This document discusses the growing call for the re-establishment of the Caliphate in the Muslim world as a credible alternative to oppressive regimes. Western governments fear this development and are constructing new enemies by demonizing the Caliphate and Islamic politics. Senior politicians like Bush and Blair warn of the consequences of its re-establishment and attempt to associate it with terrorism. However, these attempts to discredit the Caliphate and divert efforts towards its re-establishment have failed to convince Muslims and are met with skepticism globally, given the track record of false claims made by Western governments in the War on Terror.

1. Radicalisation,
Extremism
& 'Islamism'
Realities and Myths in the 'War on Terror'
A report by Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain

3. 3
Hizb ut-Tahrir (meaning The Party of Liberation) is a global Islamic political party that was established in 1953 under the lead-
ership of its founder - the scholar, political thinker and judge in the Court of Appeals in al-Quds (Jerusalem), Taqiuddin an-
Nabhani. Hizb ut-Tahrir’s global leadership is currently headed by Ata’ abu Rishta.
In the Muslim world, Hizb ut-Tahrir works at all levels of society to bring the Muslims back to living an Islamic way of life under
the shade of the Khilafah (Caliphate) State following an exclusively political method.
Hizb ut-Tahrir adopts the methodology employed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he established the first
Islamic State in Madinah. The Prophet Muhammad limited his struggle for the establishment of the Islamic State to intellectual
and political work. He established this Islamic state without resorting to violence. He worked to mobilise public opinion in favour
of Islam and endeavoured to sway the political and intellectual elites of the time. Despite the persecution and boycott of the
Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslims, they never resorted to violence. Hence, its commitment not to be involved in any
violent or militant activity is based on its faith and understanding of the revelation of God. No person can join Hizb ut-Tahrir
until he or she adopts this political and intellectual methodology and approach.
The party is therefore proactive in disseminating the Islamic intellectual and political thoughts widely in Muslim societies so as
to challenge the oppressive and declined situation that exists there. The party presents Islam as a comprehensive way of life that
is capable of managing the affairs of state and society, as well as expressing its views on political events and analyses them from
an Islamic perspective. It disseminates its thoughts through discussion with the masses, study circles, lectures, seminars, leaflet
distribution, publishing books and magazines and via the Internet, actively encouraging people to attend our demonstrations,
marches, conferences and vigils.
In the West, Hizb ut-Tahrir does not work to change the system of government, but works within the boundaries of the system to
encourage the Muslim community to live by Islam in thought and deed, adhering to the rules of Islam and preserving a strong
Islamic identity. It argues that this is the most productive and sound basis for Muslims to engage outside of their own communi-
ties.
The party also works to project a positive image of Islam to Western society and engages in dialogue with Western thinkers, poli-
cymakers and academics. Western governments, under the banner of the War on Terror, are currently working to present Islam
as an ‘evil ideology’. At the heart of their campaign is the effort to malign the Islamic ideology as an alternative to Western liberal
capitalism in the Muslim world. Because of this propaganda aspect to the War on Terror, Hizb ut-Tahrir works to counter negative
propaganda about Islam in the Western countries, and present Islam’s beliefs and also its political ideas as an alternative for the
Muslim world.
Email: press@hizb.org.uk
Web: www.hizb.org.uk

4. 4 - Contents
Contents
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 1 - Challenging the Narrative: Radicalisation, Extremism & ‘Islamism’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Part I: The Use, Misuse and Abuse of Language in the Politics of Terrorism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Part II: Politicisation not 'Radicalisation' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section 2 - 'Unspinning' the Accusations of Violence Against Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Part I: Decoupling Political Violence from Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Part II: Poll Evidence Refutes the Alleged Link between Islam's Political Tenets and
Violence as a Means of Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Part III: Ends do not Justify Means, but Means do not Invalidate Ends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Part I: Maligning a Popular & Orthodox Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Part II: The Significance of the Caliphate at the Time of its Demise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Part III: The Caliphate will Bring Stability to the Muslim World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Part IV: The Caliphate is an Islamic System of Governance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Section 4 - Mapping a Way Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Part I: The Failure of Calls for a 'Moderate', Reformed Islam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Part II: Understanding the Causes of the Political Crises in the Muslim World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Part III: Allowing the Muslim World to Shape its own Political Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

5. Forward - 5
Forward
It is often said that the first casualty in war is the truth. In the case of the global War on Terror it is its central premise that was
the first lie - the claim that this is a war in defence of security.
It is impossible to imagine that any government would not develop some type of security response to the attacks such as those in
New York in September 2001 or the bombs in London in July 2005. This is what happened in the case of terrorism related to
Northern Ireland. There, we also saw, after many years, the development of a political response. But the launch of a 'war' upon a
premise for which there is no agreed definition has made many in the world, Muslim and non-Muslim, uncomfortable.
The construct of the case for war started after the attacks in New York, arguing that those behind the perpetrators were in
Afghanistan. Other similar international crises - for example the Lockerbie bombing of a Pan Am aircraft - led to diplomatic pressure
to secure an extradition. In the case of the 9/11 attacks, what followed was the invasion and occupation of the country said to be
hosting the perpetrators, retrospective excuses generated to add to the case for invasion and large scale illegal detention and torture
in Bagram airbase, Guantanamo Bay and elsewhere. Other states started to claim their own 'terrorism' problems; most notably dicta-
tors in the Muslim world, Israel and authoritarian regimes such as those in Russia and Central Asia. The violations of basic norms
and rights committed in these places in the name of the War on Terror were recognised as an excuse to undertake otherwise unac-
ceptable actions. Surprisingly, however, similar scrutiny was not applied to the actions of the UK or US until much later.
In the US, the Patriot Act gave the administration unprecedented powers. In Britain draconian anti-terror laws were introduced
and strengthened at every opportunity, even causing conflict between the judiciary and the government.
It was perhaps the illegal war in Iraq, unpopular amongst a sceptical domestic audience, exposed as being founded upon lies and
more to do with regime change than security, that became the single biggest factor that made increasing numbers of people
uncomfortable about what was being done in their name. The lies underpinning the Iraq occupation were compounded by
humanitarian abuses, the continued support for tyrants every bit as bad as Saddam Hussein and the worsening security threat and
community cohesion in the West due to the war.
In this report we expose how the narrative of the War on Terror has many inconsistencies and manipulates understandable
security fears to attack political ideas that carry considerable support in the Muslim world. We do this by:
1. Exposing the statements of politicians that show it is not the violent means that is their only concern, but the legitimate polit-
ical ends that an overwhelming majority in the Muslim world subscribe to. In keeping with its colonial history, Western
governments have constructed a case for intervention to secure their economic and political interests in the Muslim world,
with little regard for the consequences on the people in that part of the world.
2. Illustrating the way that language and arguments are manipulated to make the false claim that Islamic political ideas are the
root cause of the problem.
3. Providing evidence from credible research which contradicts the Bush-Blair argument that Islam's political ideas inherently
cause violence and insecurity.
4. Decoupling these myths of violence from the Caliphate and other Islamic political ideas y explaining exactly what these ideas represent.
5. Mapping a way forward, out of the mess and growing chaos created by the War on Terror.
It is difficult to deny that the War on Terror has greatly exacerbated the chaos and instability caused by the chronic political
problems in the Muslim world. Furthermore, a declaration of war against political ideas held by over 70 per cent of people in the
Muslim world will be perennial, ceaseless and destabilising.
There is an urgent need to engage in dialogue to explain Islam, the Caliphate and Shariah to people in Britain and the West, who
hear these aspirations for the Muslim world continually demonised as part of the propaganda in the War on Terror.Given the
current climate of suspicion and fear it is necessary that now more than ever people try to understand the legitimate political aspi-
rations of many in the Muslim world, rather than simply falling for a reductionist Manichean dialectic, that paints everyone who
seeks Islamic change in that region as extremists and supporters of terrorism.
We urge everyone to study our report and realise that there is an urgent need to discuss and understand these ideas, as well under-
stand the political feeling in the Muslim world. There is a need to understand the Caliphate, not only the fact that it is not linked to
violence as alleged by the leaders of the War on Terror, but also how it will be a powerful force for bringing stability to the Muslim world.
In the corridors of Washington and Westminster, Islam's political ideas are seen as a potential threat - not to security - but to the
control, exploitation and interference that has continued for decades. Yet on the 'Muslim street' these ideas mean liberation from
tyranny and oppression, a connection to their beliefs and history and the ability to shape their own political destiny.
Abdul Wahid
Chairman UK Executive Committee
Hizb ut-Tahrir
July 2007

6. 6 - Introduction - The ‘War on Terror’: Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace
Introduction
The 'War on Terror':
Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace
A Monumental Change Draws Closer State Department, the British Foreign Europe, Africa, and Asia. This is their
Office and American and British intelli- plan. They have said so. We make a
It is not often the opportunity arises to gence agencies study intently develop- terrible mistake if we fail to listen and
witness monumental political changes ments in a world they have come to learn".
on the scale of the fall of the Berlin wall yield great influence over. Both
and the collapse of Communism or the measures of public opinion indicate the Tony Blair after 7/7 also referred to the
end of apartheid in South Africa. Yet return of an Islamic state, or Caliphate. need to confront an "an evil ideology"
these have occurred in our generation's The National Intelligence Council of the that included "the establishment of
lifetime. Now an even greater political CIA issued a planning report in effectively Taliban States and Shari'ah
change is creeping ever closer in the December 2004 setting out options for a law in the Arab world en route to one
Muslim world. The dismantling of years resurgent China and a potentially strong Caliphate of all Muslim nations". Most
of oppressive rule presided over by Caliphate by the year 2020. recently General David Petraeus, when
foreign hegemons is slowly but surely asked about his priorities in the 'surge'
unravelling. For decades movements Constructing New Enemies: operation, in an interview with the
have called for the re-establishment of Demonising the Caliphate & Islamic Times published on June 20th 2007,
the Islamic political system, the politics said: "It is to disrupt al-Qaeda and its
Caliphate, such that it now represents ability to conduct sensational attacks
the only credible alternative to the Senior politicians, however, including and to try to continue the cycle of
tyrannies and dictatorships that litter George Bush are now 'warning' of the violence, which they have been trying to
the Muslims world. False arguments and consequences of its re-establishment. do all along. In addition, they are
distortions have attempted to cast a Bush, in a speech to the American attempting try establish a real al-Qaeda
shadow over the Islamic political nation on the 8th of October 2005 sanctuary in Iraq, a caliphate."
system, but these attempts have been in stated:
vain. There is growing evidence of a These arguments, amongst numerous
widespread public opinion for the "The militants believe that controlling other arguments, have been forwarded
return to the rule of law under Islam. one country will rally the Muslim in an attempt to discredit and divert
Despite the unwelcome attention of masses, enabling them to overthrow all efforts towards the re-establishment of a
those wishing to maintain an appalling moderate governments in the region, Caliphate, particularly through seeking
status quo in the Muslim world, an and establish a radical Islamic empire to associate it exclusively with terrorism.
inescapable momentum has been that spans from Spain to Indonesia." The effort has been extended to malign
established for the return of the the goals of Islamic politics more gener-
Caliphate. On December 5th 2005, the then US ally, as Blair did after 7/7 by attempting
Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld to move the focus away from the acts of
Certainly a global political movement in remarks pertaining to the future of terror to an 'evil ideology'. Such
such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, active in over 40 Iraq at John Hopkins University said attempts have failed to convince
countries, touching all corners of the Muslims and are met with scepticism by
globe has a good finger on the pulse of "Iraq would serve as the base of a new the world more generally, given the US
Muslim public opinion and develop- Islamic Caliphate to extend throughout and Britain's track record in forwarding
ment of the call for political change in the Middle East and which would false claims in the War on Terror, such
the Muslim world. Similarly, the US threaten the legitimate governments in as over Iraq.

7. Introduction - The ‘War on Terror’: Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace - 7
Our report deconstructs such false asso-
”
six years on, the battle for the hearts and minds of
ciations between the Caliphate and
Islamic politics and violence in sections
2 and 3. But more importantly, it also
argues that the anxiety expressed over
“ Muslims has been lost
the establishment of the Caliphate has forces had just occupied, saying: As our report will go on to highlight in
nothing to do with terrorism or security. "Our armies do not come into your section 3, opinion surveys too are
It is a perceived threat to their cities and lands as conquerors or overwhelmingly pointing to support
hegemony and primacy over a region of enemies, but as liberators. Your wealth for the return of Islamic rule. The
the world that former Director of the has been stripped of you by unjust Center for Strategic Studies at the
US State Department's Policy Planning men... The people of Baghdad shall University of Jordan undertook a
Division, George Kennan, wrote after flourish under institutions which are in comprehensive survey of the key
WWII in reference to the oil wealth of consonance with their sacred laws". Middle Eastern countries in a 2005
the Middle East: "that the United States report, finding that two thirds of
had just acquired the greatest material He went on to say, "…your lands have respondents in central Arab countries
prize in world history". been subject to the tyranny of strangers, felt that Shariah should be the sole
your palaces have fallen into ruins, your source for legislation (a key require-
Rebirth of a Colonial Age gardens have sunk in desolation, and ment for an Islamic State) and the
your forefathers and yourselves have remaining third felt that Shariah should
Indeed, current foreign policy towards groaned in bondage." Within three be a source of law. A recent study by
the Muslim world, including the occu- years of the invasion, over ten thousand the University of Maryland published
pation of Iraq, invasion of Afghanistan, had died in an Iraqi uprising against the in April 2007 also confirmed this trend
support for unrepresentative tyrants, British, a conflict in which 'Bomber' towards Shariah, with the report
and pressure towards Iran and Syria Harris referred to dropping "a bomb in stating: "Large majorities in most coun-
amongst other actions by the US and every village that speaks out of turn" tries support the goals of requiring a
Britain, cannot be considered recent or and Winston Churchill encouraged the strict application of sharia, keeping out
isolated actions. They must be use of mustard gas admitting, "there is Western values, and even unifying all
observed as part of a colonial tradition no doubt that we are a very cruel Islamic countries into a single Islamic
of occupation, intervention and regime people". On the eve of the 2003 state." Interestingly, in addition to
change. invasion of Iraq, Lieutenant Colonel greater than 70 per cent support for
Tim Collins echoed Maude in a speech Shariah and a unifying Caliphate the
The former British Foreign Secretary to British troops, saying "We go to respondents overwhelmingly rejected
Lord Curzon remarked in almost liberate, not to conquer". The colossal that the change would come via
jubilant tones at the end of the Caliphate loss of life and destruction in the after- violence: "Large majorities in all coun-
in 1924 that, "The situation now is that math has exposed this neo-colonial tries oppose attacks against civilians for
Turkey is dead and will never rise again, myth. political purposes and see them as
because we have destroyed its moral contrary to Islam. Attacks on civilians
strength, the Caliphate and Islam". But Replacing the Muslim World's Failed are seen as hardly ever effective.
he also warned that the chapter of Political Architecture Politically motivated attacks against
Islamic rule was not completely closed civilian infrastructure are also rejected
when he stated "we must put an end to Meyrav Wurmser, the Director of as not justified".
anything which brings about any Islamic Middle East Studies at the Hudson
unity between the sons of the Muslims". Institute, characterised the Muslim Responding to Changes in the Muslim
Curzon's remarks were recently echoed world as having failing or failed autoc- World
and reaffirmed by the then British racies, repression, weak and deteriorat-
Home Secretary Charles Clarke in a ing economies and double-digit unem- Of great interest will be how Western
speech to the Heritage Foundation on ployment. The problems, Wurmser governments respond to these political
October 6 2005 when he said: cited, are the regimes in the region - changes as they evolve in the Muslim
unpopular with their own populations world. Despite posturing for domestic
"...there can be no negotiation about the and viewed as backed by Western acceptance citing WMD, and then
re-creation of the Caliphate; there can powers. The alternative to this failed regime change, Tony Blair finally
be no negotiation about the imposition political architecture has increasingly admitted that the war in Iraq was all
of Sharia (Islamic) law..." Muslims have centred on a greater role for Islam in about changing values. That values are
been warned not to go down that path the politics of the Muslim world. not changing in the Muslim world
again. Elections in the Muslim world now brings new challenges to Western
invariably go to Islamic parties, despite thinking not least of which is the wide-
The parallels with Iraq are equally perti- constitutions and other obstacles to spread opposition in the UK to the
nent. Almost ninety years ago, the Islamic political representation, like the aggressive imposition of values which
British commander Lieutenant General overt restrictions the Mubarak regime are poorly defined and for which there
Stanley Maude issued a proclamation to in Egypt placed on Islamic parties such is little trust in the politicians suppos-
the people of Baghdad, whose city his as arrests and strict quotas. edly leading the charge.

