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Iranian Intellectual: ‘Muslims Should Reform Religion… Accept Democracy’

Jul 2, 2004 11:46 am By Robert Spencer

Kedivar’s words about reform are much needed, even if his claims that Islam supports freedom and democracy run against the plain sense of the Qur’an and Sunnah — that is, unless he means freedom and democracy for Muslim men only. In any case, his words will win lip service from self-proclaimed moderates, opprobrium from radicals, and not much action from anyone. From MEMRI:

The director of the Association for the Defense of Journalism in Iran, Dr. Mohsen Kedivar, participated in a seminar titled “Towards Democracy” at the Law and Political Science Faculty of the University of Tehran. In a speech, he addressed the issue of tyranny and democracy in Iran, noting that Iranian society had experienced two types of tyranny: secular tyranny under the Shah’s regime, and religious tyranny under the regime of the Islamic Revolution. …

Kedivar states that Islam is a religion related to time and location, and that it is the people who must decide how society should be run. He sees democracy as the best way of managing society’s affairs, but does not preach secularism, and even opposes secularists who call for separation of religion and state. He has in the past been tried and imprisoned for his writings. The following are excerpts from his speech at the seminar:

[…]

“[There are] two groups which do not support freedom or democracy: [The first group is] those who support the totalitarian interpretation of religion and Islam, and [the second group is] the secular Iranians and foreigners who equate Islam with totalitarianism… The secular view religion as matter for the individual. When the officials of the regime are religious and advocate religious rule, they are permitted to propose [religious rule to the public] as a public matter, but even then [the endorsement of this principle should] be dependent upon its acceptance by the majority…”

Islam Promotes Freedom and Democracy

“[The adherents of the second interpretation, i.e.] democratic Islam, view religion as based upon democratic principles… Islam, [in their opinion,] is – for most – a way of life related to time and place… According to the first interpretation [i.e., the totalitarian interpretation of Islam], Islam is contradictory to democracy and impedes it. But according to the second interpretation, not only is [Islam] not contradictory to democracy, but it is even considered a catalyst in its [implementation]. …

“It is incumbent upon Muslims to reevaluate the existing religious traditions and to reform religious and democratic [values]. They must accept the fact that democracy is the only way to run the social and political affairs [of society].”

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Filed Under: Iran, Moderate Muslims


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