THE ECONOMIC DILEMMA OF THE MUSLIM WORLD

306
ASMA RASH ID IT^^ Economic Dilemma of the Muslim World
Wane given to a chain of Christian military expeditions hetween l lth and 13th centuries
apparently for control of the Holy Places hut in effect to bring the Muslim East into subjection to
the West. Militarily a con~plete failure (Jerusalem occupied in 1009 was liherdted by SalHh al-Din
in 1187). the Crusades led to contacts with the East, at the time the seat of culture, science and
knowledge. Acquaintance with Muslim intellectual ideas enlarged the mental horizons of many
among the Crusaders and helped prepare the way for the Kenaissance.
'Prince Otto Von Hisnl;~rck (1815-1898), German Chancellor from 1x62 to 1890. Presided
as "honest broker" in 1878 over the 5-Power Berlin Congress called to adjust the results of the
Russo-Turkish war. It recogn~scd the complete independence of Rumania, Serbia and Montenegro,
autonomy of Bulgaria. and renioved Bosnia-Herzgovina from the Turkish administration to place it
undtr that of Austria. Turkey was also forced to consent to the British occupation of Cyprus.
But Benniabi seems to he rckrring here to the 14-Power Berlin Conference, November 18x4.
also initiatcd and presided over by Bisn~arck in the wake of a general scramble for possession of
parts of Africa. A treaty was signed in February 1885, recognising the titles of the various Powers
over regions already occupied and leaving the door open for further acquisitions.
"'European Econc~mic Community (BEC) was founded in 1957 by Belgium, France, Germany.
Holland, Italy and Luxeliiho~lrg with a view to the progressive esta1)lishnicnt of a customs union and
common market. It has si~~ce been joincd hy Brirain, Denmark, Grcece. 1rel:tnd. Portugal and Spain
and its scope has heen wiclcl~ed. cspeciidly since the Maastricht Trcaty of 1901. to include conimon
defence. common currency ;~ntl monet;uy union.
"Charles de Gaulle (IX9&1070) French General and statesman. As President of the Fifth
Repuhlic he developed ;I foreign policy ol' rational prestige and independence.
"Charlenugne or Charles. the Great (742-814). Frankish king, wits crowned as Emperor of
the Holy Roman Empire hy Pope in Rome on Christmas Day, 800.
"HIN~ al-Rashid, the famous Ahhasid Caliph (780-809). Hitti writes: "The 9th ~ ell~ly
opened with two imperial nilmes standing suprenie in world affairs. Charlemagne in the West and
Harun al-Rashid in the East. Of the two. IIarun was undouhtedly the more powerful and represented
the higher culture".
"Name given to the fertile, cultivated land in Iraq. notahly between Basra and Kufa. Object
of special attention hy the Ahbasids, the lower region of the Tigris-Euphrates valIey, the traditional
site of the garden of Eden. became the richest in the whole empire after Egypt. Besides staple crops
of barley, wheat, rice. dates, sesame. cotton and flex. fruits. vegetable and flowers of both hot and
cold regions were produced in abundance. The gardens of the Ubullah Canal, extending from Basra
to the South East, formed one of the "fi~ur earthly paradises" in the Ahhasid empire mentioned hy
Arab historians.
"It is noteworthy that when the Iraqi govt. Sought to drain these marshes to reclaim them for
agriculture. the Western "humi~nists" raised a hue and cry. Among the most vocal was Prince
Charles of Britain who could hardly contain his "rage and despair" at the "deliberate drainage'' and
consequent destruction of a "unique hahitat" and "ul~ique way of life" and passionately called on
Islam and West to join hands to 11revent a "total cataclysm" li)r the sake of "our common humanity ".
"Islam and West", Islutnir. Stitdies. 34:4. 1 903.
The Prince need not havc harlwurctl ;my fear on that score. In facl, the entire ol-SUIV@ is in
danger of being turned into ow vast sw;mip. according to the 1995ll996 FA0 Report on Irq. It
states that the embargo (which has killed hialfa million children under five) has not nlerely stopped
the large-scale dr:ii~lageIagriculture propranlnle under way before 1990. hut has also drastically
reduced the earlier gains. Alwut half of 0.75 million I~ectarcs reclaimed earlier have heen reduced
to marshy land unsuitable li)r agriculture and the other half also hces sirnili~r fate unless pumping
stations can he put hack into operation. 11 cites the exaniple of Ilusseinya pumping station when: 7
of the I0 pumps are out ofactio~~ because of he non-;~v;iilahility of spare-parts. turning ahout IO.000
hectares of reclaimed land into a virtuid hke of waler while another 5.000 hectares is hst getting
water-logged.
'Wikita S. Khrouchtchcv (1894-1971). who asConiniunist Party Secretary-General and Prime
Minister of USSR (1958-1964). initiated the policy of "de-StAinisation" and peaceful co-existence.