Date: Friday 6 June 2003
Subj: Pakistan: Islamisation or dictatorship or both?
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty E-mail Conference
From: Elizabeth Kendal, Conference Moderator
Pakistan's central government and the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an alliance of six pro-Sharia, pro-Taliban Islamist parties who rule the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and hold the balance of power in the National Assembly, are on a collision course. However, President Musharraf and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quid-e-Azam (PML-Q) need MMA support in order to break the political deadlock, over President Musharraf's 'Legal Framework Order' (LFO) that President Musharraf issued in by decree before that last election. The situation opens the door for the MMA to use their own Islamisation and Constitutional amendments package as political leverage.
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THE MMA AND THE BALANCE OF POWER
On 21 August 2002, before the 10 October 2002 elections, President Musharraf announced that he had issued a decree - the Legal Framework Order - that amended the constitution, giving him sweeping powers to sack a prime minister, dissolve parliament and set up a National Security Council, on which four military chiefs and eight civilian political leaders would sit, and which he, as president, would head, giving the armed forces a permanent role in the country's governance.
All opposition parties, including the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), opposed the Legal Framework Order (LFO). However, the October 2002 election resulted in the pro-Musharraf party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quid-e-Azam (PML-Q) winning the largest number of seats. The opposition accuses Musharraf of manipulating the poll by passing laws blocking Mr Nawaz Sharif of the PML-N and his fellow exiled former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto of the PPP, from returning to power on the grounds they have served twice before as prime minister.
In spite of the fact that the Pakistan Muslim League-Quid-e-Azam (PML-Q) won the most seats, they did not win enough to govern outright. The result was a hung parliament. Of the 324 seats in the National Assembly, Musharraf's PML-Q now holds 118, Bhutto's PPP holds 81 and the MMA secured an astonishing 60 seats enabling the MMA to hold the balance of power.
By early November, a coalition had formed between all those parties opposed to Musharraf's constitutional changes (the LFO). On 11 November however, Musharraf met with the MMA vice president, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, for over two hours. Mr Ahmed told President Musharraf that the MMA was ready to accept him as president if he took back his constitutional package (LFO) and left the post of the Chief of the Army. Musharraf would not accept. Yet - by 13 November 2002, the MMA and the pro-Musharraf PML-Q had "narrowed their differences" and the MMA was agreeing to be "flexible". This paved the way for a PML-Q / MMA coalition government to be formed.
THE VALUE OF LEVERAGE
To this day however, the constitutional issues have not been resolved and there is debate about whether the constitutional amendments made by the Legal Framework Order (LFO) are valid. On top of this, the MMA, which rules the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in its own right (holding 68 of the 124 seats) has, as of Monday 2 June, officially adopted Sharia law in NWFP. They have also passed the Hasba Act that enables them to establish a Department of Vice and Virtue, Taliban-style. Militant youths are pulling down billboards, trashing music stores and wreaking havoc across the NWFP. All 24 local governors - 'nazims' - have handed in their resignations to President Musharraf. Musharraf has responded by sacking the NWFP's chief secretary and inspector general of police over their enforcement of Sharia. This has put the NWFP, MMA government on a collision course with the pro-West central government.
All the meanwhile, the PML-Q president, Chaudry Shujaat Hussain, was trying to strike a deal with the MMA, to convince the MMA to co-operate with the PML-Q and break the political deadlock over the Legal Framework Order.
The strategic hour had arrived for the MAA to bring out its greatest weapon - its political leverage. The MMA has agreed to an about-face on the LFO, saying they will be willing to relax their opposition to the LFO and accept Musharraf as President, in Army uniform, provided the government is willing to accept the MMA's Islamisation package.
THE MMA'S ISLAMISATION PACKAGE.
This Islamisation package extends beyond the NWFP. The MMA's Islamisation package contains 17 demands - 7 are related to the LFO, and 10 are related to Islamisation. These demands include: a revision of media policy to bring it in line with Islamic values, the setting up of commissions and institutions to streamline the education system and economy according to Islamic teaching, the promotion of the shalwar kameez, (long smock with lose-fitting trousers) as the "national uniform" (to be made compulsory in all schools and colleges), Friday to be a weekly public holiday, and that Musharraf's Madrassa Ordinance be repealed and madrassa's be removed from the "watch list".
