Islam and the West: Annual Report on the State of Dialogue

<strong>Islam</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong>: <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> on <strong>the</strong> State of Dialogue
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Citizenship <strong>and</strong> Integration
Box 4.3
Civic Values
Ismail Serageldin
Ismail Serageldin is <strong>the</strong> Director of <strong>the</strong> Library of Alex<strong>and</strong>ria. His long career includes current service as an
Egyptian Senator <strong>and</strong> leadership in international organizations. He speaks <strong>and</strong> writes on wide ranging topics,
including <strong>the</strong> value of science to society.
The Muslim world, stretching from Morocco to Indonesia, comprises a young <strong>and</strong> growing population of 1.4 billion
people. In many parts of this vast world people feel challenged <strong>and</strong> victimized by hegemonic <strong>West</strong>ern powers <strong>and</strong> by
<strong>the</strong> ineptness of many of <strong>the</strong>ir governments.
Some would lead this world into a vision circumscribed by prejudice <strong>and</strong> ruled as a <strong>the</strong>ocracy. O<strong>the</strong>rs would promote
<strong>the</strong> values of pluralism, free speech, rationality <strong>and</strong> respect for <strong>the</strong> law. This battle for <strong>the</strong> hearts <strong>and</strong> minds of a whole
generation will determine <strong>the</strong> future of <strong>the</strong> Muslim world <strong>and</strong> will affect <strong>the</strong> many millions of <strong>West</strong>ern citizens who are Muslims.
As this struggle unfolds, we dem<strong>and</strong> adherence to a core set of civic values. Of <strong>the</strong>se, two principles are fundamental.
First, equality of all citizens before <strong>the</strong> law for men <strong>and</strong> women, Muslims <strong>and</strong> non-Muslims. Second, laws are drafted
by <strong>the</strong> elected representatives of <strong>the</strong> people, not by some scholar reviewing some text, somewhere. These are <strong>the</strong>
cornerstones of any democratic system.
We who believe in democracy <strong>and</strong> in liberty are going to win. The fanatical <strong>Islam</strong>ists are st<strong>and</strong>ing against <strong>the</strong> irrevocable
march of history. Like King Canute st<strong>and</strong>ing against <strong>the</strong> tide, <strong>the</strong>y cannot stop <strong>the</strong> tides of change <strong>and</strong> progress. The
last 400 years have been a global march towards liberating <strong>the</strong> human mind from <strong>the</strong> shackles of dogma. It has also
been a march towards liberating <strong>the</strong> human condition from oppression <strong>and</strong> despotism, to where democratic government
is not an exception, but <strong>the</strong> norm. Setbacks are momentary, mere blips in <strong>the</strong> sweeping march of history.
These powerful societal forces of democracy <strong>and</strong> human rights are like <strong>the</strong> deep, unseen ocean currents that govern
<strong>the</strong> climate <strong>and</strong> shape our destiny. Many people focus on events, grab <strong>the</strong> headlines <strong>and</strong> generate intense debate,
but <strong>the</strong>y are like surface storms that can sink ships <strong>and</strong> drown people. They are undoubtedly important, but <strong>the</strong>y lack
<strong>the</strong> staying power, <strong>the</strong> lasting effect that real societal change is based on.
The core values of personal freedom, rationality, pluralism <strong>and</strong> civic participation will ensure that lasting progress is
rooted in <strong>the</strong> societies of <strong>the</strong> Muslim world. At <strong>the</strong> Library of Alex<strong>and</strong>ria, we are dedicated to supporting <strong>the</strong>se values.
Strong with our enlightened traditions, armed with <strong>the</strong> best in modern science <strong>and</strong> technology, we oppose <strong>the</strong> forces
of obscurantism, fanaticism <strong>and</strong> xenophobia. These intolerant pseudo-religious forces are incompatible with ei<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>
freedom of expression that democracy dem<strong>and</strong>s or that scientific inquiry requires.
These values that we st<strong>and</strong> for, that <strong>the</strong> enlightened visions of modern Muslim leadership across <strong>the</strong> Muslim world
represent, are <strong>the</strong> values that can provide youth with a sense of a higher purpose than mere material gain. They undergird
<strong>the</strong> dignity of <strong>the</strong> individual <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> mutual respect so necessary for civilized discourse. Such values allow our children
to grow in <strong>the</strong> belief that <strong>the</strong> ideals of truth, goodness, liberty, equality <strong>and</strong> justice are more than empty words. It is
<strong>the</strong>se values that promote a culture of humanism <strong>and</strong> a culture of peace.
Ihavefullconfidencethat<strong>the</strong>Muslimworldwillbeon<strong>the</strong>rightsideofhistory–fromagloriouspasttoabrilliantfuture.