DOHA - The Arab peoples are not rejecting dictatorship because they themselves are practicing it in their daily lives, according to a prominent Qatari scholar.
"Dictatorship is to act individually and take decisions concerning others without consulting them. This is a permanent truth in Arab societies, which has infected it like a germ," said Dr Abdul Hameed Al Ansari, former dean of the Faculty of Shariah at Qatar University.
He was speaking on the topic "dictatorship and the culture of hatred" at the third session of a symposium on social changes, which concluded at the Doha Sheraton yesterday.
"We have to be honest. The Arab societies are not rejecting dictatorship. Why?. Because the Arab individual himself is practicing it at home, workplace and everywhere," he commented.
He said terrorism is not the main challenge facing the Arab societies but it is the culture of praising the dictatorial regimes. "We are supporting dictatorship in the name of stability," he said, citing the examples of Iraq, Lebanon and Somalia.
There are lawyers and justice ministers to defend the dictators but there is none to defend people staying in prisons in these countries, he added.
The Arab societies have faced the West on two occasions - first during the French invasion and the second after 9/11. After the first challenge, the Arabs focused on political changes and left the social aspect. After 9/11 these societies are witnessing massive changes in the social as well as cultural aspects.
He, however, argued that these reforms have not achieved the expected results, because the Arabs are still focusing on the external enemies rather than addressing their internal issues.
"We exaggerate the foreign threat. We are calling for Jihad against external enemies and ignoring the internal Jihad, which is more important."
" We were preoccupied with disputes on the cultural account, which helped our dictators retain their authority," Ansari said.
He noted that the same rulers are now manipulating the reform process in the Arab world to continue in power.
He said, the Arab societies are
lagging behind the others, due to what he termed the "culture of hatred" against other peoples and societies.
Any criticism about history is taken as criticising the religion. In the same way criticizing the religious people is considered equal to criticising religion, he noted.
He said, in the Arab society men is still considered superior and women as a source of all evils.
Dr Ali Harb, a noted Arab scholar from Lebanon, in his speech urged the Arab societies to face the challenge of globalisation and "restore their credibility and identity."
"We can not create a healthy environment in the society with out admitting our mistakes and revising our values," he said.
Dr Aisha Al Mannai, Dean of the Faulty of Shariah at Qatar Univeristy, Dr Juhaina Al Eisa and Dr Baqir Al Najjar also spoke at the session.
© The Peninsula 2007