Another demand of the MMA is an amendment to Article 2 of the Constitution - "Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan", to include that all laws will be in conformity with the Quran and Sunnah as per the recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology, to ensure that no legislation contrary to the Sharia is carried out in the future. (The Council of Islamic Ideology was set up in the 1970s to ensure that all laws would be in accordance with Sharia, but it has always had a limited role.) The MMA also demands that all recommendations of the Council of Islamic Ideology be discussed in the parliament and amendments be made in the constitution accordingly to ensure the supremacy of Sharia in the country.
A further MMA demand is the removal of the President's power to pardon a person sentenced by the High Court in Hadood (or Hudood) cases. The Hadood Ordinance criminalizes non-marital rape, extramarital sex, and several alcohol, gambling, and property offenses. The Hadood Ordinance however, makes it necessary for a woman who has been raped to produce four adult male Muslim eye-witnesses to the crime who are willing to testify in her favour or else she, the rape victim, is imprisoned until the courts determine her fate.
The PML-Q president, Chaudry Shujaat Hussain, claims that while 10 of the MMA demands have been already agreed to, the rights of women and minorities will be ensured.
President Musharraf has summonsed the National Assembly to meet in Islamabad on 7 June 03 for the announcement of the national budget. Security will be high as disturbances from those opposed to the LFO are expected.
President Musharraf has two options - to rule by dictatorial decree and reign in the MMA, or to yield and be manipulated by the MMA.
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After the October 2002 elections Benazir Bhutto said, "The military want to hold a red rag up to the West and say 'Look West, you need a military dictatorship, because if there's not, then pro-Taliban parties are going to come to power'. The MMA is a frightening scenario because when you create genies, genies get out of hand. What we have seen in the MMA is a genie of frightening proportions." (AFP 13 October 2002).
- Elizabeth Kendal
Links: here are two articles that, together, cover the issue
reasonably well.
"Standoff Paralyzes Pakistan Parliament" by Paul Haven
Associated Press, 4 June 2003
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2748717,00.html
"MMA proposes 17-point agenda to settle LFO issue"
Paktribune. Islamabad, 31 May 2003
http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=27050
Friday, June 6, 2003
Wednesday, June 4, 2003
Iraq: An Iraqi Pastor Speaks.
Date: Wednesday 4 June 2003
Subj: Iraq: An Iraqi Pastor Speaks.
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty E-mail Conference
From: Elizabeth Kendal, Conference Moderator
Christianity Today Magazine's June edition features an editorial entitled, "The Mother of all Liberties". This editorial most correctly comments that, "Religious freedom and democracy hang in the balance for Iraq's 22 million people."
The editorial goes on to say, that unless full religious freedom is forthcoming in Iraq, then a "costly military victory will be incomplete." It also notes that Christians are worried that a new Shi'ite-dominated regime could eliminate even the limited freedoms they had under Saddam Hussein. (Link 1)
Their concern is well founded, as the threat to religious liberty in Iraq is very real. An Iraqi pastor who recently spoke to the WEA RLC describes the situation for Christians in present-day Iraq as frightening.
AN IRAQI PASTOR SPEAKS
"After the terrible regime of Saddam Hussein there is now a power vacuum in Iraq that many groups are trying to fill. Unfortunately, many of these groups would like to have an Iraq without any Christian presence at all. We feel the pressure growing every day and we are really afraid. Many Christians have left the country but most of us want to stay. This is our country and we love it.
"Nobody knows what the future will look like, but I see it as very important that those who have the power would guarantee religious freedoms from the very start. There is a tremendous power struggle going on behind the scene.
"A powerful Shi'a political group in Iraq plans to establish its own radio station and start broadcasting. This is a big step towards promoting the influence of that group. Mr Grebawy, head of the Centre for Public Islam has said that he has permission, "to start the broadcasts", which will be financed by Hawza, a grouping of Shi'a schools in the city of Najaf. It worries us Christians very much that the broadcast will be from the al-Hikmah mosque in the suburb of Baghdad. I understand that they have plans to extend the broadcast all over the country.
