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Open Letter to President Bush Re: Democracy Promotion

Dear Mr. President: As Arab intellectuals and activists concerned about the promotion of democracy in our region, we urge you to reaffirm—in words and actions—America’s commitment to sustained democratic reform in the Arab world.  It is our belief that the main problem with U.S. policies in the Middle East (in particular in Iraq, Palestine, and elsewhere) is precisely their failur

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Dear Mr. President:

As Arab intellectuals and activists concerned about the promotion of democracy in our region, we urge you to reaffirm—in words and actions—America’s commitment to sustained democratic reform in the Arab world.  It is our belief that the main problem with U.S. policies in the Middle East (in particular in Iraq, Palestine, and elsewhere) is precisely their failure to live up to America’s democratic ideals of liberty and justice for all. We have been heartened by the strong commitment to liberty you had expressed in your November 2003 speech at the National Endowment for Democracy and then your second inaugural address, when you said that "All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you."

Despite some initial skepticism, those statements nurtured hope in our region. We realize that democracy is not easily attained and must ultimately come from within. But it can receive encouragement and support, both of which it badly needs today in Arab countries. The minimum support the people of the region yearn for is precisely what you have undertaken in your NED speech: to break with 60 years of US support for non-democratic regimes in the region, and to make that known to the world in unequivocal terms. This would be more consistent with the principles of the United States, which has, since its birth, been intimately connected with the ideals of democratic governance enshrined in its founding documents—ideals that speak to all generations and peoples everywhere.

We know that some in the United States, worried by recent Islamist gains among voters in Palestine and Egypt, are having doubts about the wisdom of pushing for freedom and democracy in the Middle East.  These worries are exploited by despots in the region to perpetuate the untenable status quo.  However, there is no way to advance liberty without inclusion of all elements that are willing to abide by democratic rules, and reject violence.  Democratic participation is the only way to combat extremism and pressure all groups, including Islamists, to moderate their stance in order to maximize their share of the vote.  The US should continue to press for an end to regime repression of democratically spirited liberal and Islamist groups, and to emphatically distance itself from such repression and condemn it in the strongest terms whenever and wherever it occurs. We are confident that if Arab citizens are able to have their choice, they will choose democracy, freedom, peace and progress.

A return to the pre-9/11 status quo is not the answer.  It will only embolden ruling autocrats, hurt Arab reformers, and damage America’s credibility.  In the end, it will probably strengthen the very forces that America fears.  The shore of reform is the only one on which any lights appear even though the journey demands courage, patience, and perseverance.

Perhaps emboldened by the impression that America is wavering in its support for democracy, some autocrats have recently intensified repression.  This makes the need for sustained U.S. and international support and pressure more urgent than ever. The region needs to hear again that the course of freedom and democracy is the only course which America, guided by both interest and principle, will support.

To mention but one case where U.S. influence may do much good, Egypt has lately seen a regime crackdown on opposition activists. In February, the government postponed municipal elections and renewed the emergency law. The regime has not even spared Egypt’s venerable judiciary which has steadfastly proclaimed its independence in recent months. And liberal opposition politician Ayman Nour, who was allowed to run in last year’s presidential election and won 7.6% of the popular vote, second behind President Mubarak, was arrested and sentenced in a murky process to five years in jail. The health of Mr. Nour, a dear friend and colleague of many of us, continues to deteriorate. We pray that you will take his case to heart and let the Egyptian regime hear your concerns. Hundreds of other activists (including doctors, university professors, journalists and civil society activists) whose only crime was to express their desire for freedom, continue to languish in jail and suffer torture and police brutality. This brutality often included sexual molestation and public humiliation of women activists and journalists by pro-government thugs.

As you have argued, the war against terror and extremism can only be won by helping Middle Eastern countries reform their closed political systems. As societies become more open, citizens can voice their grievances through legitimate, democratic means, making them less likely to resort to violence. You are right to believe that democracy and pluralism point the way to peace and moderation.

We hope that you will consider our words, recall how much is at stake in the Arab world, and ponder how costly silence and mixed signals can be when freedom is under assault. We entreat you to do everything you can to ensure that a small number of authoritarian rulers will not control the future of more than 300 million Arabs, more than half of whom are not yet 20 years old.  Freedom and democracy are the only way to build a world where violence is replaced by peaceful public debate and political participation, and despair is substituted by hope, tolerance and dignity.

Sincerely,

Name, Organization, Country

1.Radwan Masmoudi, Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, USA

2.Aly R. Abuzaakuk, Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, USA

3.Sherif Mansour, Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, USA/Egypt

4.Khalid Cherkaoui Semmouni, Président of Center Moroccan of Human Rights, Morocco

5.Qamar-Ul Huda, United States Institute of Peace, USA

6.Anwar N. Haddam  , Liberty & Social Justice Movement , Algeria

7.Randa Slim, International Institute for Sustained Dialogue (IISD), USA

8.Abdelwahab El-Affendi, Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster, UK

9.Ibrahim M. Hussein, Alliance of Egyptian Americans, USA

10.Najah Kadhim, International Forum for Islamic Dailogue, UK

11.Abdelazim Mahmoud Hanafi, Kenana Center for Research and Studie  , Egypt

12.Najib Ghadbian, University of Arkansas, US/Syria

13.Anna Mahjar Barducci, Middle East Media Research Institute , Italy-Morocco

14.Malath Arar , GE Infra, Energy, USA

15.Ahmed Subhy Mansour, International Quranic Center, USA/Egypt

16.Ahmed Shabaan, ICDS  , Egypt

17.Abbas  H.Rahi, Iraqi Organization for Rehabilitating Society and Environment, Iraq

18.Gameela Ismail, El Ghad Party, Egypt

19.Amir Salem, Justice and Freedom Party, Egypt

20.Mohamad Ibrahim, Noor Association for Social Services, Egypt

21.Emad Farid, El Ghad Party , Egypt

22.Haytham Mouzahem, Independent Researcher and Journalist, Egypt

23.Ibrahim Dadi, Islamic Thinker, Algeria

24.Othman Mohamed Ali, Pharmacist and Islamic Researcher, Canada/Egypt

25.Adel Mohamed, Center for the Study of Islam, Egypt

26.Hamdi Shehab, Alwasiqa Center for Citizenship and H R, Egypt

27.Ahmed Farghali, Alwasiqa Center for Citizenship and H R, Egypt

28.Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, Egypt

29.Mohamed Allawzi, Activist , France

30.Hamdi Abdelaziz, Sawasia Center for Human Rights, Egypt

31.Ghassan Ali Othman, Islamic Researcher, Sudan

32.Mohieb Alarnaoti, Activist, Egypt

33.Safei-Eldin A. Hamed, Alliance of Egyptian Americans AEA, USA/Egypt

34.Marwa Abdelkader Helmi, Activist , Egypt

35.Mohamed Fawzi, Human Association for Development Studies, Egypt

 

Organizations for identification only (partial list as of June 20)