8. 8 - Introduction - The ‘War on Terror’: Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace
Despite the unwelcome The key point to note is that the Blair In 2002, Lieutenant Colonel Jack R.
“ attention of those
wishing to maintain an
appalling status quo in
narrative of simply changing a few
unpopular governments and setting out
a vision for effectively sidelining Islam
via 'religious tolerance' within a secular
framework completely lacks credibility
MacClanahan Jr of the United States
Army wrote a paper for the US Army
War College about 'Winning Hearts and
Minds in the Muslim World.' At that
time, a mere six months after the onset
the Muslim world, an in the Muslim world. The other plank of of the global War on Terrorism, he
this policy which attempts to equate the wrote that: "The US may win the
inescapable momentum has Caliphate and the desire for political military fight on terrorism but is thus far
been established for the change with terrorism, lacks intellectual losing the public opinion fight in
credibility when measured against the Muslim countries."
return of the Caliphate public opinion that poll after poll are
indicating. In fact the war mongering is Former British Prime Minister Tony
on the other foot. The long war which Blair also remarked after the attacks that
Bush/Blair have attempted to set up will rocked London in July 2005: "It is not a
"Large majorities in most be a perpetual war if they think that clash of civilisations -- all civilized
they can so easily change the core beliefs people, Muslim or other, feel revulsion
countries support the goals of and aspirations of more than 70 per cent at it. But it is a global struggle. It is a
requiring a strict application of of the Muslim world. Yet Muslims are battle of ideas and hearts and minds,
still tarnished as the aggressors when it both within Islam and outside."
sharia, keeping out Western is only a tiny element that have used
values, and even unifying all violence against civilians; a violence Even the Conservative leader David
which has been nothing like the shock Cameron jumped on the band wagon in
Islamic countries into a single and awe tactics of Bush/Blair and is also November 2006, saying, "We must
Islamic state." without the support of Muslim public remember that we are engaged in a
opinion. battle for the hearts and minds of all
(University of Maryland, 2007)
Muslims in our country."
”
The 'Battle for Hearts and Minds'
More recently in January 2007, Blair's
The West's Cold War experience and successor as Prime Minister, Gordon
defeat of communism has shaped much Brown said in regards to the Iraq war
of the rhetoric and policy regarding the and 'terrorism': "But you will not win
Muslim world, particularly the success against extreme terrorist activities and
credited to the cultural dimension of the particularly the propaganda activities,
Cold War. The US think tank the RAND unless you have this battle of hearts and
Corporation, for example, in its most minds that is won. And that makes me
recent report about the Muslim world, think of the same cultural war that had
'Building Moderate Muslim Networks', to be fought against communism from
describes how, "the propaganda and the 1940s and 50s onwards, is in a sense
cultural-infiltration efforts of the United the model for what we've got to do
States and Britain during the early years here."
of the Cold War hold valuable lessons
for the Global War on Terrorism". The Brown acknowledged the need for prop-
perceived success of these "cultural-infil- aganda when, on 1st July 2007, he said:
tration efforts" has fostered the belief
that a battle for hearts and minds must "And that's why the cultural effort -
be fought alongside the War on Terror almost similar to what happened in the
to bring Muslims on side. Cold War in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s,
when we had to mount a propaganda
Under the banner of this cultural war, a effort, if you like, to explain to people
suite of McCarthyite labels such as that our values represented the best of
'extremist', 'radical', 'fanatic' and commitments to individual dignity, to
'militant' have become common liberty and to human life being taken
currency. Their definitions are danger- seriously. And I think that's what we are
ously loose and ever-broadening and going to have to talk about in the next
manipulate the fact that there is no few years".
consensus on the definition of terrorism
to brand Muslims as more violence However, the Cold War propaganda
prone. This use of language is exten- effort was not only about explaining
sively explored in Section 1 of our Western values but also about denigrat-
report. ing the Soviet Union and creating an

9. Introduction - The ‘War on Terror’: Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace - 9
atmosphere of suspicion and threat. The Indeed, the policies of Western govern- The killing, torture and
Cold War was, as much as for anything
else, used as an excuse by Western
governments to further their interests
around the world.
ments in the War on Terror have been
so brutal and unprincipled that they
have struggled to win over their own
populations. Ironically, the real battle
for hearts and minds is with ordinary
“ abuse of people in the
name of spreading democracy
and liberalism to a part of the
However, six years on, the battle for the people in the West, who have been world plagued by instability and
hearts and minds of Muslims has been repeatedly lied to by their political
lost. Very few believe that the War on leaders. As discredited politicians each tyranny has overshadowed any
Terror, or any related domestic or try to convince their people that Iraq attempts at intellectual
foreign policy, is premised on a sincere and Afghanistan simply need more
or legitimate desire to maintain Britain's troops or more time, the general public persuasion
security. The killing, torture and abuse becomes ever wearier with failed
of people in the name of spreading policies. Furthermore, although the Iraq
democracy and liberalism to a part of war proved that the justifications for the
the world plagued by instability and War on Terror were riddled with falla- The Caliphate may soon
tyranny has overshadowed any attempts cies and inaccuracies, there has been no
at intellectual persuasion. Western states effective explanation to the public for
become the defining debate of
have today lost their moral authority. In why Western countries have been our age; the emerging prospect
1989, when the Berlin Wall collapsed, plunged into these conflicts by their
Western states had not needed to fire a leaders.
of its arrival must be met with
shot in anger and were considered shiny a willingness to understand a
beacons by the oppressed citizens of Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace
Eastern Europe. Today, in the aftermath
system that would undoubtedly
of Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, torture, What Charles Beard described as usher in a new era of stability
'extraordinary rendition' (or illegal Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace, the
”
kidnapping and torture), secret deten- title of Gore Vidal's most recent book is
for the Muslim world
tion facilities, the genocide of 650,000 an oxymoron that will never work,
civilians in Iraq, the wanton use of except as a lie to keep civilian popula-
white phosphorous and depleted tions from realising the reality of
uranium and the reversal of Habeas shameful corporate-driven government
Corpus through draconian security policies. There will be neither a wide-
legislation, Western nations are consid- spread values change nor peace from
ered more a part of the problem than carpet bombing, Guantanamo or
part of the solution. The West's foreign Fallujah. Values driven more by corpo-
policy has illustrated not just the unac- rate greed and strategic positioning will
ceptable face of Western imperialism never win out over creedal principles
but the true face of Western states with and the yearning for a return to a civili-
the indomitable pursuit of profits, raw sation which led the world in tolerance
materials and cheap labour driving the and personal and societal development
inhumane policies of debt and political within a strong and consistent rule of
support for dictators and tyrants around law. The Caliphate may soon become
the world. the defining debate of our age; the
emerging prospect of its arrival must be
A recent Zogby/University of Maryland met with a willingness to understand a
poll of citizens in six Middle Eastern system that would undoubtedly usher in
states found that finding oil (76%), a new era of stability for the Muslim
protecting Israel (68%), domination of world.
the region (63%) and weakening the
Muslim world (59%) were cited as the
main objectives of America in the
Middle East by respondents, compared
to only 6% who agreed with President
Bush and former Prime Minister Blair's
view that their objectives are to merely
spread human rights and democracy.
This distrust is not confined to the
Muslim world but is found globally
from Caracas to Beijing with people in
all continents looking at new models of
governance and rule.

10. 10 - Section 1 - Challenging the Narrative: Radicalisation, Extremism & ‘Islamism’
Section 1
Challenging the Narrative:
Radicalisation, Extremism & ‘Islamism’
The Muslim community in Britain has • The view that there is a process 'radicalised', subject to 'extremism' and
been under a continuous spotlight since leading to violence because of the under the growing influence of
the events of 7/7. The bombings trig- association of Islam and politics is 'Islamism'. These terms suffer from an
gered a wide-ranging debate that sought wrong and is built on a false charac- inherent ambiguity that allows them to
to understand the processes at work terisation of the relationship between be used in a number of different ways
within the Muslim community, map its Islam and politics often with only a tenuous connection
changes, scrutinise the influences it is with their dictionary meanings. As a
subject to and identify events in its • There has, over many years, been a result, the political climate post 7/7 has
recent history that may explain why process of a general politicisation of most influenced the use of these terms
Muslim British citizens would want to the Muslim community and subse- and allowed them to become danger-
turn on Britain. quent Islamicisation of Muslim ously broad in the behaviours they
politics in Britain rather than 'radical- capture and label. For example, John
This post 7/7 debate has blamed a isation' Esposito in his forthcoming book 'Who
number of different factors for Speaks for Islam?' defines a 'political
contributing to this heightened terror radical' as someone who believes "the
threat, but has been offset by sensation- Part I 9/11 attacks were completely morally
alist claims and alarmist comments that The Use, Misuse and Abuse of justified", whilst a report by the Policy
have only acted to obscure an accurate Language in the Politics of Terrorism Exchange titled 'Living Apart Together'
picture and to entrench stereotypes in equates 'radical' Islam with a desire for
an already polarised debate. It has an Islam-based society, an idea that
sought to discredit legitimate Islamic The language used post 7/7 has fostered actually carries mainstream support
political ideas by suggesting they the belief that the Muslim community is amongst Muslims.
increase the Muslim community's changing in a way that is de facto prob-
susceptibility to using violence. To date, lematic and that the growing influence Historically, however varied their appli-
the debate has lacked an honest, dispas- of Islam has been detrimental and is to cation, these terms have been consis-
sionate assessment of the forces at play be treated with suspicion. It has created tently used to discredit political ideals
within the Muslim community, the the false premise that such changes and goals through associating them with
impact of which has been dangerous made 7/7 inevitable and, as a result, are violence or irrationality. There has been
characterisations of Islam and the studied as if they are the cause of little responsibility to ensure the
Muslim community, misinformed public violence and terrorism. This has phenomena they are used to describe
fear and misguided government policy. spawned a phenomenon in which ideas actually fit the terms, but instead they
themselves are treated as the key suspect have been used to declare as beyond the
In this section, we argue that: in what are essentially security matters. pale, legitimate non-violent political
ideas and goals.
• The language used in the security The Political Manipulation of
debate has become politicised to Terminology For example, the suggestion that
counter dissenting voices and falsely 'extremist' and 'radical' appropriately
brand the Muslim community as The predominant narrative has describe the views taking root within
more violence prone described a community increasingly the Muslim community demonstrates a

11. Section 1 - Challenging the Narrative: Radicalisation, Extremism & ‘Islamism’ - 11
failure to understand ideas that rest tion' of Islam, as opposed to Islam being To date, the debate has
outside of the prevailing political
assumptions. Calls for Shariah, Islamic
education, dress, and other social and
political beliefs that break with the
accepted secular liberal order and are
inherently political, and an aberration
because it employs Islam beyond its
natural role as a personalised religion.
Confronting the Myths: 'Islamism' and
“ lacked an honest,
dispassionate assessment of
the forces at play within the
Muslim community, the impact
increasingly used to characterise the 'Political Islam'
demands of extremists and radicals, as of which has been dangerous
highlighted in the conclusions of the To such distinctions, a report by the
Policy Exchange report. But although International Crisis Group, entitled characterisations of Islam and
different to the west's secular tradition, 'Understanding Islamism', challenges the the Muslim community,
they articulate orthodox and longstand- failure of commentators to understand
ing, not marginal, Islamic beliefs. These the relationship between Islam and
misinformed public fear and
ideas may be unfamiliar to a secular politics. It refers to the: misguided government policy
west but instead of considering them
alternative approaches, they are often "…dichotomy, often taken for granted
considered problematic and, as a result, by Western leaders, between on the one the suggestion that 'extremist'
are addressed through a security frame- hand, Islam qua religion and its adher- and 'radical' appropriately
work and new security legislation rather ents - 'ordinary decent Muslims' for
than through engagement. This reflects whom 'Islam' is a matter of personal describe the views taking root
a failure to understand Islam and there- piety, not political commitment - and, within the Muslim community
fore to position its ideas within a secular on the other hand, 'Islamism' or 'politi-
political system. The depiction has a cal Islam' - by implication an affair of a
demonstrates a failure to
profound impact on assessing the minority of agitators exploiting the faith understand ideas that rest
Muslim community and subsequently of their fellow-Muslims for political
suggesting their vulnerability to the use ends, stirring up resentment, constitut-
outside of the prevailing
of violence. ing a problem for Western interests and political assumptions
'friendly' Muslim states alike. This
The Failure to Understand the dichotomy is misleading for several
Relationship Between Islam and reasons…" "…the conception of 'political
Politics Islam' inherent in this
The distinction is born out of an impo-
At the heart of much of the problem sition of a secular framework on Islam. dichotomy is unhistorical as
with the current debate has been how An honest assessment of orthodox well as self-serving... In fact,
Western commentators have chosen to Islamic literature demonstrates this
understand Islam's relationship with distinction is false and that Islam natu-
Islam had been a highly
politics and the role this has played in rally forms the basis of political life as it politicised religion for
subsequently supporting the belief that a does moral and spiritual. Islamic history generations before 1979. It only
threatening radicalising undercurrent is too is dominated by the role of Islam in
alive in the Muslim community. As politics, with the Caliphate - the Islamic appeared to have become
Islam plays a greater role in the politics political system - ending only at the apolitical in the historically
of both the Muslim community in beginning of the twentieth century in
Britain and the wider Muslim world, 1924 after thirteen centuries, dominat- specific and short-lived heyday
Western commentators have chosen to ing some 94 per cent of Islamic history. of secular Arab nationalism
describe this as abnormal and a manipu- Even since its demise, political debates
lation of Islam. in the Muslim world have strongly
between 1945 and 1970"
featured Islam in all but a few decades. (International Crisis Group)
The term 'Islamism' has been used to The ICG's report goes on to describe
encapsulate this view. The Policy how:
Exchange report referred to earlier "the much laboured distinction
describes 'Islam' as "a religion practiced "…the conception of 'political Islam' between 'moderates' and
by Muslims worldwide" but 'Islamism' as inherent in this dichotomy is unhistori-
"a political ideology that aims to create a cal as well as self-serving. The term 'Islamists' ... tends to get
state and society in strict conformity 'political Islam' is an American coinage translated into the distinction
with religious doctrine." A report titled which came into circulation in the wake
'The West, Islam and Islamism' by the of the Iranian revolution. It implied or
between those who are
think-tank Civitas, describes how the presupposed that an 'apolitical Islam' susceptible to co-optation and
Latin suffix 'ism' refers to the politicisa- had been the norm until Khomeini those who take their beliefs in
tion of its prefix, in this case 'Islam'. The turned things upside down. In fact,
term is therefore used to imply that the Islam had been a highly politicised earnest". (International
use of Islam in politics is a 'politicisa- religion for generations before 1979. It Crisis Group)
”