"Considering the fact that the Shi'as are about 55 % of the population, this will have a very strong impact on people's attitude towards Christians. Asked what political messages they would be broadcasting on their TV channel, Mr Grebawy said that the political content of the broadcasts would be, 'that religion is politics and politics is religion'. That sounds to me like Iran!
"Practically all Shi'a leaders are calling for the establishment of Islamic law (Shari'ah). Two key religious leaders Mr Moqtada Sadr in Kufa in the south and Sheikh Mohammed al-Fartousi in Baghdad have called for Islamic law to be applied to both Christians and Muslims.
"Another disturbing sign is that Christian women who go out without head-coverings have been threatened. Shops owned by Christians that sell alcohol have been burned down and some Christian shop owners have been killed."
These killings also have been reported by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty in an article entitled "Liquor Store Attacks May Underscore Rising Islamic Concerns" (Link 2).
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
The Iraqi pastor interviewed, concluded with this appeal, "Many Christians in Iraq think that the door now is open to work for a multi-political, multi-ethnic and multi-religious Iraq, but that the door of opportunity will be closed in less than four months from now. If the American and British troops leave the country without a new government based on democratic principles in place, we are afraid that we will have a country that will either split into several parts or that will head straight into religious turmoil where minorities like Christians will be under attack from all sides. Both Europe and the U.S. have a great responsibility to see to it that this will not be the future of a people that has already suffered so much during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein."
- Elizabeth Kendal
Links
1) "The Mother of All Liberties"
Full religious freedom for Iraq is not negotiable.
A Christianity Today editorial | posted 06/02/2003
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/006/27.30.html
2) "Liquor Store Attacks May Underscore Rising Islamic Concerns"
By Valentinas Mite, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 3 June 2003.
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/06/03062003165741.asp
Subj: Iraq: An Iraqi Pastor Speaks.
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty E-mail Conference
From: Elizabeth Kendal, Conference Moderator
Christianity Today Magazine's June edition features an editorial entitled, "The Mother of all Liberties". This editorial most correctly comments that, "Religious freedom and democracy hang in the balance for Iraq's 22 million people."
The editorial goes on to say, that unless full religious freedom is forthcoming in Iraq, then a "costly military victory will be incomplete." It also notes that Christians are worried that a new Shi'ite-dominated regime could eliminate even the limited freedoms they had under Saddam Hussein. (Link 1)
Their concern is well founded, as the threat to religious liberty in Iraq is very real. An Iraqi pastor who recently spoke to the WEA RLC describes the situation for Christians in present-day Iraq as frightening.
AN IRAQI PASTOR SPEAKS
"After the terrible regime of Saddam Hussein there is now a power vacuum in Iraq that many groups are trying to fill. Unfortunately, many of these groups would like to have an Iraq without any Christian presence at all. We feel the pressure growing every day and we are really afraid. Many Christians have left the country but most of us want to stay. This is our country and we love it.
"Nobody knows what the future will look like, but I see it as very important that those who have the power would guarantee religious freedoms from the very start. There is a tremendous power struggle going on behind the scene.
"A powerful Shi'a political group in Iraq plans to establish its own radio station and start broadcasting. This is a big step towards promoting the influence of that group. Mr Grebawy, head of the Centre for Public Islam has said that he has permission, "to start the broadcasts", which will be financed by Hawza, a grouping of Shi'a schools in the city of Najaf. It worries us Christians very much that the broadcast will be from the al-Hikmah mosque in the suburb of Baghdad. I understand that they have plans to extend the broadcast all over the country.
"Considering the fact that the Shi'as are about 55 % of the population, this will have a very strong impact on people's attitude towards Christians. Asked what political messages they would be broadcasting on their TV channel, Mr Grebawy said that the political content of the broadcasts would be, 'that religion is politics and politics is religion'. That sounds to me like Iran!
"Practically all Shi'a leaders are calling for the establishment of Islamic law (Shari'ah). Two key religious leaders Mr Moqtada Sadr in Kufa in the south and Sheikh Mohammed al-Fartousi in Baghdad have called for Islamic law to be applied to both Christians and Muslims.
"Another disturbing sign is that Christian women who go out without head-coverings have been threatened. Shops owned by Christians that sell alcohol have been burned down and some Christian shop owners have been killed."
