Is Egypt turning to theocracy?
In the post-Mubarak Egypt, two important steps have been taken for bringing democracy in Egypt: a) the people's assembly election, and b) presidential election. In both elections, Freedom and Justice (F & J) Party, an offspring of Muslim Brotherhood, has won victory. Despite overwhelming majority, a big question looms large now-a-days whether Egypt is turning to a theocratic state under the Islamists. Apprehending F & J's religious ideology, the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) dissolved people's assembly on June 15 following a verdict by the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC). After taking oath as the president, Professor Dr. Mohamed Morsi issued a presidential decree annulled SCAF's decision. This power struggle between the elected president and SCAF casts shadow on the emerging democracy of Egypt.
There are two extremes of thinking regarding the political structure to be taking shape in foreseeable future. At one extreme, there are democratic pessimists who believe that Morsi and F & J will take Egypt to the verge of a theocratic state. There are others who predict a flourishing democracy in Egypt in the post-election period.
The first and the foremost among the arguments of the first group are concerned with the fact that the political ideology of Muslim Brotherhood from which F & J has been born must Islamize Egypt. Their concerns are based on the facts that Islamic political system of the Middle Age may not be applicable in the twenty first century Egypt. The second argument is that F & J leaders are fundamentalists who cannot uphold the ideas of democracy. Their third point is that the fundamentalists have hijacked the fruits of revolution which was geared up by the liberal and secular democrats. Now after the victory of the elections, it is quite usual that F & J leaders will make an undemocratic, religious state. The fourth argument grows out of the reality that the longtime autocracy has created a fertile ground for mushrooming religious fundamentalism in Egypt. The fifth argument is that F & J, despite their verbal chatters of democracy, will undoubtedly take Egypt to the threshold of theocracy in the long run.
The second group of people sees an Arab model of democracy to be built by the F & J authority. The important reason for these democratic optimists is derived from F& J's compliance to democratic ideals, such as, freedom, justice, law, human rights, social values and identity. The F & J politicians are committed to domestic peace, regional stability and international security. They have won the race of democratic elections to form popular representative government which is a basic precondition of democracy. The postures of democratic optimists are also confirmed by the democratic leaders of the free world and international media. The top most politicians of US, UK, France, Germany, EU, Russia, Japan, and other countries of the world have declared the post election era as the dawn of democratization. Many of them have expressed desire to work together for a democratic world. In the face of power struggle between the democratically elected President and SCAF, Hillary Clinton visited in Egypt to reaffirm America's support for the nascent democracy of Egypt. The newspapers such as Newsweek, New York Times, Wall Street, have labeled the democratic changes in Egypt as the landmark in the history of democracy. The third argument is related to the democratic elements in the formation of Morsi's personality. His appearing without a bullet-proof jacket before millions of people at the Tahrir Square indicates his simplicity just like the Caliph of the golden era of Islam. After elected as the President, Morsi declared on June 24, "I'm the President of each and every Egyptian … I've no right… I've only responsibility… if I fail doing that you don't need to follow me…." The fourth argument of democratic optimism emanates Morsi's design of incorporating women, secular and Christian minorities into the restructuring the Egyptian governance structure. He has already floated the idea of two Vice Presidents, one to be nominated from women, another from Christians. The fifth argument is that the prospect of democracy under F & J is reflected in the culture of Morsi's Presidential oath. Before the formal oath, he took the real oath at the people's palace- the Tahrir Square in which he declared the achievement of the goals of revolution as his prime target. Such real-hearted oath, albeit symbolic, hoisted his responsibility to the people above everything which is an important prerequisite for democracy. In the formal oath at the Supreme Constitutional Court, he swore by Allah that conferring his commitment to frame constitution, establish rule of law, uphold people's interests and build up a democratic state. Next day at another informal oath at Cairo University, he reiterated to maintain domestic peace, regional stability and international security. He took a vow to stay beside the oppressed people of Palestine, Syria and elsewhere. The sixth and the final argument of the optimists is related to Morsi's successful effort to pacify Western democrats who are worried about the Palestine issue, West's access to Suez and international treaties.
In conclusion, we must say for sake of democracy that the secular and the leftists need to extend support to Morsi and F & J in their arduous journey to democracy. Morsi's presidential decree to annul the decision of SCAF following the Constitutional Court verdict to dissolve the elected people's assembly should have been democratically viable. However, Morsi's compliance to the Court's recent verdict to annul Morsi's reinstating the assembly bears testimony of how deep is his and F & J's respect to democracy.
People of Egypt are waiting for a time when democracy must take roots under the F & J's leadership. Whatever support given to SCAF or the Constitutional Court comprised with the people brought up by deposed President Hosni Mubarak will strengthen the prospects of the tyrant's comeback and endanger the nascent democracy of Egypt. In order for democracy to survive a solid national unity and solidarity cannot be underemphasized.
The writer is Associate Professor, Department of International Relations,University of Dhaka.
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