12. 12 - Section 1 - Challenging the Narrative: Radicalisation, Extremism & ‘Islamism’
the trigger has not - as some have alleged - been organisa-
“
only appeared to have become apolitical
in the historically specific and short-
lived heyday of secular Arab national-
tions falsely sensationalising...events, but images of western
ism between 1945 and 1970". interference, injustice and double standards in the Muslim world
and the failure of leaderships in both the West and the Muslim
Labelling Views that Challenge the
Interests of Western Governments,
'Extremist'
Maintaining a false distinction between
world to act against these perceived injustices.
but is essentially academic. It is born out
of a distinction that lacks credibility in
religious identity. In the period that
”
followed, a litany of crises in the Muslim
Islam and Islamic politics has served
political purposes by attempting to the phenomena it is describing. A trend world were marked by the first Gulf War
isolate elements of Muslim society that towards using Islam in politics is consis- in Iraq, the persecution of Muslims in
are assumed to threaten western inter- tent with Islamic orthodoxy and not an Bosnia, Somalia, the impact of sanctions
ests. The ICG report describes how "the aberration. The terms construct false on Iraq, a number of confrontations
concept of 'political Islam' and its defini- milestones on a path to 'radicalisation'. between the West and the Muslim
tion as a problem only occurred when It has acted to inflate the belief that world, to current hostilities in
Islamic politics began to articulate anti- Muslims are becoming more radical. Afghanistan and Iraq following the
Western or, more specifically, anti- onset of the War on Terror. These all
American attitudes" and that "'Islam' The question that needs to be asked is impacted Muslim thinking in Britain,
was only seen to be political when it was whether such terms are appropriate in but how?
seen to be a threat." Likewise, the much describing events and changes taking
laboured distinction between 'moder- place in the Muslim community, or if These events have acted to awaken a
ates' and 'Islamists' that follows from they are tenuous extrapolations that consciousness in the Muslim commu-
this distinction "usually boils down to loosely use events to conjure up a false nity, triggering concerns about Muslims
distinguishing between those with picture of the processes at work. These from either their countries of origin or
whom Western governments feel they terms are sufficiently vague and are those to whom they have a sense of reli-
can 'do business' (the moderates) and liable to expand in their meaning to gious affiliation. However, the trigger
those with whom they cannot or will provide false evidence that orthodox has not - as some have alleged - been
not. This tends to get translated into the Islamic changes in the Muslim commu- organisations falsely sensationalising
distinction between those who are nity represent threatening undercur- these events, but images of western
susceptible to co-optation and those rents. It is important to pierce through interference, injustice and double stan-
who take their beliefs in earnest". the terms to understand the underlying dards in the Muslim world and the
events, not to understand them through failure of leaderships in both the West
Furthermore, a Gallup poll taken in the prism of the current language. and the Muslim world to act against
November 2006 of nine Muslim coun- these perceived injustices. The prolifera-
tries, featured in John Esposito's book A Brief History of Political Change tion of information through the globali-
referred to earlier, found that the impor- Amongst Britain's Muslims sation of the media has been instrumen-
tance of religion and attendance of reli- tal in bringing these events to the atten-
gious service was near identical between The Muslim community in Britain is tion of both Muslim and non-Muslim
so-called 'moderates' and 'political changing and has been for a while, but audiences and with it alternative and
radicals', if not slightly more so in the when this process started, why and what uncensored news streams that have
case of moderates. it represents is widely contested. challenged state sponsored and tradi-
Importantly, we must ask if it is accurate tional media reporting.
to use 'radicalisation' to describe those
Part II changes. An Awakening Political Consciousness
Politicisation not 'Radicalisation'
For some, the process started during the This heightened sense of concern has
furore that surrounded the publication not determined the nature of the subse-
How Best to Describe Changes in the of the Satanic Verses. The subsequent quent response from the Muslim
Muslim Community? response from Britain's Muslim commu- community. In fact, responses have been
nity and mosque elders, from book in a multitude of different directions not
The insistence of some commentators to burning to large-scale demonstrations, all of which have been religious or
maintain a distinction between Islam demonstrated, it is argued, the first signs Islamic.
and politics has provided false evidence of a mobilised Muslim mass in defence
of Muslims becoming 'radical': as of religion. This mobilisation repre- Overall, it led to an increasingly politi-
Muslims move from benign religious sented a departure from a predominant cally active Muslim community. For
practice to using Islam in their politics, Asian identity with which Muslims had some, it involved involvement with
according to these terms, they move associated during the waves of immigra- more conventional British politics such
from Islam to Islamism. This trend is tion of the 60s/70s, to a religious as with the Labour party, the Left or
described as one towards radicalisation distinction and increasingly assertive organisations fighting for social justice,

13. Section 1 - Challenging the Narrative: Radicalisation, Extremism & ‘Islamism’ - 13
particularly amongst university it is essential that Western commentators and policymakers
educated Muslims. This was not only for
pragmatic reasons but also through
assimilating more generally into the
ideology of these organisations, as it saw
“ revisit their attitude towards Islam and politics.
”
a widening of the campaigns with which practice, affiliation with and member- sic to Islam, honest and forthright
they associated as not restricted to the ship of Islamic organisations, from local engagement becomes a possibility and
Muslim world, taking up causes in Latin mosque associations to global Islamic presents an opportunity for a more
America or the Third World more political parties, to more vocal demands, constructive relationship.
generally. all of which now stand at record levels
amongst second and third generation Taking Account of Globalisation and
Likewise, some assessed the issues as Muslims in the UK. Impact of Western Policies in the
having a particular Muslim bearing. Muslim world
With talk of a green menace replacing On the whole, therefore, the processes
the Soviet threat, a clash of civilisations have responded to a heightened sense of More broadly, a discussion on Muslims
and the depiction of Muslims and Islam political injustice through first 'politici- in the UK should be understood in the
being the common denominator of sation' and subsequent 'Islamicisation' of context of the Muslim world. The
most of the key global crises following the Muslim community. Politicians and changes experienced within the UK
the fall of the Berlin wall, a number of some commentators have instead mirror changes occurring more gener-
Muslims mobilised around defending preferred to use 'radicalisation' to ally in the Muslim world that predated
Muslim interests, Islamic values or describe these changes and trend the Salman Rushdie affair, particularly
responding to injustices specifically towards Islam, in an attempt to malign the move away from secular, nationalis-
perpetrated against Muslims. them at the outset. tic politics to Islamically based political
activity. The advent of globalisation
In the first instance therefore, the Revisiting Thinking on particularly through the movement of
change in the Muslim community was a 'Radicalisation' information and human populations has
growing politicisation, both religious made it less possible to understand
and non-religious. The trend towards greater Islamic politi- trends purely in the boundaries of
cal practice is consistent with Islamic national borders; globalisation has
orthodoxy and a long-standing histori- brought changes occurring in the
responding to or cal Islamic political experience that has Muslim world to the shores of Britain's
“ understanding processes
at work within the Muslim
community in the UK will
lasted centuries. It represents a legiti-
mate non-violent political approach that
may contrast with secular politics, but
cannot be equated with a violent threat
Muslim community and it is unlikely to
be divorceable as the world continues to
shrink. As a result, responding to or
understanding processes at work within
for merely being so. Radicalisation, the Muslim community in the UK will
continue to require a more extremism and other similar terms, continue to require a more astute under-
astute understanding of the amongst them militant, fundamentalist standing of the processes at work within
processes at work within the and fanatic, denigrate Islamic political the Muslim world more generally.
change through mere labelling, but
Muslim world more more importantly fail to explain events To this end, it is naïve to ignore the
generally.
An Islamic Revival
” accurately. This would have only been of
academic interest if it hadn't resulted in
the growing polarisation between
communities in Britain through prolif-
impact of Britain's engagement in the
Muslim world on attitudes of Muslims
in this country, information about
which can no longer be tightly
erating ignorance about Islam and the controlled given the rise of alternative
Over time, this politicisation has moved Muslim community. international news agencies, such as
to take on a more Islamic form and those which broadcast from the Muslim
represents what one may describe as a In taking this debate forward, it is world, or the huge networks of informa-
subsequent 'Islamicisation' of Muslim essential that Western commentators tion made possible through the internet.
politics. Flirtations with various political and policymakers revisit their attitude
experiments, movements and associa- towards Islam and politics. If they It is important to note also that Western
tions has changed over time either continue to insist they are separate and policies in the Muslim world have had a
because of a failure of these movements structure policies on this assumption, similar impact in terms of politicisation
to respond adequately to the perceived they will simply encourage what will be on many non-Muslims in the Arab
problems or because the sense of the perceived as more extreme measures world. We highlight later in the report
problem as having a particular Muslim towards the Muslim community because how polls conducted of non-Muslim
or Islamic bearing has developed. This Muslims simply consider themselves opinion in the Muslim world also show
increasing 'Islamicisation' of Muslim moving to a more orthodox not extreme heightened politicisation and opposition
politics or Islamic political practice can form of Islam. If on the other hand they to Western policies in the Muslim
be perceived through levels of religious acknowledge this relationship is intrin- world.

14. 14 - Section 2 - 'Unspinning' the Accusations of Violence against Islam
Section 2
'Unspinning' the Accusations of
Violence against Islam
As discussed in the previous section, argument is extended to include the political violence demonstrates that it is
some commentators have asserted that possibility of violence. cross-cultural, cross religion and
the trend towards greater Islamic ideology and is driven by a number of
practice combined with political In this section, we argue that: factors often born out of a sense of
concerns over events in the Muslim political injustice, occupation or
world has made the Muslim community • The trend towards greater Islamic invasion. An academic study by
more vulnerable to the use of violence political practice, far from being a Professor Robert Pape, an Associate
to counteract perceived injustices. precursor for violence, often provides Professor at Chicago University,
people with an alternative. published in his book 'Dying to Win:
The Policy Exchange report describes The Logic of Suicide Terrorism',
how "Islamism is not only a security • Politically motivated violence is a demonstrates that the advent of suicide
problem…" implying that it is at least wider issue most often occurring as a bombers is not unique to Muslims but
that. Tony Blair's recent announcement response to political oppression and is rather a generic cross-human
to make Islamic studies 'strategically injustice rather than because of phenomena driven by a number of
important' to the British national ideology or theology. Hence, the asso- political factors rather than theological
interest, arguing it will help prevent ciation of Islam with political violence beliefs.
'violent' extremism, demonstrates that is misleading.
the study of Islam by the Muslim The study included the first complete
community is thought to be associated • There is little support for violence as a database of every suicide attack around
with an increased threat from violence. means of change as demonstrated by the world from 1980 to early 2004 and
As a result, the logic requires this recent polls of Muslim opinion, which conducted in native-language sources -
Islamicisation of Muslim politics to be also show increasingly levels of Arabic, Hebrew, Russian, and Tamil, and
treated with suspicion and, at some support for Islamic politics. others - that allowed it to gather infor-
level, stymied and prevented from mation not only from newspapers, but
growing in influence. • It is important to separate goals from also from products of the perpetrating
means so as to not to link widely held organisations . The study found that:
It is important to reiterate that while in legitimate political ideas with
a secular framework politicisation may violence. • The world leader in suicide attacks
be supported, a growing awareness of was the Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka - a
Islam and its use in politics is seen by Marxist, secular group.
some to stand at odds with secular, irre- Part I
ligious politics. In this sense the trend is Decoupling Political Violence from Islam • Two thirds of Muslim 'suicide
unconventional and outside the prevail- bombers' have been from countries
ing political culture in the West which where US forces have or are still
has led some to describe it with terms Violence is Driven by Political not maintaining military forces.
that undermine their credibility. The Theological Factors
terms 'radical' and 'extremist' misrepre- • The presence of US forces is creating
sent the changes in the Muslim commu- Violence cannot be treated as an exten- suicide attackers in Iraq which was a
nity, and misrepresent the phenomena sion of the trend towards greater country that had never previously
of Islamicisation, but have a powerful Islamic political practice within the had a suicide attack in its history
impact in the manner in which the Muslim community. The history of prior to the 2003 invasion.

15. Section 2 - 'Unspinning' the Accusations of Violence against Islam - 15
Political injustice provides oxygen for ing the sense of political injustice and in do not advocate violence and have
the proponents of such attacks to justify driving individuals to undertake acts of refused to endorse the attacks on civil-
such actions. It is therefore crucial that political violence against those they ians in Western capitals.
acts of political violence are analysed as perceive as aggressors, whether the
a separate phenomena based upon the rhetoric of legitimisation is religious or Regarding the use of violence more
individuals who choose to engage in otherwise, following the conclusions of generally, the ICG report on Islamism
them, their justifications and the role that Professor Pape's study. This is particu- makes a clear distinction between
local and foreign political injustice has in larly important given the Muslim world Islamic political activity and violence.
providing oxygen to justify such acts. is a region already at the mercy of The report concludes that while hostility
despotic rulers and tyrants. Rather than to Western policy is widespread this
Foreign Policy and Political Injustice blame a whole community or its does not necessarily translate into
leanings towards Islamic politics gener- support for violence:
Regarding the July 2005 bombings in ally, it is important to understand the
London, as is now common knowledge, political nature of the factors that drive "Suspicion of, if not opposition to, the
the British government was forewarned such acts as opposed to solely attribut- behaviour of al-Qaeda and its imitators
that its involvement in the catastrophic ing them to Islamic theology or ideas, is widespread within Islamist circles and
US invasion of Iraq had increased which does not take account of the all but unanimous among political
Britain's vulnerability to the threat of a history of political violence across Islamists…at the same time, hostility to
retaliation attack. The leaked report cultures, religions and ideologies. Western and especially U.S. policy is
from the UK's Joint Terrorism Analysis very widespread but does not translate
Centre (JTAC), which predated the into support for, let alone participation
attacks, warned: Islamic Politics is an Alternative to in, al-Qaeda's global jihad except for a
Violence as a Means of Change tiny minority."
"Events in Iraq are continuing to act as
motivation and a focus of a range of The phenomenon of Muslims using
terrorist related activity in the UK". violence on Western soil is a relatively Islamic Political Activism is an
recent phenomenon and brought to the Alternative to Violent Expression
In April 2005, a report drawn up by the fore by 9/11. Non-violent calls for a
Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) political vision of a Muslim world Islamic political organisations have
entitled "International Terrorism: governed by an Islamic political system played an influential role in directing
Impact of Iraq" was even more explicit, - or Caliphate - have been heard ever Muslim concerns towards non-violent
stating: since the Caliphate was formally abol- political activity. Some organisations
ished at the beginning of the twentieth have chosen the democratic process,
"We judge that the conflict in Iraq has century. These calls and this vision while others have advocated non-violent
exacerbated the threat from interna- therefore predate this modern phenom- political expression outside of existing
tional terrorism and will continue to enon by more than fifty years. Talk of political structures.
have an impact in the long term. It has establishing an Islamic political system
reinforced the determination of terror- has continued to feature across the For example, Hizb ut-Tahrir has been at
ists who were already committed to spectrum of political debate in the the forefront of working for a Caliphate
attacking the West and motivated others Muslim world even after its demise. in the Muslim world since 1953 through
who were not." urging Muslims to engage in a non-
For numerous organisations, the goal of violent political struggle against the
Amongst numerous other voices, a returning Islam to state and society rulers of the Muslim world. Its literature
report in July 2005 by the foreign affairs features at the root of their political and behaviour prepare its members only
think-tank Chatham House, also effec- activity. The means they employ differ, with the political means for change. In
tively expressed the view that the as does their vision of the Islamic politi- fact, globally, it remains a fact that large
invasion of Iraq had made the world a cal system's exact workings. Some opt numbers of people who joined Hizb ut-
more dangerous place. In their view, for a gradual reform of the political Tahrir left armed militancy after being
there was "no doubt" that the invasion system using existing structures and convinced of Hizb ut-Tahrir's political
of Iraq had: "given a boost to the al- mechanisms. Others encourage individ- methodology on the basis of Islamic
Qaida network" in "propaganda, recruit- ual reform, whilst others, like the evidences. In Uzbekistan, for example,
ment and fundraising". Also that "riding Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, a
pillion with a powerful ally has proved opt to operate through a different model group that has advocated armed struggle,
costly in terms of British and US of political activity. Most such organisa- witnessed a large turnover from its ranks
military lives, Iraqi lives, military expen- tions are non-violent, have not endorsed to Hizb ut-Tahrir. The commitment of
diture and the damage caused to the attacks such as those in New York or Hizb ut-Tahrir not to be involved in any
counter-terrorism campaign." London, and do not advocate violence violent activity is based on its faith and
as a methodology for change. Indeed, understanding of the revelation of God,
It is essential to understand and amongst those Islamic organisations which makes its involvement in any
acknowledge therefore the role that that seek to establish a Shariah-based terrorist or violent activity impossible,
foreign policy has played in exacerbat- government the overwhelming majority either in theory and practice. No person

16. 16 - Section 2 - 'Unspinning' the Accusations of Violence against Islam
“
Rather than blame a can join Hizb ut-Tahrir until he or she Islam in their countries - consistent
adopts this political and intellectual with the goals of al Qaeda - but also
whole community or its methodology and approach. express an openness to outside
leanings towards Islamic cultural influences. Large majorities in
politics generally, it is most countries support the goals of
Part II requiring a strict application of sharia,
important to understand the Poll Evidence Refutes the Alleged Link keeping out Western values, and even
political nature of the factors between Islam's Political Tenets and unifying all Islamic countries into a
Violence as a Means of Change single Islamic state."
that drive such acts as opposed
to solely attributing them to • "On the other hand, majorities in all
The findings of a number of recent polls countries regard the increasing inter-
Islamic theology or ideas, which conducted across the Muslim world connection of the world through trade
does not take account of the refute the assertion that there is a neces- and communication as positive"
history of political violence sary association between Islamic politi-
cal ideas and violence as a means of • "Majorities or pluralities also reject
across cultures, religions change or the argument that Islamic the idea that violent conflict between
and ideologies political ideas inevitably lead to Muslim and Western culture is
violence. The evidence from these polls inevitable and say that it is possible to
shows that whilst support of Islamic find common ground."
The findings of a number of political ideas - including a greater role
recent polls conducted across for Shariah in the governance of their • "Large majorities in all countries
countries - has steadily grown amongst opposes attacks against civilians for
the Muslim world refute the Muslim populations, support for political purposes and see them as
assertion that there is a violence and its use in political change contrary to Islam. Attacks on civilians
has dropped. We are therefore presented are seen as hardly ever effective.
necessary association between with an inverse relationship between Politically motivated attacks against
Islamic political ideas and strengthening Islamic politics and the civilian infrastructure are also rejected
violence as a means of change use of violence, rather than the direct as not justified"
relationship some Western commenta-
or the argument that Islamic tors and politicians propagate. • "Consistent with the opposition to
political ideas inevitably lead attacks on civilians in principle, and in
Of these polls, we will consider the contrast to the significant support for
to violence findings of three of the most compre- attacks on US troops, majorities in all
hensively conducted surveys carried out countries disapprove of attacks on
“Large majorities in most by leading pollsters. civilians in the United States as well as
civilians in Europe. Nearly as many
countries support the goals of Program on International Policy disapprove of attacks on Americans
requiring a strict application of Attitudes (PIPA), University of working for US companies in Islamic
Maryland, April 2007 countries."
sharia, keeping out Western
values, and even unifying all The recently issued report by the Centre for Strategic Studies, University
Islamic countries into a single University of Maryland entitled 'Muslim of Jordan, February 2005
Public Opinion on US Policy, Attacks on
Islamic state” Civilians and al Qaeda' is one of the The Centre for Strategic Studies (CSS) at
(PIPA, University of Maryland, April 2007) most recent and revealing polls of the University of Jordan published a
opinion in the Muslim world. The survey entitled "Revisiting the Arab
report found strong support for estab- Street" in February 2005 in which they
The vast majority of lishing a single Islamic state, keeping out interviewed numerous population
respondents across Egypt, Western values, rejection of the notion samples (national representative sample,
of inevitable violence between the university students, media elites and
Jordan, Palestine, Syria and Muslim world and the West, and the business elites) in Egypt, Jordan, Syria,
Lebanon believed that Shariah rejection of attacks on civilians in the Palestine and Lebanon. The report was
West or elsewhere. based on interviews conducted between
should be a source of March and June of 2004.
legislation, with a strong Some of the report's key references
majority in many of the which illustrate these points are In addition to findings that showed
summarised below: support for a greater role of the Shariah
countries stating that it
”
and Islamic scholars in the politics and
should be the only source • "Most respondents express strong governance of their countries, the
support for expanding the role of findings also suggested that hostility