These killings also have been reported by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty in an article entitled "Liquor Store Attacks May Underscore Rising Islamic Concerns" (Link 2).
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
The Iraqi pastor interviewed, concluded with this appeal, "Many Christians in Iraq think that the door now is open to work for a multi-political, multi-ethnic and multi-religious Iraq, but that the door of opportunity will be closed in less than four months from now. If the American and British troops leave the country without a new government based on democratic principles in place, we are afraid that we will have a country that will either split into several parts or that will head straight into religious turmoil where minorities like Christians will be under attack from all sides. Both Europe and the U.S. have a great responsibility to see to it that this will not be the future of a people that has already suffered so much during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein."
- Elizabeth Kendal
Links
1) "The Mother of All Liberties"
Full religious freedom for Iraq is not negotiable.
A Christianity Today editorial | posted 06/02/2003
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/006/27.30.html
2) "Liquor Store Attacks May Underscore Rising Islamic Concerns"
By Valentinas Mite, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 3 June 2003.
http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2003/06/03062003165741.asp
Friday, May 16, 2003
Ethiopia: Religion, 'new breeding ground for conflict.'
Date: Friday 16 May 2003
Subj: Ethiopia: Religion, "new breeding ground for conflict." (IRIN)
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty E-mail Conference
From: Elizabeth Kendal, Conference Moderator
ETHIOPIA: Religion "new breeding ground for conflict" (IRIN)
A three-day conference on federalism, conflict and peace building, hosted by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and the German development agency, GTZ was held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa from 5-7 May 2003.
A news release by IRIN (see link below) reveals some very disturbing language emanating from that conference, suggesting that religious tension is increasing in Ethiopia.
It is very disturbing, especially in the light of the persecution that is being reported in neighbouring Eritrea, to hear that Ethiopian politicians are being "warned" of the "threat" of the "collapse" of the "religious status quo," suggesting change is not tolerable. The warning is that "non-Ethiopian" religions will "prey" upon a weak Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Excerpts from the IRIN news release:
"Medhane Tadesse, a senior Ethiopian academic, argued that the religious status quo in the country was being 'dramatically eroded, incubating violent confrontation. The religious equilibrium is collapsing very quickly,'" he said.
Medhane also stated "that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was 'weak economically and organisationally' and was easy prey for other religions. Medhane argued that both the Islamic and Evangelical Church were increasingly being backed by foreign interests which were 'non-Ethiopian in culture and content'. He also stated that Ethiopia was already witnessing the beginnings of potential clashes between the Orthodox and Pentecostal churches."
- Elizabeth Kendal
LINK
ETHIOPIA: Religion "new breeding ground for conflict"
ADDIS ABABA, 8 May 2003
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=33959
Subj: Ethiopia: Religion, "new breeding ground for conflict." (IRIN)
To: World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty E-mail Conference
From: Elizabeth Kendal, Conference Moderator
ETHIOPIA: Religion "new breeding ground for conflict" (IRIN)
A three-day conference on federalism, conflict and peace building, hosted by the Ministry of Federal Affairs and the German development agency, GTZ was held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa from 5-7 May 2003.
A news release by IRIN (see link below) reveals some very disturbing language emanating from that conference, suggesting that religious tension is increasing in Ethiopia.
It is very disturbing, especially in the light of the persecution that is being reported in neighbouring Eritrea, to hear that Ethiopian politicians are being "warned" of the "threat" of the "collapse" of the "religious status quo," suggesting change is not tolerable. The warning is that "non-Ethiopian" religions will "prey" upon a weak Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Excerpts from the IRIN news release:
"Medhane Tadesse, a senior Ethiopian academic, argued that the religious status quo in the country was being 'dramatically eroded, incubating violent confrontation. The religious equilibrium is collapsing very quickly,'" he said.
Medhane also stated "that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church was 'weak economically and organisationally' and was easy prey for other religions. Medhane argued that both the Islamic and Evangelical Church were increasingly being backed by foreign interests which were 'non-Ethiopian in culture and content'. He also stated that Ethiopia was already witnessing the beginnings of potential clashes between the Orthodox and Pentecostal churches."
- Elizabeth Kendal
LINK
ETHIOPIA: Religion "new breeding ground for conflict"
ADDIS ABABA, 8 May 2003
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN)
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=33959