The Other Side of Muslims in America

American Islam - Paul M. Barrett - Book - Review - New York Times

The New York Times favorably reviews the new book of family friend Paul M. Barrett on Islam as practiced in America. Barrett profiles seven different moderate Muslims living in America for a variety of viewpoints that contrast with the frequent demonization of Islam in America, although the review notes that conservative and radical points of view are largely unrepresented. I am hoping to pick up a copy at Politics and Prose on January 29 at 7 p.m., where Barrett will be holding a book signing.

Behind the Scenes Machinations from the Gulf?

nichane.jpg

Eatbees reports a disturbing rumor that the Moroccan government's surprise shutdown of the periodical "Nichane" was prompted by pressure from the Gulf states and may reflect Saudi interference with Moroccan internal affairs.

Larbi, however, on whose blog the rumor originally appeared (in a comment from nemo), points out in a comment to eatbees that this act of censorship is unusual because it appears to be supported by a majority of the Moroccan people. At the same time,Larbi paints a grim picture of the fight for civil liberties and free expression caught between the repression of the Monarchy on one side and the widely popular Islamist Party of Justice and Development (PJD) on the other.

Beliefs in Common

Islam & Religious Tolerance

Those who believe (in the Quran) and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures) and the Christians and the Sabaeans, any who believe in Allah, and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. T.Q., Sura 2 of 114, The Cow, verse 62.

Nadia Lamlili has a very thoughtful post (in French) discussing the underlying similarities of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the potential for tolerance among them. Overall, she concludes that there is more room for tolerance than the adherents of the three religions are normally willing to admit.

Whistling Past the Graveyard

Interview With Condoleezza Rice - washingtonpost.com

Condoleezza Rice may be whistling past the graveyard, but she has encouraging words for reform and liberalization in Morocco.

But I think if you go to the Forum for the Future and you see these non-governmental organizations gathered together and being able to sit across the table from the most conservative Arab states like Saudi Arabia all the way out to reforming states like the states of the Gulf and Jordan, it's quite an achievement and I can list the achievements: they have women voting in Kuwait, the beginning of municipal elections in Saudi Arabia; but also if you look at places like Bahrain and Oman and Morocco and Jordan, the reform agenda is alive and well. And what will we say to those people who have staked their future on reform and democracy if somehow this word disappears from American foreign policy? And so to me this is at the core.

I actually agree that the United States should support democracy. I do not think we can do this through secret government, intimidation of the press, invasions, torture, clandestine imprisonments, suspension of habeas corpus, military show trials, and removing jurisdiction from courts. In addition, given the stark realities of the situation in Iraq, which Rice largely seems to play down, it seems hard to believe that the administration of which she is a part will somehow experience a revelation and begin to provide wise leadership on the Israeli-Palestinian issue or even on reform in Morocco.

Kings and Clerics

As Monarchy Falters, Islamism Rises - Jamai Aboubakr - PostGlobal

Aboubakr Jamai, publisher of Le Journal Hebdomadaire, has an analysis of forthcoming Moroccan legislative elections in the Washington Post. Jamai points out that while the Islamic Party of Justice and Development commands the allegiance of only a small number of voters committed to a party, it is the overwhelming choice undecided voters.

When first asked about the party they would vote for, Moroccans chose the socialist party with 13% in support. The Islamist PJD party ranked third with 9%. But more than 55% of the citizens polled claimed to be undecided. When those 55% were asked to make up their mind one way or the other, more than 66% chose the Islamist party. That gives the PJD a tremendous lead over the other parties.

Secular parties have proven to be neither honest nor efficient, according to Mr. Jamai, with the result that they are increasingly being squeezed between the all powerful monarchy and the surging Islamists. Real reform will only come with more freedom and accountability in the government.

Update: For French speakers, Larbi has a very interesting commentary on the Economist Intelligence Unit's assessment that Morocco is one of the more stringent dictatorships in the world. Larbi points out that, for good or ill, the fact that Islam is the state religion and the activities of other religions are circumscribed makes the country less "democratic" from the Western point of view of the Economist.

Grim Tidings from the Netherlands

Peaktalk - A MODERATE MUSLIM’S DESPAIR

A very pessimistic view of the plight of Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands.

Turkish, Surinam, Moluccan and Somali communities do not produce as many radical and hateful youngsters compared to the Morrocans. Why that is? I have noticed that in many Moroccan families boys are treated harshly, without any love. They are being raised to survive. They need to grow up quickly, if necessary harshly. They see how their mother is abused. If their father walks into the door, they walk out. That is a feeding ground for aggression.

Link from Andrew Sullivan. If this is the case, I would be very curious to know the explanation why such a comparatively moderate and progressive country as Morocco would produce such a depth of bitterness among its emigrants.

Jews in Morocco

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The Jews of Morocco - a lesson in coexistence.

Legend has it that Moroccan Jews have been here since the days of King David. In the south of Morocco, three days journey from Sousse - there is a boulder on which is engraved -“Joab, son of Zeriah, drove the Philistines to this point.” Joab ben Zeriah was one of King David’s captains. And so it has been concluded that Moroccan Jews have been in this North African country since the day of King David.

The View from Fez discusses the troubled history of Jews in Morocco and latter day efforts to protect a much diminished community.

Newsweek's Take on the New Morocco

Morocco: A Suburb of Paris - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

"Of course we love our own culture," says Leila, who lives in the cultural capital of Marrakech. "But ours is now a European way of life."

Newsweek has a superficial but generally favorable commentary on Moroccan modernization and liberalization. Although the article points out the disparity between the living standards of most Moroccans and the Europeans who are populating the new tourist playgrounds, it does not really analyze how the interaction between them is likely to play out.

Foundation of Foundation

The Morocco Times reports that Moroccan students in Canada and the United States have established a new foundation to provide aid to Morocco and leadership training to students.

Story of the Day

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Women dumped in Morocco?

The View from Fez carries a chilling story about women who are abandoned in Morocco when their husbands or fathers return to Europe. About 20 or 30 women are abandoned each year.

One thing that is particularly interesting about this story is that it crosses the fault lines between Europe and North Africa, since the story suggests that the practice is mainly perpetrated by Moroccan immigrants to Holland (or possibly other European countries).

The story cries out for a broader analysis of the treatment of women in immigrant communities, in Europe, and in North Africa. It raises unanswered questions about whether the practice is unique to Morocco or fits in with a wider pattern of abuse of women. Perhaps that is asking too much of a single news story, but in light of common assumptions about how women are treated in the West versus Muslim countries, some serious analysis is called for.

The most disappointing part of the story is that the Dutch authorities have apparently washed their hands of the women who have already been abandoned and are confining their efforts to preventing future abandonments.

Forbes Family Sells Shares

Long after Malcomb Forbes' display of conspicuous consumption as Morocco's most extravagant tourist is but a memory, the New York Times reports that his heirs have parted with a 40 percent share of their main capital asset, Forbes magazine, the erstwhile "capitalist tool." The Moroccan palace where Forbes feted Elizabeth Taylor was sold to the monarchy in the 90's, and Forbes' famous collection of Faberge eggs hit the block a short time later. As my father would say, shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.