17. Section 2 - 'Unspinning' the Accusations of Violence against Islam - 17
towards the West was largely down to PEW Global Attitudes Project “Pew surveys found
political reasons, such as the foreign
policy of the US and Britain towards the
Muslim world, rather than religious or
theological arguments. Some of the
report's findings were:
A number of Pew Global Attitudes
surveys undertaken over the past few
years also support the findings of the
above mentioned reports with regards to
“ majorities of Muslims in
nine of the 14 countries
surveyed favored a "very large"
the increasing support for the role of or "fairly large" role for Islam in
• The vast majority of respondents Islam in politics and governance and a political life. In Pakistan, 86%
across Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Syria strong decline in support for violence.
and Lebanon believed that Shariah of Muslim respondents
should be a source of legislation, with A Pew Global Attitudes Survey carried expressed that view, as did
a strong majority in many of the out in February 2005 entitled ‘Iraqi Vote
countries stating that it should be the Mirrors Desire for Democracy in the large majorities of Muslims in
only source. Muslim World’ states: Indonesia (82%) and Jordan
• Strong adherence to the precepts of • "…while Muslims are generally recep- (73%). In Turkey, however, far
Islam was not found to necessarily tive to democracy and supportive of fewer Muslims (41%) think that
equate with hostility or negativity basic freedoms, they also believe that
toward the West. The tension between Islam should have a prominent role in
Islam should play a major role
the Arab world and the West is not politics. Pew surveys found majorities in the nation's political life”
perceived in either religious or of Muslims in nine of the 14 countries
(PEW Global Attitudes Project, 2005)
cultural terms. surveyed favored a "very large" or
"fairly large" role for Islam in political
• Arabs believe that their societal values life. In Pakistan, 86% of Muslim The Centre for Strategic
stand in sharp contrast to the West. respondents expressed that view, as
They associate Western societies with did large majorities of Muslims in Studies...found that of those
liberalism, individual liberty, democ- Indonesia (82%) and Jordan (73%). polled, most disagreed with the
racy and technological progress, but In Turkey, however, far fewer Muslims
also with increased levels of societal (41%) think that Islam should play a US definition of terrorism and
problems. In contrast, they see their major role in the nation's political saw violence and the groups
societies as maintaining stronger life."
values of tradition and family, and as
that engage in it as legitimate
being less plagued with social • "Other surveys have shown that if they were part of a strategy
problems. The exception to this is that Muslims take a nuanced view of
Arabs believe financial and adminis- religion and politics. Shibley Telhami,
to counter the perceived
trative corruption is more prevalent in a professor at the University of occupation policies of the US
Arab societies than in the West. Maryland, polled in six predomi- and Israel… Even 74 per cent
nantly Muslim countries last June -
• Arab reactions to Western, and most including Egypt and Saudi Arabia - of Lebanese Christians viewed
specifically US, foreign policy in the and found that while most respon- Hezbollah as a resistance
region were identified as being the dents favored a stronger role for the
single most important factor influenc-
ing Arab attitudes. When asked if the
anti-American attitude was a result of
American values or American policy
in the Muslim world, 90 per cent of
clergy in politics, few expressed admi-
ration for religious leaders."
It is important to highlight here that
Pew have evaluated a desire for democ-
organisation
”
Egyptians, 79 per cent or Moroccans, racy by assessing support for ideals such
76 per cent of Jordanians and 80 per as allowing open criticism of govern-
cent of Lebanese said that it was ment, greater participation in the politi-
because of American policy. Most cal process and media reporting without
believed that America and Britain were censorship. These all relate to empower-
selfish and insincere in their foreign ing the citizenry with greater powers of
policy and that America attempts to accountability notably absent in the
dominate countries, violates human Muslim world, but such rights are not
rights and rather than approach coun- exclusive to democracy. Within Islamic
tries with dignity and respect tries to literature there are detailed discussions
impose its policies on other countries. on the mechanisms for political partici-
As the survey cites, these findings pation and accountability
were not specific to the Arab world
but were similar to findings in South A Pew Global Attitudes Survey
Korea, Russia and Brazil. published in July 2005 entitled ‘Islamic

18. 18 - Section 2 - 'Unspinning' the Accusations of Violence against Islam
Pew have evaluated a desire for democracy by assessing
“
remains elusive. Britain and the US have
taken advantage of this ambiguity to
support for ideals such as allowing open criticism of brand resistance to their military occu-
government, greater participation in the political process and media pation by indigenous populations in
Iraq and Afghanistan as terrorism, even
reporting without censorship...such rights are not exclusive to though the right to resist foreign
democracy. Within Islamic literature there are detailed discussions military occupation has broad support,
historical precedent and is part of the
”
on the mechanisms for political participation and accountability Geneva Convention (Protocol 1,
Additional to the Geneva Conventions,
1977, Part IV, Section 1, Chapter 1,
Extremism: Common Concern for modern society. But Muslims gener- Article 49, Point 4).
Muslim and Western Publics’ states: ally disagree - including Muslims who
live in major European countries." Attitudes Towards Violence Directed
• "The balance of opinion in predomi- at Civilians: Comparing the US with
nantly Muslim countries is that Islam • "In a similar vein, the Pew Global Iran
is playing a greater role in politics - Attitudes survey asked people in five
and most welcome that development. predominantly Muslim countries The Muslim world finds itself having to
Turkey is a clear exception; the public whether or not they believe there is a repeatedly clarify its position on
there is divided about whether a struggle between groups who want to violence because of the climate created
greater role for Islam in the political modernize their country and Islamic by the War on Terror, whilst non-
life of that country is desirable." fundamentalists. The responses are Muslim societies are spared such
mixed. In Turkey, 58% say there is a scrutiny. A recent poll, however,
• "The importance of Islam in the polit- struggle between modernizers and compares American and Iranian public
ical life of many countries where it is Islamic fundamentalists, and nearly as opinion regarding attacks on civilians
the predominant religion is under- many Indonesians (50%) agree. But and demonstrates how the obsession
scored by the large percentages in solid majorities in Jordan and Egypt with Muslim opinion has allowed
these countries saying that they think see no such struggle; in Pakistan, a dangerous attitudes in Western societies
of themselves first as a Muslim, rather relatively large number (50%) to go overlooked.
than as a citizen of their particular declined to offer an opinion."
country." The poll, published in January 2007 by
Attitudes Towards Terrorism and the Program on International Policy
• "Large majorities of Muslims in most Legitimate Resistance Attitudes (PIPA) of the University of
predominantly Muslim countries Maryland, compares attitudes among
surveyed think that it is very impor- The Centre for Strategic Studies poll Iranians and Americans on a host of
tant that Islam play a more important cited earlier found that of those polled, political issues. Participants in both
and influential role in the world than most disagreed with the US definition of countries were asked whether bombing
that religion now does. In Morocco, terrorism and saw violence and the and other attacks intentionally aimed at
84% of Muslims subscribe to this groups that engage in it as legitimate if civilians was often, sometimes, rarely or
view, as do 73% in Jordan, 70% in they were part of a strategy to counter never justified.
Pakistan and 64% in Indonesia. Even the perceived occupation policies of the
in Lebanon and Turkey, where fewer US and Israel. Actions against these In response 80 per cent of the Iranian
among the Muslim population place nations are largely seen as legitimate participants said that violence targeting
high importance on a larger global resistance and acts committed by Israel civilians is never justified, while only 46
role for Islam, pluralities in both and America are viewed as true acts of per cent of American expressed similar
countries do so." terrorism. Most considered attacks opposition to such attacks. 11 per cent
against US troops in Iraq or against of Iranians supported violent, deliberate
A Pew Global Attitudes Survey Israeli settlements as not being terrorist attacks on civilians, with 3 per cent
published in June 2006 entitled ‘The acts. Most viewed organisations like saying that such violence is often justi-
Great Divide: How Westerners and Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah as fied and 8 per cent arguing that it is
Muslims View Each Other’ highlights legitimate resistance organisations. Even sometimes justified. In sharp contrast,
that the supposed conflict between 74 per cent of Lebanese Christians twenty four per cent of American
modernisers and fundamentalists the viewed Hezbollah as a resistance organi- participants supported violent, deliber-
west eagerly promote, is a narrative that sation. ate attacks on civilians, with 5 per cent
has very low traction in the Muslim saying deliberate attacks on civilians
world. The report states: The War on Terror has manipulated the were often justified and 19 per cent said
fact that there is no consensus on the they were sometimes justified. The poll
• "In most Western countries, the definition of terrorism. The issue has appears to suggest that there is a much
prevailing view among non-Muslims been debated nationally and interna- greater willingness among Americans to
is that there is a conflict between tionally, including attempts at the countenance the use of violence against
being a devout Muslim and living in a United Nations, but an agreed definition civilians to achieve political goals.

19. Section 2 - 'Unspinning' the Accusations of Violence against Islam - 19
Whether it is the bombing and subse- some of the most celebrated historical
quent occupation of Iraq in 2003, or the events in the West should be recast as More acutely, if the
years of sanctions that preceded it,
Americans seem to have become accus-
tomed to their government employing
extreme violence in the name of lofty
political goals, and may partly
contribute to explaining these statistics.
triumphs for political violence. The
founding pillars of the 'enlightenment'
should be held responsible for motivat-
ing violent upheaval on the continent of
Europe and North America and thus
should remain under the shadow of -
“ juxtaposition of means
and goals promoted by the likes
of Blair is credible, the ideas of
the enlightenment must be
and scarred by - the means of terror.
deemed inherently violent, for
Part III More acutely, if the juxtaposition of they represented the ideals of
Ends Do not Justify Means, but Means means and goals promoted by the likes the violent and bloody struggles
do not Invalidate Ends of Blair is credible, the ideas of the
enlightenment must be deemed inher- that were the French and
It is important to separate goals from
means so as to not to tarnish legitimate
political grievances and goals with
violence. The polls referred to previ-
ously reflect the fact that whilst Muslims
ently violent, for they represented the
ideals of the violent and bloody strug-
gles that were the French and American
revolutions.
John Locke, one of the most prominent
American revolutions
B) National Liberation Struggles
”
Equally, national liberation struggles
may share concerns about political figures in the Enlightenment, advanced that used violence as a means should
injustices, occupation and invasion of the case that a violent uprising against render the goal of independence from
the Muslim world, they have on the tyranny was necessary and just, only to foreign control violent and immoral.
whole rejected the use of violence as a correct the imbalance in natural affairs However this is a far cry from the
means to achieve their political goals. created by that oppression. As he glowing endorsements they selectively
explained in ‘Two Treatises of received from Western powers. On the
Despite this, some Western commenta- Government’, by indulging in tyranny, Afghan effort to force out the Soviets,
tors and politicians have continued to despots were "liable to be destroyed by former US President Ronald Reagan
insist that the goals of Islamic politics the injured person and the rest of commented,
are inherently linked to violence. In the mankind, that will join with him in the
aftermath of 7/7 Tony Blair sought to execution of Justice, as any other wild "Self-determination, the right to freely
discredit Islamic political goals as a beast, or noxious brute with whom choose one's own destiny, has been the
natural extension of terror itself - refer- Mankind can have neither society nor central point of the Afghan struggle…
ring to their "inherent" violence - and security". We are proud to have supported their
attempted to intimately connect the brave struggle to regain their freedom,
violence of 7/7 with a set of political Thomas Paine, the thinker whose and our support for this noble cause will
goals that demanded a Middle East free writings assisted America's struggle for continue as long as it is needed".
from Western occupation, the formation independence, articulated the case for
of a Shariah-based political system - the an American revolution in his highly The struggle of the ANC against
Caliphate - and an end to the occupation influential pamphlet ‘Common Sense’ apartheid represented a noble cause.
of Palestine. Zeyno Baran, of the Hudson in a similar vein. "We view our enemies However, Nelson Mandela admitted in
Institute, first suggested that the Islamic in the characters of Highwaymen and 1963 that "without violence there would
political party Hizb ut-Tahrir was a Housebreakers, and having no defence be no way open to the African people to
'conveyor belt' to terrorism, but since for ourselves in the civil law; are succeed in their struggle" although he
then the argument has been used more obliged to punish them by the military "planned it as a result of a calm and
generally to tarnish those who engage one, and apply the sword, in the very sober assessment of the political situa-
with Islamic political parties or politics. case, where you have before now, tion". None of this rendered the fight
applied the halter". against racism in South Africa wrong
Applying the Arguments used Against and Mandela eventually left prison,
Islamic Politics to the West's Own Thomas Jefferson also acknowledged rebranded as a freedom fighter, to take
Historical Experience that violence would feature in the path his place on the stage of international
to America's independence, his words politics.
A) The Enlightenment suggesting that although 'unfortunate'
the focus should be on the bigger C) Contemporary Social and Political
For those who insist on a supposed link picture: "It is unfortunate that the efforts Situations
between means and goals, despite all the of mankind to recover the freedom of
evidence to the contrary, it is necessary which they have been so long deprived, The use of violence to achieve a political
to pose a broader question. Is it sound will be accompanied with violence, with end is still a point of debate in Western
to discredit a set of political goals errors, and even with crimes. But while circles. Opinions range from those who
because of the means employed by some we weep over the means, we must pray believe it is never justified to those who
to achieve them? If this logic held true, for the end." believe that some situations necessitate

20. 20 - Section 2 - 'Unspinning' the Accusations of Violence against Islam
the goals of Islamic politics, particularly the demand for a Caliphate cannot be summarily
“ dismissed by claiming that acts of violence are the sole means of achieving it. The Caliphate,
for example, has a long track record of ruling quite diverse communities, ethnicities, regions and
religions with success, bringing stability to previously war-ravaged territories, engaging
populations and earning strong loyalties from the communities and religions it governed
it. Gary Younge, a columnist for the
Guardian, wrote regarding the rioting in
Islamic Political Goals Cannot be
Discredited Through False
”
Paine goes on further to suggest "we
have it in our power to begin the world
Parisian suburbs last year that "in Associations over again. We are not insulting the
certain conditions rioting is not just world with our fleets and armies, nor
justified but may also be necessary, and The purpose here is not to justify the ravaging the globe for plunder. Beneath
effective" because "when all non-violent, use of violence as a tool for political the shade of our own vines are we
democratic means of achieving a just change. Rather, it is to demonstrate that attacked; in our own houses, and on our
end are unavailable, redundant or the goals of Islamic politics, particularly own lands, is the violence committed
exhausted, rioting is justifiable". Thomas the demand for a Caliphate cannot be against us."
Paine's view that "having no defence for summarily dismissed by claiming that
ourselves in the civil law; are obliged to acts of violence are the sole means of Though Paine was referring to the
punish them by the military one" also achieving it. The Caliphate, for example, suffering of Americans under British
moves to justify the use of violence has a long track record of ruling quite colonialism, Muslims in Fallujah,
when no alternative is available. diverse communities, ethnicities, Baghdad, Najaf, Ramallah or Gaza could
regions and religions with success, think that he was writing about them.
The Oxford academic Timothy Garton- bringing stability to previously war- Had the conveyor belt existed at that
Ash argues that, "We may want to ravaged territories, engaging popula- time then no doubt international
uphold the universal principle 'no tions and earning strong loyalties from experts and law-enforcement agencies
violence', but we all know that these are, the communities and religions it would have labelled his theories as such.
in political fact and in moral content, governed.
very different things, and some violent
political actions are - shall we say - less Historic Parallels: Demonising
unjustified than others". Other varia- Political Objectives and Ideas
tions debate whether the maxim 'the
end justifies the means' can pragmati- It has long been the case that the
cally justify the use of political violence dissemination of any ideas of political
to overcome an obstacle that obstructs change can be tarnished with the same
critical human progress, as Jefferson's brush, whether or not their advocates
earlier remarks on the American revolu- employ violence. Many political move-
tion may lead one to conclude. ments of the twentieth century and
many going even further back were
accused of being a conveyor belt
“
Though Paine was towards terrorism just by disseminating
ideas that conflicted with the status quo.
referring to the
suffering of Americans under The American Independence struggle
British colonialism, Muslims in itself was characterised in this way.
Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Common
Fallujah, Baghdad, Najaf, Sense', published in January 1776, was
Ramallah or Gaza could think labelled seditious. The British govern-
ment viewed Paine as a traitor for the
that he was writing about them. crime of calling for a declaration of
Had the conveyor belt existed at independence based, not upon the privi-
leges of land or birth, but upon
that time then no doubt thoughts:
international experts and law-
enforcement agencies would "Can we but leave posterity with a
settled form of government, an inde-
have labelled his pendent constitution of its own; the
theories as such
” purchase at any price will be cheap."

21. Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence - 21
Section 3
The Caliphate, Islamic
Governance & the Myth of Violence
Many commentators on the War on tive US think-tank the Heritage how the Caliphate will be a stabilising
Terror have failed to notice statements Foundation saying: force for the Muslim world.
by senior politicians that effectively
declare that a Caliphate and Shariah law "What drives these people on is ideas.
in the Muslim world are unacceptable And, unlike the liberation movements Part I
objectives. On September 5th, 2006 of the post-World War II era, these are Maligning a Popular & Orthodox Call
President George W. Bush said, when not political ideas like national inde-
referring to people that share the pendence from colonial rule, or
ideology of al-Qaida: equality for all citizens without regard The propaganda of the War on Terror
for race or creed, or freedom of expres- has taken a political vision that centred
"They hope to establish a violent politi- sion without totalitarian repression. on the formation of a new Caliphate and
cal utopia across the Middle East, which Such ambitions are, at least in principle, attempted to scar it with the horrors of
they call caliphate, where all would be negotiable and in many cases have terrorism. The construct has sought to
ruled according to their hateful actually been negotiated. However, construe the Caliphate as some violent
ideology". there can be no negotiation about the throwback that would usher in a new
re-creation of the Caliphate; there can dark age, characterised by sectarian
President Bush's comments were be no negotiation about the imposition conflict, persecuted minorities and fear
preceded by Tony Blair in the immedi- of Sharia law". because, the argument is, these are the
ate aftermath of the attacks in London hallmarks of the terrorists' campaign to
on 7/7. At a press conference on 16th Such pronouncements have attempted create it. Blair's post 7/7 thrust aimed to
July 2005, he said that Britain must to discredit one of the central goals of weld terrorism onto the goal for a
confront "an evil ideology", defining this current Islamic political activity in the Shariah-based political system, a
as "their barbaric ideas." which Muslim world: the establishment of an construct that the US administration
included, "the establishment of effec- independent Islamic political system in was equally eager to brandish: President
tively Taliban States and Shari'ah law in the Muslim world, or Caliphate. Just as Bush also referred to confronting a
the Arab world en route to one with Islamic politics more generally, a "violent political vision" which repre-
Caliphate of all Muslim nations." Tony host of arguments have been forwarded sented "the establishment by terrorism,
Blair sought to shift the focus away from to suggest that the Caliphate would be subversion and insurgency of a totalitar-
the terrorists' methods to bring into an unwelcome prospect and that its ian empire that denies all political and
focus the need to challenge a set of emergence should be opposed. Included religious freedom". The attempt has
political goals that centred on the in this are attempts to link its reality been to cast the Caliphate as an al-
formation of a new Caliphate in the with violence as some of the above state- Qaida preserve giving its mere mention
Muslim world, saying this was “a battle ments attempt to do. an "almost instinctive fearful impact" in
not just about the terrorist methods but the words of Zbigniew Brzezinski,
their views" In this section, we address failures in the President Jimmy Carter's national
Western discourse of the Caliphate, the security adviser.
In October 2005, the then British Home role of the Caliphate in Islamic ortho-
Secretary, Charles Clarke, made a doxy, the Caliphate as a distinct and Remarks from senior US and British
speech to the right wing neo-conserva- alternative political system, and discuss officials demonstrate the Caliphate is

22. 22 - Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence
also finding its way into the language of Reframing a Discussion on the
“
the Islamic political system
the Iraq conflict. American officials have Caliphate
has its own independent referred to it as part of a pretext for
configuration and a distinct continuing US involvement in Iraq. For A discussion on the Caliphate must lie
Eric Edelman, US Under Secretary of in a broader context: there is a need for
constellation of political Defence for Policy, "Iraq's future will alternatives to the failing political lead-
principles and ideas either embolden terrorists and expand erships in the Muslim world. Autocratic,
their reach and ability to re-establish a authoritarian regimes litter the Muslim
Caliphate, or it will deal them a crip- world and represent the single biggest
"The Imams (scholars of the pling blow. For us, failure in Iraq is just obstacle to progress. Consent is notori-
not an option". ously absent from the processes that
four schools of thought- Shafi'i,
legitimated presidents, kings and
Hanafi, Maliki, Hanbali)- may Challenging the Campaign to Malign premiers. Staged elections have never
Allah have mercy on them- the Caliphate changed this fact, conducted as they are
in a climate of fear and intimidation
agree that the Imamah Attempting to discredit a political vision preventing public expression of any
(Leadership) is an obligation, for the Muslim world that challenges organised opposition. Ruling elites owe
their own by using the language of their status to acts of foreign installa-
and that the Muslims must terrorism fundamentally misconstrues tion and often represent striking depar-
appoint an Imam who would Islamic politics and acts to malign tures from the demographics of the
anyone associated with it. The strategy lands they govern. Joseph Lieberman,
implement the deen's rites, and appears largely in vain however - an former Vice Presidential candidate for
give the oppressed justice independent Shariah-based system now the US Democrat Party, once described
features in the vision of most of the the Caliphate as a 'new evil empire'. But
against the oppressors" largest and best supported organisations if it is of an evil empire that we should
(Al-Jaziri) in the Muslim world that are neither fear, then surely the Muslim world’s
violent nor part of al-Qaida, as high- current reality is it: entrenched primi-
lighted earlier in the report. tive and thoroughly repressive political
It can only be a stabilising force structures aggregated to represent one
for the region to replace While recent polls go some way to of the most poorly governed regions in
suggest a depth of feeling for Islam the world.
unrepresentative, playing a greater role in the governance
unaccountable rulers with a of the Muslim world this has not been Successive UN Arab Human
mapped across in the current discussion Development Reports make similar
political system that is neither, in the West about Islam. Unfortunately, observations regarding the failing politi-
and which draws on strong this means discussion on Islam suffers cal architecture in the Arab world, the
from pernicious attempts to frame crisis in governance, authoritarian and
ideological commonalities with Islamic political aspirations in a new totalitarian government, the lack of
its people. The Caliphate light, without a credible political transparency and accountability, repres-
represents an alternative element and inherently linked to sion, corruption, and a broad crisis of
violence. legitimacy that faces Arab govern-
political vision for the Muslim ments. But repressive governments have
world and a political system Efforts to malign the Caliphate must be long characterised the region and
challenged with an understanding of significantly pre-date the report's
that draws on a strong exactly what it would represent. findings.
historical record, arguably the Equating it with, and making it insepa-
rable from, the violence that has struck It is in mapping a way out of this
home of a leading civilisation certain Western capitals is a false associ- malaise that the Caliphate is presented
”
for many centuries ation that lacks historical, political and as an alternative political model for the
intellectual credibility particularly in the Muslim world. For the authors of the
Muslim world. It can only be a stabilis- AHDR, the template is a Western model,
ing force for the region to replace unrep- democracy, liberty, and the institutions
resentative, unaccountable rulers with a and assumptions that underpin the
political system that is neither, and Western liberal political philosophy are
which draws on strong ideological its benchmarks for reforming Arab
commonalities with its people. The governments. To address the plight of
Caliphate represents an alternative polit- Muslims living under repressive regimes,
ical vision for the Muslim world and a however, the emergence of a Caliphate is
political system that draws on a strong forwarded as an alternative to a cultur-
historical record, arguably the home of a ally adjusted secular liberal democratic
leading civilisation for many centuries. solution.

23. Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence - 23
even a cursory look at the position of classical Islamic However, even a cursory look at the
“ Scholars throughout the ages demonstrates that the Islamic
political system has always been regarded as a vital matter for the
Muslim community (Ummah) and its existence to be protected,
position of classical Islamic Scholars
throughout the ages demonstrates that
the Islamic political system has always
been regarded as a vital matter for the
Muslim community (Ummah) and its
”
even a pre-requisite for enacting numerous Islamic rulings existence to be protected, even a pre-
requisite for enacting numerous Islamic
rulings.
Failings in the Current Discourse on original configurations of both. In this
the Caliphate case, it merely highlights the lack of According to the Mufassir (exegete) Al-
liberal ideas in Islamic politics - which Qurtubi, when referring to verse 30
The current consideration of the says no more than that they are different Chapter 2 of the Quran, "This Ayah
Caliphate as an alternative political - but does not question whether liberal- (verse) is a source in the selection of an
model to Western liberalism, however, ism should be taken as the norm; the Imaam, and a Khaleef (Caliph), he is
suffers in too many ways, and is approach is relative and offers no listened to and he is obeyed, for the
compounded by errors in Western universal merit to the discourse. word is united through him, and the
discourse on Islam in general and Measuring through a filtered prism Ahkam (laws) of the Caliph are imple-
Islamic political thinking in particular. obscures an objective picture of the mented through him, and there is no
'Orientalist' writers who draw on sociol- Islamic political system and miscon- difference regarding the obligation of
ogist Max Weber's reading of Islam, for strues a thoroughly distinct assemblage that between the Ummah, nor between
example, regard it as a pre-modern of political ideas. The Islamic political the Imams except what is narrated
political system that collapsed because system must be understood according to about al-Asam, the Mu'tazzili." He also
of the challenges of modernity. They its original texts and meanings, not in said: "The Khilafah (Caliphate) is the
consider it a closed system, total in relation to the Western state. pillar upon which other pillars rest."
nature; unable to address Europe's inno-
vations in industry and political Increasing demands amongst Muslims For Imam an-Nawawi: "(The scholars)
thought, and that it is the principle populations for the rule of law, transpar- consented that it is an obligation upon
impediment to progress unless Islam is ent, accountable and representative the Muslims to select a Khalif ".
able to reform; a primitive political government, and an independent and According to the Imam al-Ghazali,
system whose literature on government efficient judiciary are often interpreted when writing of the potential conse-
is concerned only with the piety of ruler by Western commentators as a call for quences of losing the Caliphate, "The
and subject. democracy. These provisions are not the judges will be suspended, the Wilayaat
monopoly of liberal political philosophy, (provinces) will be nullified, ... the
Apart from their particular critique of however; the Islamic political system decrees of those in authority will not be
Islam, these - among many other - addresses each of these but through a executed and all the people will be on
Western writings are premised on the model that understands society, the the verge of Haraam (commiting
belief that the liberal political model is individual, the goal of government and unlawful acts)". For the reputed Jurist
built on a series of values deemed the role of the state differently. The on Islamic governance Imam al-
universal, and currently provides the Islamic political system - rather than Mawardi: "The contract of the Imamah
most economically efficient and ethically inherently deficient - is characterised by (leadership) for whoever is standing
desirable form of governance. This its own relationship between ruler and with it, is an obligation by Ijmaa'a
assumption creates the problematic subject, authority and sovereignty, law, (consensus)".
framework in which the Caliphate is property and power.
studied because the approach typically One of the founders of the four major
follows the route of comparison, one that The Caliphate's Position in Orthodox schools of Sunni thought, Imam Ahmed
takes as its norm the Western state and Islam ibn Hanbal, said; "The Fitna (mischief
its form of politics, and measures against and tribulations) occurs when there is
provisions in the liberal political model. Amongst the attempts to malign the no Imaam established over the affairs of
Caliphate have been those which have the people". Al-Jaziri, an expert on the
Where such comparisons fall short is argued the Caliphate is not an instru- Fiqh of the four great schools of
the failure to acknowledge that the mental part of Islam, but rather a histor- thought said regarding the four Imams:
Islamic political system has its own ical institution whose usefulness in the "The Imams (scholars of the four
independent configuration and a twenty-first century has been invented schools of thought- Shafi'i, Hanafi,
distinct constellation of political princi- by the imagination and idealism of Maliki, Hanbali)- may Allah have
ples and ideas. While overlooking this twentieth century political Islamists. mercy on them- agree that the Imamah
distinct and different configuration of Such arguments have attempted to (Leadership) is an obligation, and that
politics, comparisons that impose one foster the belief that the Caliphate is in the Muslims must appoint an Imam
system as the norm act only to highlight fact an aberration of Islam itself and its who would implement the deen's rites,
differences between the two systems call largely a modern phenomena born and give the oppressed justice against
without, importantly, questioning the out of a reaction to colonialism. the oppressors".

24. 24 - Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence
“
“…based on public The subject of the Caliphate has also There was disagreement only as to which
been addressed in numerous, detailed person should assume responsibility for
opinion surveys and works throughout Islamic history and by government and head the state.
recent elections in the Arab some of the most eminent jurists. Government, therefore, was established
Amongst such writings are those that after the Prophet, both in the time of the
world, the advent of democracy detail only aspects, such as Mohammed caliphs and in that of the Commander of
there seems likely to produce al-Shaybani's works on international the Faithful; an apparatus of government
relations (Kitab as-Siyar), Qadi Abu came into existence with administrative
new Islamist governments that Yusuf 's works on taxation (Kitab al- and executive organs."
would be much less willing to Kharaj), and Imaam Abu Ubayd al-
cooperate with the United Qaasim bin Salaam's works on state
funds (al-Amwaal), through to more Part II
States than are the current comprehensive works that address the The Significance of the Caliphate at the
authoritarian rulers” system as a whole, such as Imam Time of its Demise
Mawardi's treatise on Islamic rule (al-
(F. Gregory Gause III, associate professor Ahkam al-Sultaniyyah) and works by
of political science at the University Imam Aamidi (al-Imamah). The twenti- The words of Lord Curzon, the British
eth century's most elaborate works on Foreign Minister at the time of the
of Vermont) the Caliphate are arguably those by Taqi Caliphate's end, appear to have best
ud-Din an-Nabhani (d. 1977), in his caught the Caliphate's significance when
Nidham al-Hukm fil Islam (the Ruling he announced to the House of Commons:
"It is difficult to anticipate the System in Islam) and Shaksiyyah
exact effect the 'abolition' of Islamiyyah volume 2 (the Islamic "We must put an end to anything which
Personality), who also went on to brings about any Islamic unity between
the Caliphate will have on the the sons of the Muslims. As we have
publish a draft constitution for an
minds of the Muslims of India. Islamic state, with detailed explanations already succeeded in finishing off the
But so much I can safely affirm of each article, in his book Nidham al- Caliphate, so we must ensure that there
Islam (the System of Islam) in the 1950s. will never arise again unity for the
- that it will prove a disaster to Muslims, whether it be intellectual or
both Islam and civilisation. The For the Shi'a too, who have broadly been cultural unity"
historically quietist in a political sense
suppression of the time since the onset of the ghaybah (occulta- The fall of the Caliphate in 1924 was an
honoured institution, which was tion of the twelfth Imam), calls for event of monumental significance for
Islamic governance have gained promi- Muslims as it represented the end of a
throughout the Moslem world nence following the decline of Islam in 1350 year-old institution that had
regarded as the symbol of the political sphere. The formulation of existed since the time of the Prophet
the concept 'Wilayat al-Faqih' - the Muhammad himself. Albert Hourani
Islamic Unity, will cause the
governance of the jurist - amongst Shi'a describes how its loss had a "deep effect
disintegration of Islam as a scholars is now extensively taught in the on the way in which politically
moral force. It had knit together schools of Qom, in Iran. In the words of conscious Arabs thought of themselves".
one Shi'a marjah, "The ratio of Qur'anic In the immediate aftermath, individuals
over 250 million of the verses concerned with the affairs of and movements from all quarters of the
followers of the faith belonging society to those concerned with ritual Islamic political spectrum emerged,
worship is greater than a hundred to one. advocating the restoration of some form
to the Sunni communion by one Of the approximately fifty sections of the of Shariah-based political system.
common ideal." corpus of had?th containing all the ordi- Demands were not restricted to Turkey,
nances of Islam, not more than three or though it was the last home of the
(Syed Ameer Ali, Aligarh Muslim
four sections relate to matters of ritual Caliphate and then subject to harsh,
University and Muslim League, Times worship and the duties of man toward anti-religious Kemalist policies.
his Creator and Sustainer. A few more
newspaper, 5th March 1924)
are concerned with questions of ethics, In Egypt, even prominent reformists led
”
and all the rest are concerned with social, calls for its immediate re-establishment.
economic, legal, and political questions- For example, in the magazine 'al-Manar'
in short, the gestation of society". Also, Rashid Rida wrote: "All Muslims will
that, "after the death of the Most Noble remain in a state of sin until they select
Messenger, none of the Muslims doubted another caliph and pledge allegiance to
the necessity for government. No one him" and by 1928 a populist Islamic
said: 'We no longer need a government'. movement had emerged which held
No one was heard to say anything of the Islamic government as a central goal.
kind. There was unanimous agreement Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim
concerning the necessity for government. Brotherhood said:

25. Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence - 25
The Caliphate ...
“
"When asked what is it that you call, to answer that question. Undoubtedly,
reply that it is Islam, the message of some argued there must be no such
Muhammad, the religion that contains thing. The reformer Ali Abdul Razaq for engages voices of
within it a government". example challenged the likes of Rashid dissent through the political
Rida by demanding a separation of
In its dying days, attempts to salvage it religion from state, saying of the
system by providing extensive
where directed from as far away as Caliphate "In reality, the religion of channels for accounting all
India by such likes as the Khilafat Islam is innocent of the Caliphate which
Movement, a movement which left a Muslims have come to know".
parts of the states' apparatus
significant and lasting impact on as well as a consultative
Muslim political thought throughout Clearly, a branch of the post-Caliphate assembly made-up of elected
the subcontinent, forming the ideologi- debate did not reference Islam, driven
cal underpinnings of later demands for by other ideological drifts. But after representatives with significant
a separate Muslim homeland - Pakistan. failed experiments with nationalism - powers.
According to Syed Ameer Ali, of the Arab or otherwise - communism,
Aligarh Muslim University and Muslim socialism during the 50s and 60s, secu-
League, in the Times newspaper on the larism and bitter experiences with Accountability lays firstly in the
5th March 1924: regimes that forcibly kept religion out of
sight, not just out of government, organ-
general right - and sometimes
"It is difficult to anticipate the exact isations seeking to introduce Shariah obligation when the excess is
effect the 'abolition' of the Caliphate will and Islam into the political system are
have on the minds of the Muslims of now arguably the biggest force in the
flagrant - of every citizen to
India. But so much I can safely affirm - Muslim world. take the state to task, secondly
that it will prove a disaster to both Islam in institutions that guarantee
and civilisation. The suppression of the Any opening in the authoritarian archi-
time honoured institution, which was tecture of the Muslim world is now the process of accountability
throughout the Moslem world regarded likely to yield Islamic government. F. continuously takes place, and
as the symbol of Islamic Unity, will Gregory Gause III, associate professor of
cause the disintegration of Islam as a political science at the University of thirdly in a general requirement
moral force. It had knit together over Vermont and director of its Middle East for political parties
250 million of the followers of the faith studies program, points to the increas-
belonging to the Sunni communion by ing paradox of democratising the
one common ideal." Middle East for US policymakers in Unlike monarchies and
Foreign Affairs in October 2005: authoritarian governments who
Even those who had conspired to
destroy it, such as Hussein of Mecca "…based on public opinion surveys and place a monarch or premier
who fought the Ottomans with British recent elections in the Arab world, the beyond the constitution with
support, tried to assume its title advent of democracy there seems likely
knowing the regard it held in the to produce new Islamist governments
the sole right to interpret or
Muslim world. Other political leaders that would be much less willing to coop- alter it, no individual in the
also tried to take advantage. King Fouad erate with the United States than are the Islamic state's apparatus, from
I of Egypt, for example, "set his sights on current authoritarian rulers"
the lofty religious position that had been clerk to Caliph, is above the law
vacated in Istanbul after Turkey abol- Lord Curzon's warnings that "we must
ished the Caliphate in 1924" according put an end to anything which brings
to Egypt's al-Ahram newspaper in 1925. about any Islamic unity between the Older orientalist writing may
This is not to mention conferences held sons of the Muslims" where appended sometimes have distorted
in Cairo in 1926 and throughout India by his remarks about the end of the
during the early 1920s that addressed Caliphate: "The situation now is that
Islam, but Islam was not
various questions of support for the Turkey is dead and will never rise again, recreated in the image of
Caliphate. because we have destroyed its moral
secularism. Whether praising or
strength, the Caliphate and Islam".
After the Caliphate: Debating The fact that less than eight decades condemning Islam, orientalists
Governance in the Muslim world after the British government announced made the political nature of
its death, demands for the Caliphate's
Since the furore that followed the re-establishment clearly challenges Lord Islam the theme of
discussion
”
demise of the Caliphate, the question of Curzon's forecasts bringing his warnings
Islam in politics and Shariah-based to the fore. The growing prospect of the
government has arguably confronted Caliphate's re-emergence is likely to
every Islamic movement in the Muslim become one of the defining debates of
world, regardless of how they resolved our time and must therefore be met with

26. 26 - Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence
a willingness to understand a system and all other facets of governance. The
“
that would undoubtedly mark a new era
With this natural wealth, issue of accountability features very
for the Muslim world. it is clear that the Muslim prominently in the Shariah. Ruling is
world could become regarded as a form of guardianship
(riayah) and a trust (amanah), and the
Part III economically independent and causing of oppression (dhulm) by the
The Caliphate will Bring Stability the challenge pernicious economic head of state a grave crime - the corpus
Muslim World of Islamic texts refers to each of these in
policies it has had to suffer at an unequivocally serious manner.
the hands of inept leaderships Accountability lays firstly in the general
Contrary to the prophecies of doom right - and sometimes obligation when
and the developed world
”
Washington and London are so eager to the excess is flagrant - of every citizen to
forward, the Caliphate will be a stabilis- take the state to task, secondly in insti-
ing force for the Muslim world. Few tutions that guarantee the process of
doubt that it will threaten foreign inter- requires them to appoint a head of state accountability continuously takes place,
ests in the lands it governs if those inter- to do so on their behalf and so the head and thirdly in a general requirement for
ests resemble current behaviour towards of state is legitimate only through political parties.
the Muslim world. That may partly popular consent. The process of direct
explain why the West is so eager to elections or an election by a representa- Additionally, an independent judiciary
malign it. But asserting independence tive assembly consisting of individuals monitors the Caliph's legal adoptions
does not render a state unstable. Indeed, elected to their respective positions can with the power to demand revocation.
part of the Caliphate's appeal for be utilised to evaluate popular consent. The principle institution dedicated to
Muslims is that it will stand up to Men and women over the age of fifteen the task of accounting the state is a
foreign aggression and wrestle back are granted the right to vote and the special component of the state's inde-
what they believe is rightfully theirs. process can be supported with the use of pendent judiciary: the 'Court of Unjust
The Caliphate will bring stability to the any complimentary technologies, Acts' (Mahkamat al-Mudhaalim). It is
Muslim world in numerous ways. whether internet, mobile or postal presided over by only the most eminent
voting, provided their merit in improv- and qualified judges in the state and
The Caliphate is an Accountable, ing efficiency is proven. Once elected, granted extensive powers by the
Representative Political System the head of state is bound to an agree- Shariah. It has the power to remove any
ment with the people through the bayah official of state regardless of their role or
Firstly, the Caliphate is a political system contract. It stipulates a number of rank, including, most importantly, the
whose head is only legitimised through conditions for his leadership of the state, head of state if he persists in pursuing a
popular consent. It will, therefore, be including the condition that he manages path that lies outside of the terms of the
most unlike the regimes that currently the affairs of the people on their behalf, contract with the people. Citizens who
litter the Muslim world, which are both to do so exclusively according to the have a complaint against the state
unrepresentative and unaccountable, Islamic sources of legislation, and the register it with the Court, which has
and inherently fragile and unstable as a non-violation of the criterion of leader- wide-ranging powers of investigation
result. With no means of recourse ship. Authority is at no point transferred that extend to all organs of the state's
within these regimes and no channels to to the head of state through the bayah machinery. Importantly however, the
express dissent or criticism, peoples' contract and remains permanently with Court does not rely on a plaintiff to
concerns have become threatening the people. Thus, if the head of state register a complaint before problems are
political undercurrents, even threats of violates any of the terms of the bayah investigated because it is tasked with the
rebellion and overthrow, a reality exas- contract, the people can demand, permanent and continuous responsibil-
perated by the widespread use of brutal- through the independent judiciary, that ity of scrutinising state conduct. In
ity by security services to deal with he vacate his post. addition to the Court of the Unjust Acts,
opposition. The Caliphate, in striking the 'People's Assembly' (Majlis al-
contrast, engages voices of dissent Following on from the discussion on Ummah) is another important institu-
through the political system by provid- authority in Islamic political discourse, tion that forms part of the Caliphate's
ing extensive channels for accounting all is the ability to ensure the head of state accountability architecture. It is a repre-
parts of the states' apparatus as well as a will not violate the terms of the bayah to sentative assembly whose members are
consultative assembly made-up of which he is contracted by the people; in elected directly by citizens and can be
elected representatives with significant short, architecture for effective account- from any ethnicity, creed or gender. The
powers. ability (muhasabah). The Islamic politi- assembly provides extensive consulta-
cal system enshrines mechanisms for tion (shura) on issues of state and public
The concept that ‘the authority lies with binding the Caliph to his agreement and policy but, importantly, it has the power
the Ummah’ is a core principle of the protecting citizens from state violations to scrutinise practically all matters
Islamic ruling system. The Shariah and oppression (dhulm), and provides related to the state; it can oblige the
places the original authority for direct and transparent channels for Caliph in key areas such as in the
managing the affairs of the people in the accounting the executive, any state removal of state officials, regional budg-
hands of the people themselves, but official, policy, conduct, administration etary control and matters of public

27. Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence - 27
interest through consultation; and can The Caliphate was the only institution able to provide credible
scrutinise every cannon issued by the
Caliph and, in some cases, reject them,
once again binding the Caliph. “ leadership on Islamic issues and which can hold a convincing
Islamic debate that denounces weak or erroneous understandings
”
The Caliphate, however, does not rely that threaten both Western and Muslim populations
on institutions alone to provide inherent
checks and balances but depends upon
the politicisation of its citizenry as its alter it, no individual in the Islamic Muslim world could become economi-
fundamental layer. Holding the rulers to state's apparatus, from clerk to Caliph, is cally independent and challenge perni-
account is a duty - an obligation even - above the law. cious economic policies it has had to
upon every Muslim, and citizens are suffer at the hands of inept leaderships
encouraged to do so in a direct and The Caliphate is Built on Values and the developed world. In the Islamic
open manner. Examples from the Consistent With the People of the economic system, ownership of natural
Caliphs that immediately followed the Muslim World resources belongs to the people and
Prophet Muhammad - whose consensus therefore revenues generated from their
(ijma) is a source of Islamic law - Secondly, the Caliphate system is consis- sale would be used to develop vital
demonstrate that they proactively tent with - not alien to - the values of infrastructure and facilitate economic
encouraged forthright accountability. the people in the Muslim world. While growth. This is derived from the words
This obligation is not restricted to the the Caliphate is a representative body of the Prophet Muhammad: "The people
individual, but stipulates a requirement and authority rests with the people who are partners in three things: water,
for the permanent existence of political exercise it through electing a head of pastures and fire [energy]."
parties tasked with 'enjoining the good state, the law originates exclusively from
and forbidding the wrong', a political the sources of Shariah. This provides it Today, foreign aid has stifled economic
activity designed to challenge error and deep roots and a better chance at growth in many states through the
incompetence. These civil bodies under- working in partnership with its popula- imposition of conditions that include
take activities without interference from tions because it engages them on a mass privatisation, as well as other
the state and, as the Islamic political common point of reference and for liberal secular reform. The Islamic
system has no concept of a 'ruling common goals. But it also means the economic system has a defined frame-
party', neither do they have any associa- Caliphate acts as a guarantor for values work and set of guidelines that govern
tion with the state; their purpose is considered most at threat since its economic policy, which are not subject
principally to highlight inadequacies in demise by Muslim peoples. The secular, to pernicious materialistic influences.
state conduct and in the condition of autocratic, even atheistic regimes that The huge resource and wealth in the
society. While various schools within emerged in the Caliphate's wake signifi- Muslim world is clearly better used if
Western political theory have long cantly curtailed Islamic practice and invested in education, health and infra-
struggled with the question of justifying engineered new readings of Islamic structure than to service interest
'political obligation' - whether the utili- values and history. They often imposed payments on foreign debt. Unlike capi-
tarians, social contract theorists or views that broke with orthodoxy to talist economics, which does not make a
others - Islamic obligations such as demand loyalty to divisive and failed distinction between basic and luxurious
'enjoining the good and forbidding the ideologies from Arabism to commu- needs when distributing wealth, the
wrong' take on a unique dimension for nism, or combinations of both. The Islamic economy not only makes a
the Muslim citizen: they are considered import of foreign value systems too is distinction but also sets priorities in
good in their own right and an act of often associated with the threat of solving the needs of the people by
worship, not measured by their expedi- eroding deeply held Islamic values. ensuring all the basic needs of the people
ency or purely by the effect they yield. Values deemed 'Western', for example, are met. The Prophet Muhammad said:
are tarnished by perceptions, rightly or "The son of Adam has no better right
From institutions, through political wrongly, of Western moral and sexual than that he would have a house wherein
parties to individuals, the mechanisms decadence. A political system that he may live and a piece of cloth whereby
for accountability in the Caliphate credibly protects and promotes Islamic he may cover his nakedness and a piece
provide the backbone to what is a values is key to securing public confi- of bread and some water."
considerably rule-based society. The dence and partnership.
Caliph is not beyond the law nor If this were central to economic
protected by special exemption that The Caliphate will Address Poverty as thinking, millions would not be suffer-
provides him immunity from prosecu- a One of its Highest Priorities ing from malnutrition or starvation.
tion; if he commits a crime he will be The free market does not distinguish
punished, if he transgresses the terms of Thirdly, the Caliphate will aggressively between the needs of the people and
the bayah he will be eligible for address the problem of poverty in the neither does it ensure that the basic
removal. Unlike monarchies and Muslim world that exists despite the needs of people are satisfied, rather it
authoritarian governments who place a Muslim world possessing colossal leaves these to the forces of the market.
monarch or premier beyond the consti- reserves of natural resources. With this To date, the problem of world poverty
tution with the sole right to interpret or natural wealth, it is clear that the has not been adequately resolved and is

