World leading contemporary Islamic philosopher and thinker Prof Tariq
Ramadan has offered six principles of governance which break the
stereotype that frames Muslim administrations as anti-democratic and
anti-human rights.
In a lecture organised by Penang Institute
yesterday, Tariq listed rule of law, equal citizenship, universal
suffrage, accountability, separation of powers and ethics in politics as
basic democratic principles which must be complied with by Islamic
governments.
Tariq (right)
- a professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University -
said that citizens must honour the ‘agreement’ in their countries which
sets the rules (of law) in their daily interpersonal relationships.
For
example in Malaysia, Muslims - as any other citizens of other religions
- must abide by the law as they have accepted the framework of the
country, added Tariq in his lecture titled ‘Islam, Democracy and Human
Rights: The Awakening of the Muslim World’.
However, citizens
must struggle within the given framework to oppose existing (or new)
laws which are unjust, said Tariq, adding “And you know how many laws in
this country need reform”.
The remark elicited a loud round of
applause and laughter from the 300-odd crowd - comprising Penang
government officials, academicians, politicians and NGO activists - who
attended the three-hour lecture.
But an amused Tariq told the
participants that their response to his comment made him feel like he
was with the opposition, which he clarified he was not.
“I am not
with the opposition, not in political terms. But in philosophical
terms, I say something which is very true, your model is not perfect and
your mores are not perfect,” he said.
“That in the name of
justice, in the name of your conscience, as a Muslim, Buddhist,
Christian or whatever you are, in the name of the citizenship you have,
it is your duty to stand up for what is right, if not for your
government, it is for the people who live in your country,” he added, to
more applause from the audience.
“Don’t put me in the political
landscape of your country. I don’t care, for if one day you come into
power and you are in acceptance of injustice, you will have my wrath
against you. This is the way principles are maintained,” he stressed.
‘Unity must be based on what is right’
Later,
Tariq - the grandson of Hassan Al-Banna who founded the Muslim
Brotherhood - said the Muslims must not be united based on what is wrong
for to do so is not being powerful but weak.
The 49-year-old
Swiss citizen of Egyptian origin also took part in a panel discussion
with Islamic Renaissance Front chairperson Ahmad Farouk Musa, Lembah
Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia
assistant professor Maszlee Malik and Penang Institute executive
director Prof Woo Wing Thye.
Meanwhile, Tariq elaborated at
length on the second principle - equal citizenship - which must be
present in Islamic governance to ensure the government practised
democracy and human rights.
He said that citizens must not only be equal before the law but must participate in the narrative that binds them as a nation.
He
described Malaysian society as being “pluralistic”, saying that it is a
society with different cultural and religious backgrounds.
“But
every citizen, no matter what their origin or their religion, should be
treated equally,” he said, followed by loud applause from the floor.
"Don’t
talk about my citizenship as if I am a minority. I am a citizen, you
get it? Equal citizen means don’t ask me about my history or where I
come from but where we are going together.”
'Jews welcomed as part of ummah'
Tariq
then cited a situation where the Prophet when arriving in Medina -
which Muslims described as the first Islamic government or society - had
welcomed the Jews as part of the community or “ummah”.
He said
“ummah” in Islam is not only from the spiritual aspect or an organised
structural community at the local level but meant that a community was
“part of us and have the same rights and duties as us”.
He added that no community is better than the other just because they are Muslims.
“It
is not by discriminating others that you are going to be the best,” he
quipped, to another round of loud applause, which he attempted to halt
but which ended with much laughter from the crowd.
Tariq then
advised that a citizen of a country must observe the laws, speak the
language to express himself or herself, and must be loyal.
“If
you are a loyal citizen, you would want the best for your nation. But a
loyal citizen is always critical. Blind loyalty is dangerous, sectarian
and racist,” he added.
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