Our online guide to Middle East Voices of Liberty seeks to raise awareness of influential writers, activists and politicians who are waging the battle of ideas in the Middle East on behalf of human rights and against religious extremism, and who are engaging their fellow citizens to reflect on issues of freedom and authoritarianism in their societies.
The individuals featured in the guide span a wide ideological spectrum and defy easy categorization; many would not agree with each other on the ingredients of a free, tolerant and prosperous society. The goal of this guide is not to endorse any particular figure, it is merely to provide an informative summary of the intellectual background, ideas and activities of these figures, most of whom are not well known in the United States or Europe. The guide will allow policy makers, journalists and analysts of the region to have a better sense of the intellectual landscape of reformers.
The guide is compiled by Khairi Abaza, Eleana Gordon, Samer Libdeh, Stephanie Schwartz and Colin Crowley. It features profiles for each individual, organized by country, and translations of some of their writings. |
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Persian Gulf, Iraq and Iran |
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| Keep the US 'freedom agenda' alive |
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Daily Star Lebanon,
(01/14/2008)
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True, a freedom agenda will not change people's attitudes overnight. However, if pursued consistently, over time, with bipartisan support in the US - and more constant support in Europe - it will have a chance to make serious headway. There are many "ifs" here, but pro-democracy activists can only live on hope; or, as the late Syrian playwright Saadallah Wannous put it, they are condemned to hope.
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Daily Star Lebanon,
(2008/01/14)
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| Losing My Jihadism |
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The Washington Post,
(07/22/2007)
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Muslims are too rigid in our adherence to old, literal interpretations of the Koran. It's time to accept that God loves the faithful of all religions. It's time for Muslims to question our leaders and their strict teachings, to reach our own understanding of the prophet's words and to call for a bold renewal of our faith as a faith of goodwill, of peace and of light.
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The Washington Post,
(2007/07/22)
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Muslims are too rigid in our adherence to old, literal interpretations of the Koran. It's time to accept that God loves the faithful of all religions. It's time for Muslims to question our leaders and their strict teachings, to reach our own understanding of the prophet's words and to call for a bold renewal of our faith as a faith of goodwill, of peace and of light.
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| The Arab Defeat |
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Open Democracy,
(06/11/2007)
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Better that we, Arabs and Muslims, should surrender than continue as we are. Japan's experience in the aftermath of the second world war offers an example of unusual courage.
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Open Democracy,
(2007/06/11)
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Better that we, Arabs and Muslims, should surrender than continue as we are. Japan's experience in the aftermath of the second world war offers an example of unusual courage.
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| Tribe and Politics in Kuwait |
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(06/06/2007)
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Tribes are one of the basic components of society in Kuwait and the Gulf. In light of democratic movements and elections in Kuwait, tribes have continued to play a role in politics. Many questions surround the role of tribes in politics and the ability of tribes to manipulate the political process.
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(2007/06/06)
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Tribes are one of the basic components of society in Kuwait and the Gulf. In light of democratic movements and elections in Kuwait, tribes have continued to play a role in politics. Many questions surround the role of tribes in politics and the ability of tribes to manipulate the political process.
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| The Six-Day War, Forty Years On |
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Open Democracy,
(05/18/2007)
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In June 2007 the Arab world will mark a bitter anniversary in its modern history, namely the passing of forty years since the six-day war with Israel. For the Arabs, their decisive defeat in June 1967 occupies a very special, if not unique place in their region's post-independence era. Perhaps this is because the event was laden with significance - political, cultural, economic and of course military - in a way that was unprecedented at the time. Indeed, one might go so far as to call it the first defining moment of the modern Arab world.
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Open Democracy,
(2007/05/18)
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