americans, and Muslims everywhere, to participate in the political process and to reject calls for destructive violence and extremism.
- Build a network of Muslim democrats around the globe who can share knowledge and experience about how to build and strengthen democratic institutions and traditions in the Muslim countries.
Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy Membership/Donation Form 2010
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Please donate generously. Your contribution to CSID is both tax-deductible, and zakat-eligible. Your contribution will make a world of difference.
The Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy is a non-profit think tank, based in Washington DC - dedicated to promoting a better understanding of democracy in the Muslim world, and a better understanding of Islam in America. To achieve its objectives, the Center organizes meetings, conferences, and publishes several reports and periodicals. CSID engages Muslim groups, parties, and governments - both secularist and moderate Islamist - in public debates on how to reconcile Muslims' interpretation of Islam and democracy. CSID is committed to providing democracy education to ordinary citizens, civil society, religious and political leaders in the Muslim world, and has organized meetings, workshops, and conferences in over 25 countries, including Nigeria, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Iran, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, etc.
"Today, more than ever, we in the United States of America and
beyond need to hear, understand, and promote the voices of reason,
moderation, and democracy among Muslims. The CSID is one of the most
articulate platforms serving this need. Through the CSID we can and
have been tackling the deficit of democracy, human rights, especially
women's rights in many Islamic societies. By supporting CSID we help
support dialogue and understanding, instead of clash, among
civilizations."
Nayereh Tohidi
Professor & Department Chair
Women's Studies, CSUN & UCLA
"There are few issues of greater concern to the future of the Muslim
world than the prospects for democracy. CSID has pioneered the
promotion of democracy at the practical level, and in this regard has
provided invaluable service through education and social activism."
Vali Nasr, Professor
Naval Postgraduate School
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