Islam and Liberty

Modern Arab-Muslim nations have always faced a central question: is Islam compatible with contemporary notions of democracy, legality and the State? The issue is the basis of their existence but also a source of fragility and an obstacle in their path. Arab governments have yet to develop a concept [...]
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Modern Arab-Muslim nations have always faced a central question: is Islam compatible with contemporary notions of democracy, legality and the State? The issue is the basis of their existence but also a source of fragility and an obstacle in their path. Arab governments have yet to develop a concept of democracy in terms of today's criteria, and until they do so, the debate between traditionalists and democrats cannot progress. A century ago, thinkers like Abdoh and Tahar Haddad called for an approach to religion compatible with modern realities, yet the 21st century is witnessing a sad regression in the independence of the law from holy writ. Mohamed Charfi advocates a profound revision of Islamic thought. He insists on a new reading of Islamic history and law, and explains why this is necessary. He stresses the primordial importance of education, and its independence from propagandists whose identity and authority derive from a particular interpretation of Islam.