MIDEAST: TARIQ RAMADAN, 'MUSLIMS WANT RESPECT AND HUMIILITY'
(ANSAmed) - ROME, JUNE 3 - According to the controversial
Swiss intellectual and Islam scholar, Tariq Ramadan, a "change
in attitude" and "effective and necessary action", a "real
and profound message of respect" but above all "humility" are
what the Muslim world expects in the keynote speech that USA
President Barack Obama will be making tomorrow in Cairo.
In a statement sent to the press via email, Ramadan
underlines how Obama has found himself having to "reverse the
legacy" left by George W. Bush and his administration, who did
not show "respect or fairness towards Muslims". Ramadan points
out that, during his election campaign, Obama "often had to
repeat that he was not a Muslim, as if that would have posed a
problem for the American people". Thus, "the first thing that
can be expected" is that, by talking to the Muslim world, he
will also be talking to the "US and the West". Ramadan
confirmed that during the first few months of his presidency
Obama "has shown respect for Islam, announced the closure of
Guantanamo and an end to torture, and adopted a firm stance
against the Israeli government with regard to the building of
settlements". These are "positive steps", but speeches "are
not enough". The USA "does not have a monopoly on good and
evil". Islam "is a great civilisation" and Obama "must
announce that we all have something to learn from each other."
In stressing "ideal values" and calling for "human
rights", Obama must also "admit American mistakes, failures
and contradictions" in pursuing these aims, and he must show
"humility" in acknowledging that the USA "can and will do
more in order to respect the values that they are calling for."
It is only in this way that he can say to Muslims that "they
must fight against corruption, fundamentalism, dictatorships,
discrimination against women and poor people", and in order to
be "listened to with a minimum of trust".
Ramadan concluded that Obama must make it understood that
"after many years of deafness in Washington, he has finally
listened". (ANSAmed).
2009-06-03 10:15