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Prof. J.L. Esposito: Political Islam Not Dead
World Bulletin ^ | 07 October 2013 Monday

Posted on 10/07/2013 7:03:17 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Professor John L. Esposito of the International Affairs Department at Georgetown University spoke to Islamist Gate about the future of political Islam.

Prof. John L. Esposito, author of the book ‘The Future of Islam’, has claimed that political Islam is not dead. On the contrary, he has suggested that it is merely evolving into a new form of expression.

After the Egyptian military coup ousted the democratically elected president and Muslim Brotherhood member Mohammed Morsi in early July, many observers commented that the coup marked the death of political Islam. However, Esposito reminds these observers of Mark Twain’s saying “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

Indeed, this is not the first time that the Muslim Brotherhood had faced repression, and despite their odd snags, they always seem to come back stronger. He mentioned that the death of political Islam was also declared many times before, especially after Ayatollah Khomeini declared the end to the Iraq-Iran war. Instead of the death of political Islam, the world saw ‘‘the reemergence of the MB in Egypt, the return of Ennahda and Rashid Ghannoushi to Tunisia and their victory in elections, the end of Erbakan’s Welfare Party but years later the emergence of the AKP under Erdogan and Gul’s leadership, not to mention examples from Morocco and elsewhere,’’ he said.

He claimed that as new challenges are presented, political Islam will learn from its mistakes and adapt, displaying itself in many forms, whether organized or unorganized. ‘‘The new era may not be an era of the old-style Political Islam, but it is not possible for any movement or group or interest group to ignore Islam,’’ he said.

In saying this, he criticized the Egyptian military for its crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam in the country. Pointing out their two-faced interpretation of democracy, he said ‘‘if the military-led government wants to marginalize and weaken the MB, believing that it has been rejected by the majority of Egyptians (which may be the case), then why didn’t they and don’t they now simply call for elections? What are they afraid of?’’

He compared the situation in Egypt to that of Algeria before their civil war, after a democratic election result was cancelled out because an Islamist party had come to power. The following crackdown on the Islamists forced peaceful supporters to take up arms against military repression in a case of violence begetting violence.

Ennahda recently announced their resignation to make way for new negotiations and elections, after protests mimicking those of Egypt called for the government to step down. Although the AK Party of Turkey is slightly more comfortable than their Tunisian and Egyptian counterparts, it finds itself having to make adjustments to its behavior as opposition groups draw closer together in their mutual disapproval of the government.

Prof. John L. Esposito, author of the book ‘The Future of Islam’, has claimed that political Islam is not dead. On the contrary, he has suggested that it is merely evolving into a new form of expression. After the Egyptian military coup ousted the democratically elected president and Muslim Brotherhood member Mohammed Morsi in early July, many observers commented that the coup marked the death of political Islam. However, Esposito reminds these observers of Mark Twain’s saying “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

Indeed, this is not the first time that the Muslim Brotherhood had faced repression, and despite their odd snags, they always seem to come back stronger. He mentioned that the death of political Islam was also declared many times before, especially after Ayatollah Khomeini declared the end to the Iraq-Iran war. Instead of the death of political Islam, the world saw ‘‘the reemergence of the MB in Egypt, the return of Ennahda and Rashid Ghannoushi to Tunisia and their victory in elections, the end of Erbakan’s Welfare Party but years later the emergence of the AKP under Erdogan and Gul’s leadership, not to mention examples from Morocco and elsewhere,’’ he said.

He claimed that as new challenges are presented, political Islam will learn from its mistakes and adapt, displaying itself in many forms, whether organized or unorganized. ‘‘The new era may not be an era of the old-style Political Islam, but it is not possible for any movement or group or interest group to ignore Islam,’’ he said.

In saying this, he criticized the Egyptian military for its crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and political Islam in the country. Pointing out their two-faced interpretation of democracy, he said ‘‘if the military-led government wants to marginalize and weaken the MB, believing that it has been rejected by the majority of Egyptians (which may be the case), then why didn’t they and don’t they now simply call for elections? What are they afraid of?’’

He compared the situation in Egypt to that of Algeria before their civil war, after a democratic election result was cancelled out because an Islamist party had come to power. The following crackdown on the Islamists forced peaceful supporters to take up arms against military repression in a case of violence begetting violence.

Ennahda recently announced their resignation to make way for new negotiations and elections, after protests mimicking those of Egypt called for the government to step down. Although the AK Party of Turkey is slightly more comfortable than their Tunisian and Egyptian counterparts, it finds itself having to make adjustments to its behavior as opposition groups draw closer together in their mutual disapproval of the government.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 10/07/2013 7:03:17 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries, improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement, the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyzes the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step, and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it (Islam) has vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.”

~Sir Winston Churchill; “The River War”, first edition, Volume II, pages 248-250

2 posted on 10/07/2013 7:16:01 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You can't invade the mainland US There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: nickcarraway
When was political declared dead? Political Islam is more alive than ever under Emperor Barack Hussein Obama I. Emperor BHO I has encouraged, funded, and armed it.
3 posted on 10/07/2013 7:19:37 PM PDT by MasterGunner01
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To: nickcarraway

As long as Islam has existed, it has been political.

Know Islam, no peace
No Islam, know peace


4 posted on 10/07/2013 7:23:40 PM PDT by noprogs (Borders, Language, Culture)
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Islam is a war plan. No need for differentiation.


5 posted on 10/07/2013 7:27:30 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: noprogs
"Springtime for Hitler Islam"
6 posted on 10/07/2013 7:29:06 PM PDT by Zeneta
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To: nickcarraway

“Change has come to America!” including Muslim Brotherhood operators and converted Muslims in high places in the Regime.


7 posted on 10/07/2013 8:04:33 PM PDT by SERKIT ("Blazing Saddles" explains it all.......)
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To: nickcarraway

Here’s thanks in problem

Islam comes. The economy takes a dive because everyone is fighting

Then the people become poor and ignorant.

BINGO! The MB or Taliban or al queda tell the disaffected young males.

Here’s how to be a man pious. Etc

And then things go downhill from there Guns. Oppression. Rape

Sodomy. Mysogyny Drug running. More guns.

And worst of all!

Beards and robes

It’s really funny and terribly sad at the same time

There is only one answer. The WAY. The TRUTH. The LIGHT

Right?


8 posted on 10/07/2013 9:43:46 PM PDT by Truthoverpower (The guvmint you get is the guvmint you deserve)
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To: nickcarraway

Esposito’s salary, and the entire budget of that department, is funded by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and Saud royal family money.

The same cash flow source is used to supress political Islam
every day.

Esposito is a paid shill in the suburbs of Washington DC, writing in English language the platitudes needed for idiots in DC to hear to allow the CIA and House of Saud continue to mess around in the Islamic world.


9 posted on 10/08/2013 12:20:16 AM PDT by JerseyHighlander
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