Islam and Democracy

Tariq Ramadan is the Muslim scholar who was set to accept a professorship at Notre Dame last year when until he was denied a visa by the US Government. Yesterday he addressed an audience in Georgetown by video hookup and argued that there is no inherent conflict between Islam and democracy:

"There is no contradiction between Islamic teachings and democratic principles. The problem is not the concept; it's the terminology," said Ramadan, 42, a fellow at St. Antony's College at Oxford University. The issue is not the relationship between church and state, he said, but "the relationship between dogma and rationality."

Ramadan listed five "indisputable" principles of Islam that are also fundamentals of democracy: the rule of law, equal rights for all citizens, universal suffrage, accountability of government and separation of powers.

"I'm not saying new things," he added. "This is as old as Islamic tradition."

As the article noted, he did not address his views on the equality of women; apparently they are not so democratic. I am glad to hear the voices of Muslims who argue for democracy and peace; I just wish there were more of them.