Dr. Khaled M. Batarfi
How easy it is to end any discussion with name calling. I find it hard to debate any issue when the other party is armed and ready with classifications, like Liberal, Scholar, Shiite, Zionist or Islamist, Wahabi, Nasabi, Salafi, Jihadist, and now Ikhwangi (Muslim Brotherhood follower).
If I choose to introduce myself as such, then I shouldn’t complain. Still, not every argument about any subject has to be related to my association or religious/political/philosophical stand. I can discuss economic or political issues, for example, purely from a disinterested academic perspective.
In my case, I have never classified or associated myself with any movement, party or group, except the obvious labels — Saudi, Arab and Muslim — in the purest sense of those terms.
I believe in a world that includes all, and a system that respects all, regardless of belief, color, ethnicity, sex, or any other God chosen classification.
I believe in Islam as a religion of choice not force. I follow the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (peace be upon him), but not any particular sect or imam. I abide by my understanding of the Qur’an, not by any other human-written book, thought or understanding of Islam.
I am not progressive or conservative, on the right or left, or any other direction. I am, as Muslims should be, a “wasti”, balanced and moderate.
I have always had to deal with name callers. Now Twitter has increased my aggravation. When I write about women’s rights and our abandoned kids abroad and their mothers — wives or partners — I am just being a Muslim.
Justice, responsibility, humanity and “bir” (kindness to relatives) are supreme Islamic values.
When I demand equality and human rights for all sects and groups, here and everywhere, I am not serving a Western or Iranian agenda. I am simply following the Qur’an and the teachings of my Prophet (pbuh).
When I welcome the appointment of an Israeli-American pro-peace rabbi on the board of the King Abdullah International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID), I am following Allah’s order to make peace with whoever comes in peace, even enemies.
When I find it abhorrent that the pro-Mubarak regime would be plotting in an uncivilized, undemocratic way to overrule the people’s choice and bring down democratically elected institutions, I am not necessary an “Ikhwangi”.
I do believe that Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court, which was appointed by Mubarak and his wife, is conspiring to undo what the revolution achieved. Supported by “folool” of the former regime and foreign anti-Islamist powers, including Israel and some Arab governments, the politicized judges were about to dissolve, last Sunday, the elected Consultative Council and Constitution Committee. They did so to the Islamist-led Parliament, last June. They went on to refuse observing the referendum on the constitution scheduled for Dec. 15.
The six million supporters of Mohamed Morsi’s preemptive decrees showed how smart and wise the Egyptian people are. They saw through all the propaganda in the “folool” media and parties, and came out in force, like never before, to tell the world they stood by their revolution and newly-found democracy.
According to Reuters, protesters forced Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court “to postpone a session on Sunday set to examine the legality of the Islamist-dominated upper house of parliament and the body that drafted the new constitution.
“The 100-member constitutional assembly, which started work in June, finished the draft on Friday.” And “Morsi has called for a Dec. 15 referendum on the draft and hopes passing the constitution will help end the crisis. Assuming the new constitution is approved in the referendum, legislative power will pass from Morsi to the upper house.”
The funny thing about those who label others is that they forget to label themselves. And if they do, it is always in exalted terms, like pro-democracy, justice and freedom.
However, in action, they are usually the opposite. Liberals and conservatives, alike, do their best to exclude the other. They flagrantly call on the state and society to choose them as the one and only representative of God, people and truth. Others, they feel, should be banned and punished by prison or death.
Hypocrisy rules. Just listen to the “folools” of politicians and writers calling Morsi an Israeli, just because he called Israel’s president in a routine official letter “Dear Great Friend” and has met with US officials.
Those are the same people who supported Mubarak in his suffocating blockade of the Palestinians on behalf of Israel, and accepted his slavish obedience to Tel Aviv and Washington.
The same could be said about the Salafis who abuse the Bible and the Torah, and attack Christians and Jews in defense of the Qur’an and Muslims.
Still, I thank Twitter, because at least we now can see people as they really are — not as they pretend to be.
— Dr. Khaled Batarfi is a Saudi writer based in Jeddah. He can be reached at: Kbatarfi@gmail.com Follow him on Twitter: @Kbatarfi
