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Posted on Sun, May. 16, 2004
Arabs must denounce Berg's slaying
Massoud A. Derhally
is former deputy editor of Dubai-based Arabian Business magazine and a correspondent for Agence France-Presse
I feel for the family of Nick Berg, who was killed by senseless and ruthless butchers claiming to be Muslims. As an Arab and as a Muslim, I am at a loss for words. I know that my expressions of sorrow at such a chilling and inhuman act will bring little comfort to the Berg family.
But what I can say with certainty, so that the death of Nick Berg is not in vain, is that every single Arab and Muslim leader must without any reservation deplore this outrageous and heinous act.
Every Muslim cleric around the world should condemn the death of Nick Berg. They should issue edicts that outlaw such acts as un-Islamic and unrepresentative of the Arab and Muslim world.
Leaders in political and religious circles must not let this act stand. Their silence may very well be misconstrued as an admission of approval. The death of Daniel Pearl should have elicited outright condemnation. The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks carried out in Saudi Arabia, and those against the United Nations and the Iraqi people should all have been denounced unequivocally.
In the minds of some, perhaps even many Arabs, the repulsive pictures of Abu Ghraib prison played a role in the death of Berg. While the likes of Osama bin Laden and his henchmen will continue to manipulate such pictures, those in leadership roles across the Arab and Muslim world must make every effort to fight such heretics and stop the spread of their poison.
It is counterproductive for Arab and Muslim leaders to say one thing to the foreign press and media and say another to their home audiences, directly or indirectly condoning hatred and mad acts of terrorism. Arabs everywhere should be enraged by the deficiency of human rights in their own countries - by the fact that such militancy and extremism have been allowed to thrive.
Arabs who rationalize Berg's killing as a response to the abuses at Abu Ghraib are bigots. Many incidents in the Arab world dwarf Abu Ghraib. Wretched human-rights violations continue daily, yet somehow aren't met with the same indignation and high standards of accountability to which Arabs hold America. The very absence of these fundamental values underscores the impotence of the Arab people. The truth of the matter is that the Arab world is not a world of moderation, so long as leaders allow such horrid people to spread their venom.
Iraq. If Donald Rumsfeld can exhibit a measurable amount of humility, so can our leaders in admitting their mistakes, and so can we as we struggle to define ourselves in this century.
True, America's unrelenting support of Israel, now anchored more than ever after Bush's unconditional endorsement of Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, provides ammunition to hate. But it's also true that this alliance exemplifies the failure of Arab leaders to overcome such overbearing domination and humiliation. Most Arab governments use the Israel wild card as a way to sanction crackdowns, deny civil liberties, and instill fear and paranoia. Above all, it teaches people to hate.
Arab anger at America reflects the inability of people to express anger at their own governments; their inability to rise up against injustices committed in their own backyards; and the absence of checks and balances that in democracies ensure accountability.
Democracy, say some, is a system that is not for Arabs. Arabs need to be ruled by an iron fist. They say the culture and norms of the Arab world don't allow for the expression of different opinions or the coexistence of different ideologies. It is precisely this line of reasoning that continues to cultivate an environment that nurtures zealots.
If transparent democracy were more common in the Arab world today, those calling for reforms would be hailed, not arrested. Women would be empowered. Were our own abuses publicly acknowledged, perhaps the region would escape this twilight zone and experience an Arab reawakening.
So when Arabs look at those pictures of Iraqis being humiliated, and when they see and hear of the heartless murder of Berg, they should take a look in the mirror. They may very well not like what they see.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Massoud A. Derhally at [email protected]
Arabs must denounce Berg's slaying
Massoud A. Derhally
is former deputy editor of Dubai-based Arabian Business magazine and a correspondent for Agence France-Presse
I feel for the family of Nick Berg, who was killed by senseless and ruthless butchers claiming to be Muslims. As an Arab and as a Muslim, I am at a loss for words. I know that my expressions of sorrow at such a chilling and inhuman act will bring little comfort to the Berg family.
But what I can say with certainty, so that the death of Nick Berg is not in vain, is that every single Arab and Muslim leader must without any reservation deplore this outrageous and heinous act.
Every Muslim cleric around the world should condemn the death of Nick Berg. They should issue edicts that outlaw such acts as un-Islamic and unrepresentative of the Arab and Muslim world.
Leaders in political and religious circles must not let this act stand. Their silence may very well be misconstrued as an admission of approval. The death of Daniel Pearl should have elicited outright condemnation. The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the terrorist attacks carried out in Saudi Arabia, and those against the United Nations and the Iraqi people should all have been denounced unequivocally.
In the minds of some, perhaps even many Arabs, the repulsive pictures of Abu Ghraib prison played a role in the death of Berg. While the likes of Osama bin Laden and his henchmen will continue to manipulate such pictures, those in leadership roles across the Arab and Muslim world must make every effort to fight such heretics and stop the spread of their poison.
It is counterproductive for Arab and Muslim leaders to say one thing to the foreign press and media and say another to their home audiences, directly or indirectly condoning hatred and mad acts of terrorism. Arabs everywhere should be enraged by the deficiency of human rights in their own countries - by the fact that such militancy and extremism have been allowed to thrive.
Arabs who rationalize Berg's killing as a response to the abuses at Abu Ghraib are bigots. Many incidents in the Arab world dwarf Abu Ghraib. Wretched human-rights violations continue daily, yet somehow aren't met with the same indignation and high standards of accountability to which Arabs hold America. The very absence of these fundamental values underscores the impotence of the Arab people. The truth of the matter is that the Arab world is not a world of moderation, so long as leaders allow such horrid people to spread their venom.
Iraq. If Donald Rumsfeld can exhibit a measurable amount of humility, so can our leaders in admitting their mistakes, and so can we as we struggle to define ourselves in this century.
True, America's unrelenting support of Israel, now anchored more than ever after Bush's unconditional endorsement of Ariel Sharon's unilateral disengagement plan, provides ammunition to hate. But it's also true that this alliance exemplifies the failure of Arab leaders to overcome such overbearing domination and humiliation. Most Arab governments use the Israel wild card as a way to sanction crackdowns, deny civil liberties, and instill fear and paranoia. Above all, it teaches people to hate.
Arab anger at America reflects the inability of people to express anger at their own governments; their inability to rise up against injustices committed in their own backyards; and the absence of checks and balances that in democracies ensure accountability.
Democracy, say some, is a system that is not for Arabs. Arabs need to be ruled by an iron fist. They say the culture and norms of the Arab world don't allow for the expression of different opinions or the coexistence of different ideologies. It is precisely this line of reasoning that continues to cultivate an environment that nurtures zealots.
If transparent democracy were more common in the Arab world today, those calling for reforms would be hailed, not arrested. Women would be empowered. Were our own abuses publicly acknowledged, perhaps the region would escape this twilight zone and experience an Arab reawakening.
So when Arabs look at those pictures of Iraqis being humiliated, and when they see and hear of the heartless murder of Berg, they should take a look in the mirror. They may very well not like what they see.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact Massoud A. Derhally at [email protected]