28. 28 - Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence
“
There is a tendency for The continual call for the need for Islam
Part IV to modernise or undergo a reformation
Western writers to equate and The Caliphate is an Islamic System of is an implicit accusation that its political
impose upon the Muslim world Governance values are part of an unreconstructed
pre-enlightenment interpretation of a
the political paradigms religion, resistant to a transition into
emanating from their Islam is the antithesis to secularism; it is modernity.
”
a political phenomenon that draws its
Christian history life from the spiritual and moral. George Older orientalist writing may sometimes
Bernard Shaw once, writing quite some have distorted Islam, but Islam was not
likely to be one of the major causes of time before the sharp polarisation of recreated in the image of secularism.
conflict and instability in the twenty thinking post 9/11, made a challenging Whether praising or condemning Islam,
first century. prediction about Islam: orientalists made the political nature of
Islam the theme of discussion. The
The Caliphate will Provide Credible “I have prophesied about the faith of political perception of Islam is clear, for
Leadership for the Muslim World Muhammad that it would be acceptable example, in Shaw's writing: Islam 'is the
to the Europe of tomorrow as it is only religion which appears to me to
Fourthly, the loss of the Caliphate beginning to be acceptable to the possess that assimilating capacity to the
brought with it an unprecedented loss of Europe of today.” changing phase of existence which can
authority and leadership on Islamic make itself appeal to every age', and
issues. The resulting vacuum allowed The world has changed drastically since about Muhammad he said:
individuals to become global figure- these words were written. The commu-
heads for merely speaking the rhetoric nist bloc has collapsed; the West has “I believe that if a man like him were to
of anti-colonialism and standing-up to assumed an unrivalled ascendancy and assume the dictatorship of the modern
perceived aggressors. Conferences like a new challenger to that ascendancy has world, he would succeed in solving its
those held in the Jordanian capital been named: Islam. Now that Islam is in problems in a way that would bring it
Amman in July 2005 which gathered the spotlight Shaw's prediction for Islam the much needed peace and happiness.”
scholars from around the Muslim world to be 'acceptable' to Europe and the
to denounce what they labelled extrem- West has never looked more misplaced, Some idea of the Prophet Muhammad's
ist thought carry little weight or credi- when factions in the political arena do statesmanship in addressing the
bility, organised under the auspices of a not even consider it an option for the problems of his own day can be gained
Jordanian monarchy created on the Muslim world. from observing the terms of the treaty
ashes of the Caliphate and which to this he made with the tribes who came
day celebrates the Arab revolt, consid- The political aspects of Islam that under his political authority in the early
ered by most a treacherous collusion attracted some older writers, such as days of the Islamic state that he estab-
with British colonisers. The same is true Shaw, are often abstracted from the lished. One of the articles of this treaty
for declarations made by the OIC whose discussion about Islam and placed in the states: “The Jews of the tribe of Auf,
conferences are characterised by useless category of mere 'militant' offshoots or who are a party to this agreement and
gestures and by ostentatious hospitality anti-Western cultural interpretations of are the supporters of the Muslims, shall
that isolates them from the suffering of Islam. With politics conveniently adhere to their religion and the Muslims
their own people. This crisis in leader- excised from the modern Western defi- to theirs. Excepting religious matters,
ship after the Caliphate dangerously nition, Islam might be viewed as an the Muslims and Jews shall be regarded
allowed its functions to be dismembered irrelevance to societal discussions, were as belonging to a single party.”
and claimed by virtually anyone who it not for the surging tide of political
was willing to take them on, from tax expression voiced by Muslims through- Reconciling Religion with State
collection, to defending Muslim terri- out the world. This level of support in
tory (including deciding when and the Arab and Muslim world has not To admit the possibility of a state of
how), to defining the relationship prevented others from continuing to conflict with a religion as a whole is
between Islam and other peoples. argue that these political aspirations are problematic for the West in a way that
in someway illegitimate or even just conflict with another ideology, such as
The Caliphate was the only institution misplaced in the scheme of human communism, never was. This is because
able to provide credible leadership on development. Blair's speech to the Los secularism's claim to success is that it
Islamic issues and which can hold a Angeles World Affairs Council in 2006 allows full religious expression in the
convincing Islamic debate that boldly stated: realm of both individual and social
denounces weak or erroneous under- activity without conceding any political
standings that threaten both Western “It's about modernisation within Islam authority to religion. The outcome of
and Muslim populations. The post- and out of it. It's about whether our this in the West is that Catholics and
Caliphate period generated deficits of value system can be shown to be suffi- Protestants, after religious wars had
legitimacy and of accountability that ciently robust, true, principled and plagued Europe for centuries, generally
still exist today with little potential for appealing that it beats theirs.” came to accept this secular arrangement
resolution. and live in peace with each other. The

29. Section 3 - The Caliphate, Islamic Governance & the Myth of Violence - 29
collapse of the former communist block, [Islam’s] political appeal Muslims, who do not share the same
which had crudely tried, and failed, to
obliterate religion entirely, further
added to the sense of moral ascendancy
in the West on account of Western
liberal secular democracy. The West
“ ... goes far deeper than
its antidote to the ills of
Western neo-colonialism.
It is a way of life that
past as their Western counterparts are
puzzled that it is the spiritual basis to
Islamic polity, more than Islamic polity
itself, which is the cause for secular
concern. Islam's political philosophy
therefore perceived their strength to lie and its detailed systems of ruling and
in neither affirming nor denying reli- successfully harmonised economy are a major theme of writing
gious faith: to do so would be an today, but what of Islam's spiritual and
unpalatable contradiction. For this
between the spiritual and moral bases? The following injunctions
reason there is a motive to deny that a temporal spheres of of the Prophet Muhammad are worthy
”
popular religion, with over a billion human social activity of consideration:
adherents, could pose a sustainable
ideological and political challenge to "You should be humble so that no-one
Western political philosophy. authority. The temporal authority is also boasts over his neighbour nor anyone
'from amongst you' meaning amongst oppresses his neighbour"
At this point it may be worthwhile those who believe and not any authority,
making a distinction between Islam and such as that of the biblical Roman army "Allah is not merciful to he who is not
the religion that secular Europe has had of occupation, and this authority has a merciful to people"
most experience with; Christianity. specific character in that it must imple-
There is a tendency for Western writers ment the Islamic systems of life. Islam is "Charity is due upon every limb of a
to equate and impose upon the Muslim a whole body of thoughts, ideas, rulings human being on each day that the sun
world the political paradigms emanating and more and its political element cannot rises. To act justly between two people is
from their Christian history. The inade- be separated from it just as its moral charity. To help a man with his riding
quacy of the comparison can be illus- element cannot be eliminated from it beast, or to load his provisions on it or
trated if we consider the religious texts either. Just as Muslims are told “he is lift them up for him is charity. A good
that define the dynamic between the not of us who has no compassion for word is charity. Every step going to
temporal and sacral for each. The first is our little ones and does not honour our prayer is charity. Removing from the
the Biblical verse to "...render unto old ones” Muslims are also told to “Rule road what causes harm is charity."
Caesar what is Caesars and unto God by what Allah revealed”. The moral and
what is God's". The second is the spiritual basis of Islam forms an integral The sentiments expressed in these reli-
Quranic injunction: whole with its political viewpoint. gious texts can be found in other reli-
gions, but what distinguished Islam
"Oh you who believe, obey Allah and This understanding formed the basis of from them is the existence of a detailed
obey the messenger and those in Muslim political life since the establish- system of governance that preserved
authority amongst yourselves". ment of the ruling system by the these values for the good of mixed
Prophet Muhammad in the city-state of communities comprising both Muslims
At first sight both could appear passive Medina in the year 622CE until the and non-Muslims from many different
and non-committal as regards politics. destruction of the state in 1924. While races. Islam was not, as Daniel Pipes
On closer inspection, while the former the racial or tribal identity of its leaders, once declared, a mere “host” to “one of
has come to be seen by a majority of and the titles attributed to them the world's great civilisations”; it was the
Christians today as ample justification (Khalifah, Sultan or Amir) changed basis of a civilisation, that was rigid
for accepting the secular creed of many times and was sometimes the enough to maintain its character over
adhering to spiritual matters and leaving subject of passionate disagreement, the thirteen centuries and flexible enough to
politics to the temporal authorities of political philosophy and the general maintain its relevance, as G B Shaw said,
the day, the latter is widely understood structure of the state's apparatus was not to the “changing phase of existence” in
by Muslims as demonstrating the subor- a point of variance. “every age”. Its political appeal to
dination of the temporal authorities to Muslims today goes far deeper than its
the divine authority of Allah and the Spiritual Basis to Islamic Polity antidote to the ills of Western neo-colo-
Prophet Muhammad. nialism. It is a way of life that success-
Should the political nature of Islam fully harmonised between the spiritual
For Muslims the temporal authority is arouse fear, and could Islam even be a and temporal spheres of human social
subsumed and dependent upon obedi- source of hope? To answer such a activity where the West historically
ence to Allah. It works in two ways: first question it is necessary to accept from failed. Our pasts are indeed foreign to
the Muslim is obliged to obey the divine the aspirations of Muslims, thirteen each other. In order to avoid perpetual
authority, second the Muslim is obliged centuries of history and a wealth of reli- suspicion and stereotyping it is essential
to obey the temporal authority, third the gious texts, that Islam is political in that the people in the West better
order of the obedience as well as the nature. From this starting point Western understand the fears and hopes of the
omission of the word 'obey' for the thinkers can make their own studies and Muslim world, and their historical and
temporal authority means it owes its draw the conclusions that they believe ideological basis.
legitimacy to obedience to the divine to be valid.

30. 30 - Section 4 - Mapping a Way Forward
Section 4
Mapping a Way Forward
In the preceding sections, this report traction amongst Muslims. Islamic society. We are told that there is nothing
has sought to address the failure by Orthodoxy, not modernism, has won to discuss with these 'extremists'.
numerous commentators and politicians the opinion in the Muslim world
to understand Islam, attitudes and Traditional Muslim thinkers, scholars
changes in the Muslim community and • Western Colonialism not Islam has and leaders have found the Western
support for Islamic political ideals. been at the heart of the political insta- press and politicians eager to label them
These failures have underpinned talk of bility and crises of the Muslim world. homophobic, anti-Semitic, misogynists
a way forward and have subsequently The onset of colonisation also and supporters of terrorists and suicide
resulted in measures that have only disrupted indigenous efforts at bombers. Whether or not this is a delib-
widened the growing chasm between modernising the Muslim world erate policy is a debatable point, but the
the Muslim world and the West. These net result is to intimidate and frighten
measures have extended from anarchic • Islam played a historic role in traditional Muslims from speaking
and draconian security measures; preventing political excess, tyranny publicly.
changes to the way Islam is taught, and totalitarianism in the Muslim
promoting fringe groups who promote world and its absence has allowed Some Western intellectuals argue that
ideas that lack credibility and support, these to go unchecked there is no place for Muslim orthodoxy
through to calls for a reformation of and traditions in today's world, because
Islam itself. • The Muslim world should be allowed it intellectually underpins the behaviour
to determine its own political future, of Muslims fighting in Iraq, Palestine
It is important that Western commenta- not the West and Chechnya; it keeps Muslims from
tors challenge how they continue to accepting their place in modernity.
understand events in the Muslim Commentators such as Melanie Phillips
community and wider Muslim world if Part I and Michael Gove frequently assert that
they are to understand why numerous The Failure of Calls for a 'Moderate', non-violent Islamists should be viewed
Western-sponsored measures have Reformed Islam as individuals who are engaged in meta-
gained little traction or acted only to physical struggle with the West because
exacerbate the divide. they hate the values and culture of
Refusing to Dialogue with Orthodox Western civilisation.
To conclude this report, we address Islam
some of these key campaigns and The group of people deemed acceptable
provide insight into their continued If many media commentators and to engage with has become smaller and
failures. Simultaneously, we outline why politicians are to be believed then we are smaller excluding even those organisa-
indigenous processes, institutions and engaged in a struggle to the death with tions previously promoted by the
values in the Muslim world are best Islamic fascists and nihilists who hate government. Media criticism has been
placed to lift the Muslim world out of its Western societies for their freedoms and heaped on Foreign Office officials who
intellectual, technological and political who will not be satisfied until they have attempted to engage in political dialogue
malaise. To this end, we argue in this destroyed Western civilisation. Others with Islamists. Martin Bright's Policy
section that: claim that Islamic radicals want to drag Exchange pamphlet, 'When Progressives
Muslim societies back to medieval times Treat with Reactionaries', is as Bright
• Attempts at reforming Islam itself, by returning them to the imagined acknowledged "dedicated to a Foreign
have been discredited and gained little purity of a seventh century Islamic Office whistleblower whose courageous

31. Section 4 - Mapping a Way Forward - 31
“
What those who call for the reformation of Islam for the whole Muslim world are
actions have allowed me to expose
attempting is without precedent.
the Prophet Muhammad - and were in
”
stages of defeat'. Turks reached Vienna
Whitehall's love affair with Islamism". close agreement on most doctrinal and in 1683 but got no farther. When the
The British Government is now openly legal issues. The five most influential rampant West expanded its empires,
telling Muslim organisations in the UK schools of Islamic thought (madhahib) - European ideas penetrated, dominated,
that if they don't become 'progressive Hanafi, Shafi, Hanbali, Maliki and Jafari and dislocated the Muslim world. It
and spiritual', address the 'false griev- - named after their founding scholars, was deeply humiliating for Muslims to
ances' of the Muslim community and were established on this approach and be humbled by inferior Christians and
take a 'pro-active' role in the fight defined much of the body of Islamic Jews ("Crusaders" and "Zionists" in
against extremism they will no longer interpretations and opinion over many modern parlance). Traditional ways,
receive government funding. This has centuries, and still do so today. which had produced so much glory in
left only a handful of marginal groups Although some have termed this attach- the past, were eroded and often
that commentators and politicians have ment 'traditionalism', ultimately it has destroyed by ill-considered experi-
been willing to engage with, but who been this approach that has won the ments with Marxism, fascism, and
carry little credibility or support in the argument in the sphere of Muslim national socialism. Out of political and
Muslim community and reflect opinions public opinion. cultural failure came this Muslim rage,
largely rejected by the Muslim commu- directed against the West, the historical
nity. Drawing False Battle Lines source of humiliation, and out of this
rage came the violent attempts to estab-
Calls for a Reformation of Islam have What those who call for the reformation lish a new caliphate through religious
not Convinced Muslims of Islam for the whole Muslim world are revolution."
attempting is without precedent. One of
Such premises and assumptions lead the most influential contemporary In relation to the attacks of September
many Western thinkers to conclude that advocates of the radical idea to reform 11th 2001 on the US, Lewis said: "I have
a reformation of Islam itself is required, Islam has been the Middle East expert no doubt that September 11th was the
so that Muslims will eventually leave Bernard Lewis. His fifty years of study opening salvo of the final battle…" It is
their outdated traditions and values. On and scholarship led him to the conclu- clear that Lewis has been influential in
the eve of the US invasion of Iraq in sion that the West-which used to be shaping how George W Bush's adminis-
2003, it was reported that the then US known as Christendom-is now in the tration views the Muslim world. He is
Deputy Defence Secretary Paul last stages of a centuries-old struggle for close to Vice President Dick Cheney;
Wolfowitz said that "We need an Islamic dominance and prestige with Islamic has been invited to speak at the White
reformation", and later in the same civilisation. It was Bernard Lewis who House; his best-selling book entitled
statement he mentioned that he thought coined the phrase the 'Clash of 'What Went Wrong?', which examines
"there is real hope for one". Daniel Pipes Civilisations' in a September 1990 the decline of Muslim civilisation, has
of the Philadelphia based Middle East Atlantic Monthly article on 'The Roots been regarded in that circle as a kind of
Forum who President Bush appointed of Muslim Rage' in which he painted handbook in the war against Islamic
him to the board of directors of the US Islam as engaged in a fourteen century terrorism.
Institute of Peace in June 2003, stated in long war against Christianity. This was
July 2004 that the "ultimate goal" of the three years before Samuel Huntington Turkey - A False Model
War on Terrorism had to be Islam's published his famous article on the
modernisation, or as he put it, "religion- ‘Clash of Civilizations’ in Foreign The example of a moderate Muslim
building". Affairs. Ian Buruma summarised Lewis' country for Lewis and his neo-con
argument in an article in the New followers is Turkey. In the 1920s
There have been changes amongst some Yorker as the following: Mustafa Kemal demolished the
Muslims in their interpretation of Islam Ottoman Caliphate and replaced it with
over the last fourteen centuries. For "…The clash between Christendom his vision of a modern secular Western
example, when Muslims came into and Islam has been going on since the society. Religious schools were closed,
contact with people with differing tradi- Muslims conquered Syria, North the wearing of the Hijab was forbidden
tions and philosophies such as the Africa, and Spain. Muslims, at the in government offices and universities,
Greeks, Persians or Indians, some height of their glory, in tenth-century many religious scholars were impris-
Muslims tried to integrate the best of Cairo, thirteenth-century Tehran, or oned or killed and the Arabic language
the local philosophies and traditions sixteenth-century Istanbul, thought of was replaced with Turkish. Mustafa
into their understanding of Islam. But themselves as far superior to the Kemal was not a believer in "govern-
throughout the centuries, the majority Christians and Jews among them, who ment of the people, by the people, for
of Muslims have maintained an attach- were tolerated as second-class citizens. the people…" but was more influenced
ment to a common set of reference Since then, however, as Lewis puts it, by fascism of the 1920s and followed a
points - the Qur'an and the traditions of 'the Muslim has suffered successive style of ruling characterised in his own

