Egypt is not Iran. Urdu professor Ahmed Mohamed Ahmad Abdel Rehman enunciates the words solemnly, almost like an article of faith. Rehman, who teaches at Cairo's Al Azhar University, is fresh from the Tahrir Square revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak and set off a chain reaction in other Arab states. He debunks western fears of radicalization as Egypt awaits a new constitution, elections and a new government.
"Our revolution was peaceful, democratic and secular, not religion-based . Egyptians are a moderate people. We cannot tolerate fanaticism of any kind,'' he insists.
Rehman says Egypt is seriously searching India's parliamentary model for inspiration and ideas. "Most Egyptians like Indian democracy,'' he says. "We need a parliamentary system, not a presidential one. We want a prime minister who is accountable to parliament. We have suffered too long with a president in whom all powers were centralized.''
Indian democracy is a hot topic of discussion in Egypt today and figures in newspaper articles and street debates. Rehman recalls that Gandhi and his philosophy of satyagraha were held up as a model code of behaviour during those heady days in Tahrir Square.
In Delhi for Urdu lover Kamna Prasad's annual mushaira, Jashn-e-Bahar , Rehman recited poems penned by one of Egypt's best-known contemporary poets, Farooq Jewada. Odes to the martyrs of Tahrir Square, Rehman translated the poems into Urdu from the original Arabic.
He strongly defends the legitimization of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical Islamist groups that are increasingly influencing public discourse and policy decisions. The army recently appointed Brotherhood member Sobhi Saleh to the committee drafting the new constitution.
"What is the problem with that? We did not like the fact that these groups were banned by Mubarak. We are not Islamists but these groups are connected to our roots. They are well organized, do a lot of social work and have influence in the street. It is important to bring them into the mainstream,'' he says.
The poet-professor acknowledges the growing voice of the Muslim Brotherhood but remains confident it will not be allowed to foist an Islamist agenda on Egypt. "The youth who led the revolution will make sure of that,'' he says with supreme confidence. There is a reason he is sanguine. The signs were there at Tahrir Square. When members of the Brotherhood who participated in the revolution tried to raise Islamist slogans such as "Islam is the solution'' , they were quickly and firmly told to keep religion out of this.
"It was amazing to see the change in these groups, once they realized that they would be chased away from Tahrir Square,'' Rehman recalls.
"They forgot their fanaticism and mingled easily with fashionable, westernized women who weren't wearing veils. They even prayed together with Christian groups for the first time. Tahrir Square has taught us to be more tolerant and accept each other.''
In an effort to swim with the popular current of opinion, the Brotherhood has floated the political Justice and Development Party, which eschews religious motifs and slogans. Some of its members have gone on record to say they will not oppose a Christian as the next head of government and would welcome women's participation in politics. Egypt has a sizeable Christian population, which makes secular politics an imperative.
Rehman believes that groups like the Brotherhood are important for Egypt to regain its dominant position as leader of the Arab world. The Brotherhood is insisting the interim government review many of Mubarak's polices , especially relations with Iran and Hamas and Fateh of Palestine. The Brotherhood, he believes, is more connected with the interests of the Arab world. It was a worldview that Egypt lost under Mubarak. Now, says the professor , it is time for Egypt to rise again. "Mubarak had made us subservient to American interests . That's why we had no role in any Arab discourse. I hope that will change now,'' he says.
In the afterglow of the Tahrir Square revolution, Rehman heaps praise on the young people who were in the vanguard. They are guarding against the ebbing of the revolution's spirit, he says, gathering at Tahrir Square every Friday to discuss the week's events, suggest policies for the interim government to adopt and express approval (or disapproval ) of decisions taken.
Next Friday, for instance, they will begin to demand Mubarak's trial. "The revolution continues at Tahrir Square every Friday ,'' says Rehman with a smile.
"Our revolution was peaceful, democratic and secular, not religion-based . Egyptians are a moderate people. We cannot tolerate fanaticism of any kind,'' he insists.
Rehman says Egypt is seriously searching India's parliamentary model for inspiration and ideas. "Most Egyptians like Indian democracy,'' he says. "We need a parliamentary system, not a presidential one. We want a prime minister who is accountable to parliament. We have suffered too long with a president in whom all powers were centralized.''
Indian democracy is a hot topic of discussion in Egypt today and figures in newspaper articles and street debates. Rehman recalls that Gandhi and his philosophy of satyagraha were held up as a model code of behaviour during those heady days in Tahrir Square.
In Delhi for Urdu lover Kamna Prasad's annual mushaira, Jashn-e-Bahar , Rehman recited poems penned by one of Egypt's best-known contemporary poets, Farooq Jewada. Odes to the martyrs of Tahrir Square, Rehman translated the poems into Urdu from the original Arabic.
He strongly defends the legitimization of the Muslim Brotherhood and other radical Islamist groups that are increasingly influencing public discourse and policy decisions. The army recently appointed Brotherhood member Sobhi Saleh to the committee drafting the new constitution.
"What is the problem with that? We did not like the fact that these groups were banned by Mubarak. We are not Islamists but these groups are connected to our roots. They are well organized, do a lot of social work and have influence in the street. It is important to bring them into the mainstream,'' he says.
The poet-professor acknowledges the growing voice of the Muslim Brotherhood but remains confident it will not be allowed to foist an Islamist agenda on Egypt. "The youth who led the revolution will make sure of that,'' he says with supreme confidence. There is a reason he is sanguine. The signs were there at Tahrir Square. When members of the Brotherhood who participated in the revolution tried to raise Islamist slogans such as "Islam is the solution'' , they were quickly and firmly told to keep religion out of this.
"It was amazing to see the change in these groups, once they realized that they would be chased away from Tahrir Square,'' Rehman recalls.
"They forgot their fanaticism and mingled easily with fashionable, westernized women who weren't wearing veils. They even prayed together with Christian groups for the first time. Tahrir Square has taught us to be more tolerant and accept each other.''
In an effort to swim with the popular current of opinion, the Brotherhood has floated the political Justice and Development Party, which eschews religious motifs and slogans. Some of its members have gone on record to say they will not oppose a Christian as the next head of government and would welcome women's participation in politics. Egypt has a sizeable Christian population, which makes secular politics an imperative.
Rehman believes that groups like the Brotherhood are important for Egypt to regain its dominant position as leader of the Arab world. The Brotherhood is insisting the interim government review many of Mubarak's polices , especially relations with Iran and Hamas and Fateh of Palestine. The Brotherhood, he believes, is more connected with the interests of the Arab world. It was a worldview that Egypt lost under Mubarak. Now, says the professor , it is time for Egypt to rise again. "Mubarak had made us subservient to American interests . That's why we had no role in any Arab discourse. I hope that will change now,'' he says.
In the afterglow of the Tahrir Square revolution, Rehman heaps praise on the young people who were in the vanguard. They are guarding against the ebbing of the revolution's spirit, he says, gathering at Tahrir Square every Friday to discuss the week's events, suggest policies for the interim government to adopt and express approval (or disapproval ) of decisions taken.
Next Friday, for instance, they will begin to demand Mubarak's trial. "The revolution continues at Tahrir Square every Friday ,'' says Rehman with a smile.
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