No incompatibility between Islam and democracy, Says Moroccan Islamic party chief
Morocco-Regional, Politics, 4/15/2004

Saad Eddine Othmani, who was elected over the week end new secretary general of Morocco's only Islamic party -party for Justice and Development- stressed that from a practical point of view there is no incompatibility between Islam and democracy.

The PJD new chief who is taking part in Istanbul in the congress of Islamic World Democrats told MAP correspondent both Islam and democracy share the same concern to associate the community to the political decision-making, to the election of representatives and to the consolidation of civil rights.

He went on that the problems facing developing countries in general, be they Islamic or not, are rather cultural, social and economic, stressing the need to address the plagues of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment. For him, the real problem lies in means to establish democracy in these countries while blatant discrepancies still separate northern and southern countries.

He further argued that the bottom line of democracy is social justice, explaining that the wealth amassed by northern countries at the expense of southern countries has a direct incidence on southern countries and their citizens and delays democratic transition.

He called on democracy-advocating countries and institutions to endeavour to establish of a fair world order where a minimum of social justice is ensured, upholding that illiteracy, unemployment and poverty are fertile grounds for all forms of extremism. "Developed countries should assume their responsibilities in this context," he insisted.

Democracy is not a ready-to-wear exportable goods, but an endogenous dynamic that implies that some principles and values be adapted to the reality and culture of each country, he went on. "democracy cannot be decreed, it should be established gradually after people are convinced of its pertinence."

Of the Moroccan democratic experience, Othmani, whose party is an opposition party represented in the parliament but not in government, said the Moroccan model is a unique and pilot one in the Arab states.

Morocco has covered considerable stages in democracy, but, he stressed, many reforms are still needed because democracy is a painstaking process and no democratic system can claim to be perfect.

The PJD secretary general is taking part in the Istanbul meeting together with first secretary of the Moroccan socialist union of popular forces (USFP-in the government) and Mohand Laenser, secretary general of the Popular movement (MP-also in government) and three women representatives from the Istiqlal party (in government), the PJD and the USFP.

The four-day conference (April 12-15) is the first of the kind organized by the American National Democratic Institute for international affairs (NDI) with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Turkish Foundation for Democracy.

It is bringing together 190 delegates from political parties from Islamic countries as well as former and current presidents, ministers and MPs to probe different aspects of democracy based on their own experience.

A press release of the NDI says the Istanbul meeting will "highlight the compatibility of democracy and Islam by discussing their direct experience with democratic governance and their countries' common commitment to multiparty elections, independent legislatures, women's political participation and an active civil society."

Previous Stories:
  Family law in Morocco, a revolution in the Arab states, writer   (4/7/2004)
  King Mohammed VI Meets Arab League Chief   (4/6/2004)
  Moroccan government regrets Arab summit postponement   (3/30/2004)

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