32. 32 - Section 4 - Mapping a Way Forward
“
It follows that Turkey is words as "government for the people - ism is increasing in strength and gaining
despite the people". From his position of influence in Turkish society. The force
not really a moderate authority, he dictated his views on the that prevents Islam from coming to
Muslim society in the way that society since he was convinced he knew power is the secular army that feels duty
what was best for it. bound to defend Kemalism.
Lewis, Bush and Wolfowitz
understand the term 'moderate'. More than eighty years on it is still ques- The Failure of Calls for Reforming
tionable whether Kemal has been Islam
Rather it represents the failure successful in his forcible secularisation
to replace by force a culture of a Muslim society. Undoubtedly, in Despite fifty years of scholarship Lewis
that was home grown and Turkey there are groups of people who failed to predict how Muslims would
are European in their behaviour, atti- respond to an American occupation of
present for several centuries tudes and values and do not see them- Muslim land. In 2001 he said that public
with a foreign one selves as Muslim other than in their opinion in Iraq and Iran was so pro-
names; but they represent a small American that both peoples would
minority of that society. In the same rejoice if the US army liberated them. A
cities where there are very secular year later, he repeated the message that
Muslims, there are also many more "if we succeed in overthrowing the
This state of affairs cannot be traditional and conservative Islamic regimes of what President Bush has
put at the door of Islamic communities, and in much of rural rightly called the 'Axis of Evil' the
Turkey, the values and attitudes of scenes of rejoicing in their cities would
orthodoxy, since Islamic people have not changed much in the even exceed those that followed the
institutions and traditions have last two hundred years. Today, the politi- liberation of Kabul." Perhaps there was a
been marginalised for most of cal party that enjoys the clear support of sense of relief felt by many Iraqis when
the majority of the Turkish population is the Saddam Hussein government was
the last century in the Muslim the Islamic Justice and Development removed but a sense of occupation has
world. Rather the last century Party (AK). Its leader, Prime Minister driven many ordinary Iraqis to take up
Recep Tayyip Erdogan was once banned arms against the US army. Although the
has been one in which most from public service after reciting a poem reality of the Iraq war has largely
Muslim countries have first that said "the mosques are our barracks, discredited the ideas of Bernard Lewis
the domes our helmets, the minarets our and his neo-conservative followers,
been colonised and then bayonets, and the faithful our soldiers". Western intellectuals persist in arguing
inherited political, economic for ways to moderate or reform Islam. A
As we see today it is the institution of recently published RAND report,
and social institutions that the the Turkish army that prevents the 'Building Moderate Muslim Networks',
colonialists left them
”
government from bringing Islam back makes the case for the West to support
into public life. When the AK party networks of 'moderate' Muslims in
proposed Foreign Minister Abdullah order to counter, what they argue are,
Gul to be the new President the army the radical and dogmatic interpretations
responded with concern about the of Islam that are gaining ground in the
election and stated: "It should not be Muslim world.
forgotten that the Turkish armed forces
are a side in this debate and are a
staunch defender of secularism." Part II
Understanding the Causes of the
It follows that Turkey is not really a Political Crises in the Muslim World
moderate Muslim society in the way that
Lewis, Bush and Wolfowitz understand
the term 'moderate'. Rather it represents Today, many if not most of the Muslim
the failure to replace by force a culture countries are dysfunctional. Politically
that was home grown and present for the governments in many Muslim states
several centuries with a foreign one. As a are dictatorships based on monarchs,
military supported ruler, Mustafa Kemal military rulers or life-long Presidents.
faced no restrictions when he went The 2002 Arab Human Development
about removing from Turkey its Islamic Report (AHDR), written by a group of
heritage. Many Islamic scholars were Arab scholars from the United Nations
killed or imprisoned, religious schools Development Programme (UNDP),
were closed down and people were described the region as not developing
forced to behave in accordance with as fast or as fully as other comparable
Western values. Yet even after eighty regions. The most striking weakness
years of Kemalism, Islamic traditional- identified in the report and one which

33. Section 4 - Mapping a Way Forward - 33
the authors suggest lies behind all other often supported by outside powers ... in the Muslim world,
problems is a lack of democracy, which
leads to poor governance. They
described that the attitude of Arab
governments towards civil societies
ranged from opposition to manipula-
assumed power. For example, there was
the 1947 coup led by Colonel Husni Al-
Za'im in Syria, the 1952 coup led by
General Neguib in Egypt, the 1953 CIA
sponsored coup that ended the rule of
“ the institutions that
exist are not home grown or
organically developed, they do
tion to "freedom under surveillance". Prime Minister Mossadeq, the 1958 not reflect the historical
The 2003 AHDR discussed the chal- coup led by General Ayub Khan in
lenges of developing a Knowledge Based Pakistan, and the 1960 coup led by
experience of people and do
Society in the Arab world and General Cemal Gürsel in Turkey. not connect with their traditions
concluded that the major obstacles were or values
political. The writers of the 2004 AHDR Institutions in the Muslim World are
examined the constraints on freedom Imported, not Home-Grown
that prevent good governance in the Looking back...it is very likely
Arab world, and the last published In comparison the Western countries
AHDR report in 2005 examined the have largely not suffered from this type that if Muslims had been left to
challenges of empowering Arab women of political instability during the last their own devices, a social
in societies where the institutions of hundred years. What differentiates
civil society don't really exist. Western political institutions from those consensus would have been
in the Muslim world is that they devel- developed in the Muslim world
Colonisation, not Islam, is at the Root oped organically over a number of
of the Muslim World's Political centuries, adapted themselves to differ-
as to what form this change
Problems ent realities over time and represent an should have taken ... However
effective social consensus on how these occupation by foreign powers
This state of affairs cannot be put at the societies go about solving their
door of Islamic orthodoxy, since Islamic problems. For example, the operation of and colonisation led to an
institutions and traditions have been and the relationship between the British interruption of this natural
marginalised for most of the last century Houses of Parliament, the Judiciary, the
in the Muslim world. Rather the last Monarchy, the Army and the Civil process
century has been one in which most Service has been defined over a number
Muslim countries have first been of years, as the British state found itself
colonised and then inherited political, in different situations and with different “The collectivity of religious
economic and social institutions that the problems. Even today, it is still adapting scholars acted at least
colonialists left them. Even the concept to new realities. For example the role of theoretically as a countervailing
of many independent countries in the the House of Lords is being redefined in
Muslim world was new. During the early light of the fact that aristocracy is no force against tyranny. You had
part of the twentieth century the French longer as powerful as big business inter- the implicit notion that if Islam
and the British governments agreed ests and it is difficult to justify why
between themselves as to who would get hereditary peers should participate in is pushed out of the public
which part of the dominions of the the legislative process. There is a social sphere, tyranny will increase,
Ottoman state. The task of negotiations consensus over the role of these institu- and if that happens, people will
was delegated to Georges Picot of tions. It is not possible that a small
France and Sir Mark Sykes of Britain clique of people - generals or otherwise look to Islam to redress the
and the resulting Sykes-Picot agreement - could undertake a coup in Britain and tyranny”
led to the division of the Ottoman state
such that France's mandate corre-
sponded to the future states of Syria and
Lebanon and Britain's mandate corre-
sponded to Iraq and Transjordan.
start making the laws themselves; the
rest of society would just not accept it.
However in the Muslim world, the insti-
tutions that exist are not home grown or
(Richard Bulliet, Professor of
Middle Eastern Studies, Columbia
University)
”
France ended up with direct control of organically developed, they do not
Mediterranean coastal regions whilst reflect the historical experience of
Britain ended up controlling the people and do not connect with their
provinces of Basra and Baghdad and traditions or values. What this means is
maintained an exclusive relationship that there is very little social consensus
with the Arab Gulf Sheikhdoms. on these systems, meaning they have
very limited legitimacy and there is little
Where independence brought multi- or no reaction from people when a
party democracies, they were soon to general undertakes a coup. In addition,
disappear. Most Muslim countries were Muslim countries tend to have very
characterised by one coup after another influential Westernised elites, who have
as different political or military factions usually studied abroad and are often

34. 34 - Section 4 - Mapping a Way Forward
compass no longer available and with
“
With the old well established moral compass no longer
social and political institutions that were
available and with social and political institutions that were French or British in origin and lacking in
French or British in origin and lacking in social consensus, it is not social consensus, it is not surprising that
the Muslim world is blighted by instabil-
surprising that the Muslim world is blighted by instability, coups, ity, coups, tyranny and totalitarianism.
”
tyranny and totalitarianism
A Lack of Islam in the Politics of the
Muslim World has Created
wealthy. They are usually ignorant of the adoption of some Western concepts Totalitarianism and Tyranny
their own history and traditions and which they thought would bring
their wealth allows them to live very Muslim progress. There were many such The institutional role that Islamic
detached lives from the rest of society. modernising scholars, but two of the culture has historically played in
Because of their situation and attitudes most famous ones were Jamal al-Din al- Muslim societies has been recognised by
they are unable to comprehend why the Afghani (1838-97) and Muhammad some Western experts. Richard Bulliet,
rest of society behaves in the way it does Abduh (1849-1905). At this time the the Columbia Professor of Middle
and they come to look down upon the need for change was evident to many Eastern Studies, argued in his book -
masses. thinkers, but the nature of this change 'The Case for Islamo-Christian
and the path to achieving it was poorly Civilization' - that comparative stability
Colonial Interference Stalled defined. prevailed in the Islamic world not
Indigenous Attempts at Modernising because of the Ottomans' success but
the Muslim World Towards the end of the nineteenth because Islam was playing its traditional
century the desire for change was very role of constraining tyranny.
Prior to the colonisation of the Muslim strong in the Muslim world. It was self
world, many Muslim politicians and evident to most of the political elites, "The collectivity of religious scholars
thinkers had seen modernisation and intellectuals, Muslim scholars and acted at least theoretically as a counter-
industrialisation take place in Western educated people that something needed vailing force against tyranny. You had
nations and had come to the conclusion to be done; the status quo was unaccept- the implicit notion that if Islam is
that the Muslim world was backward able. They had concluded that in many pushed out of the public sphere, tyranny
and needed to be reformed. This was a respects Muslims were far behind the will increase, and if that happens, people
natural situation as there was much West and needed to catch up. Looking will look to Islam to redress the
interaction and trade between the back to this time it is very likely that if tyranny."
Muslim and non-Muslim world. The Muslims had been left to their own
debate had started and there were a devices, a social consensus would have This began to play out during the
variety of opinions as to how Muslims been developed in the Muslim world as period. Instead of modernisation, what
should 'modernise' themselves. Iranian to what form this change should have ensued was what Muslim clerics had
intellectuals Mulkum Khan (1833-1908) taken. The social consensus may have long feared: tyranny. What the Arab
and Agha Khan Kermani (1853-96) taken several decades to occur but it world should have seen was "not an
urged Iranians to acquire a Western would have been home grown, would increase in modernisation so much as
education and replace the Shariah (the have happened organically and would an increase in tyranny. By the 1960s,
religious legal code) with a modern have adapted the Muslim world to new that prophecy was fulfilled. You had
secular legal code. Some of the Ottoman realities. However occupation by foreign dictatorships in most of the Islamic
sultans pursued new models of industri- powers and colonisation led to an inter- world." Egypt's Gamel Nasser, Syria's
alisation and modernisation of their ruption of this natural process. When Hafez Assad and others came in the
own accord. For example, Sultan the foreign powers finally departed what guise of Arab nationalists, but they were
Mahmud II inaugurated the Tanzimat they left behind was a medley of coun- nothing more than tyrants.
(Regulation) in 1826 which abolished tries; many of which may have looked
the Janissaries (the highly dedicated elite good on a map when the French and Some Muslims put the blame for the
corps of troops organised in the four- British planners created them, but in tyranny and the totalitarianism prac-
teenth century), modernised the army reality they were completely artificial ticed in the Muslim world and the lack
and introduced new technology. In 1839 and did not represent peoples that had of a role for Islam in Muslim societies
Sultan Abdul Hamid issued the Gulhane been bound together by a common and on Western interference. There is little
decree which made his rule dependent shared history and set of values. In doubt that historically Western nations
upon a contractual relationship with his addition, the institutions that Muslims have a share in the responsibility for
subjects and looked forward to major inherited were based on French or bringing the Muslim world to where it
reform of the Caliphate's institutions. British models. By the time the colonial is; they occupied it, created artificial
Some Muslim scholars took an approach powers left there was no public role for entities and left the conditions for
of re-interpreting Islam so that it was Islam to play in society, Islamic law and tyranny to arise. However, arguably the
more conformant to Western models; education had been devalued and Muslim rulers who practice tyranny
they wanted to maintain some Islamic Islamic scholars had been marginalised. upon the Muslim masses and the
values and principles whilst justifying With the old well established moral Muslim elites who support them also

35. Section 4 - Mapping a Way Forward - 35
have a share of the blame. However, Even though orthodox Islam has not Western politicians and
only a few from amongst this viewpoint
place all the blame on the West for the
current situation of the Muslims and
then seek to attack the West so that
Westerners also taste the pain of what
played a public role in most Muslim
societies for the last century and Islamic
scholars and teachings were margin-
alised, in many Muslim societies a
revival in Islamic practice and teachings
“ thinkers must find a
constructive way of dealing
with Muslims and Islam based
Muslims have been forced to suffer. is taking place. For more and more around the notion that Muslims
Their aim, we are told, is to push for a Muslims, Islam is becoming a major
civilisational war between the Western factor in shaping their attitudes, behav-
must be left to define their own
and Muslim worlds, one in which all iour and perspective. Many ideas such political destiny independently
Muslims will be forced to join in from as Arab nationalism, secularism and
the sidelines. The irony is that the socialism have been discredited in the
Lewis-Bush doctrine in Iraq has done Muslim world by regimes that claimed
far more to realise such an aim than any to be socialist, secular, or pan-Arabist Muslims need to be allowed to
preachers from within the fold of Islam but brought totalitarianism and tyranny
could have achieved. and little material progress. Today complete the transformation of
however, the only public choices that are their societies without Western
being presented to Muslims are chosen
Part III by governments that are discredited and
interference ... so that they too
Allowing the Muslim World to Shape its there is a distinct lack of independent can find their place in the world
Own Political Future voices - Islamic or otherwise - for of the twenty-first century with
people to listen to. Those that exist
operate under persecution. Given this a system that fairly represent
The Implications of Silencing the lack of open political debate and the their own beliefs and
Voice of Islam
It is well known within Islamic scholar-
ship that the deliberate targeting of
civilians is prohibited irrespective of the
victims religion of nationality. However
sensation of Western armies occupying
Muslim lands, with the blessing of many
Muslim governments, it is unsurprising
that many Muslims feel deeply alienated
from their own governments.
values
”
values. If liberal and secular thinkers
find they have strong disagreements
in the tyrannies of the Muslim world, it Muslims Should be Allowed to with Muslims then they should try to
is extremely difficult to start a debate Determine Their Own Political Destiny engage in thought provoking debate
upon the correct response to Western with Muslims on the rights and wrongs
imperialism using Islamic texts and There is a way of tackling chronic insta- of their beliefs and system. The
principles. Islamic scholars in the bility in the Muslim world caused approach of the neo-conservatives and
Muslim world are unable to debate this mainly by oppressive pro-Western dicta- intellectuals like Bernard Lewis or the
or other social issues openly because the tors. Outside attempts to dictate a RAND Corporation who want to dictate
current regimes in the Muslim world do secular Islam will fail and occupation of the reformation of Islam, import
not tolerate such debate and discussion. Muslim lands by foreign armies is coun- American defined democracy upon the
For this reason the public scholars, terproductive and will simply generate Muslim world and occupy large parts of
appointed by the governments to preach more recruits for countering, by any it, will bring about a conflict that will
a message of the governments choosing, means, the Western onslaught. last for many generations. To avoid this,
lack credibility in their pronounce- Therefore, it is required that Western Western politicians and thinkers must
ments. These governments view any politicians and intellectuals to accept find a constructive way of dealing with
genuine Islamic debate as a threat and that Islam should be allowed to play its Muslims and Islam based around the
they fear that once started it will be natural role in Muslim societies. They notion that Muslims must be left to
directed towards them, exposing their should do this even if they disagree with define their own political destiny inde-
own lack of legitimacy and their some of orthodox Islam's positions. pendently.
ongoing tyranny. Whilst some Muslim There are too many Muslims in the
scholars are co-opted by the regime, world for their beliefs and religion to be
given government funded positions sidelined against their wishes.
where they are only able to state the Globalisation means that we will be
official government position, many affected by what happens in other parts
others remain locked up in prisons of the world. Muslims need to be
because in the past they have dared to allowed to complete the transformation
criticise the actions and policies of of their societies without Western inter-
Muslim governments. Other Islamic ference - a process that started in the
scholars practice self censorship of the nineteenth century - so that they too
subjects they will discuss because they can find their place in the world of the
are afraid of the consequences of being twenty-first century with a system that
seen to be critical of the government. fairly represent their own beliefs and

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36. RAND, "Building Moderate Muslim Networks" 2007 Accessed from http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG574/
37. Richard Bulliet, "The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization" August 2004 Columbia University Press
38. T Nabhani, "The System of Islam" 2002 London:Al-Khilafah Publications.
39. Olivier Roy, "The Failure of Political Islam" 1994 Harvard University Press
40. T Nabhani, "al-Shaksiyyah al-Islamiyyah" 1995 Beirut:Dar al-Ummah. 4th ed. Volume 2
41. T Nabhani, "The Ruling System in Islam" 2002 5th ed. London:Al-Khilafah Publications.
42. R Khomeini,."Governance of the Jurist, Islamic Government" 1970 Tehran:The Institute for Compilation and Publication
of Imam Khomeini's Works

38. Notes

40. Explaining the aims in the 'War on Terror'
Challenging misconceptions about Radicalisation,
Extremism and Political Violence
Explaining Islam's Political Tenets
Mapping a Way Forward