alkhabar
Maghreb
The Associated Press reported : “The victory of an Islamist Party in Morocco’s parliamentary elections appears to be one more sign that religious-based parties are benefiting the most from the new freedoms brought by the Arab Spring. Across the Middle East, parties referencing Islam have made great strides, offering an alternative to corrupt, long serving dictators, who have often ruled with close Western support.” The report noted that the victorious Justice and Development Party won 107 of 395 seats in the Moroccan parliament.
However, Ennhada and the PJD have succeeded in their election wins precisely because they have chosen the middle ground rather than an extremist stance. Rachid Ghannouchi of Ennhada praised the policies of the AK party in Turkey showing that a party with Islamic credentials can govern successfully in a society like Turkey which has a long secular tradition but is also a country with an Islamic majority.
In its initial public statement after the election, the PJD leader declared, ”Religion belongs in the mosques and we are not going to interfere in people’s personal lives.”
Egypt is now going through th election process and despite riots in Tahrir square in Cairo and in other cities involving tens of thousands of protestors, the election is proceeding peacefully with a record turnout. Egyptians are lining up to vote in record numbers peacefully and the turnout is high. The Islamic Brotherhood which is likely to do well in the polls has not participated in the protests in Tahrir Square and has urged the Egyptian people to vote.
Reuters reported : “Egyptians voted on Monday in the first election since a popular revolt toppled Hosni Mubarak’s one-man rule, showing new-found faith in the ballot box that may sweep long-banned Islamists into parliament even as army generals cling to power. Voters swarmed to the polls in a generally peaceful atmosphere despite the unrest that marred the election run-up, when 42 people were killed in demonstrations demanding an immediate transition from military to civilian rule.”
These encouraging and peaceful elections held for the most part with transparency and fairness prove that islamic parties in North Africa have won fairly and democratically and have taken to the democratic process. This is an excellent start as these legitmately elected governments will have to face the external difficulties of a recession and even a depression in Western countries and the problems of widespread unemployment, pensions,education and health services.
However, Ennhada and the PJD have succeeded in their election wins precisely because they have chosen the middle ground rather than an extremist stance. Rachid Ghannouchi of Ennhada praised the policies of the AK party in Turkey showing that a party with Islamic credentials can govern successfully in a society like Turkey which has a long secular tradition but is also a country with an Islamic majority.
In its initial public statement after the election, the PJD leader declared, ”Religion belongs in the mosques and we are not going to interfere in people’s personal lives.”
Egypt is now going through th election process and despite riots in Tahrir square in Cairo and in other cities involving tens of thousands of protestors, the election is proceeding peacefully with a record turnout. Egyptians are lining up to vote in record numbers peacefully and the turnout is high. The Islamic Brotherhood which is likely to do well in the polls has not participated in the protests in Tahrir Square and has urged the Egyptian people to vote.
Reuters reported : “Egyptians voted on Monday in the first election since a popular revolt toppled Hosni Mubarak’s one-man rule, showing new-found faith in the ballot box that may sweep long-banned Islamists into parliament even as army generals cling to power. Voters swarmed to the polls in a generally peaceful atmosphere despite the unrest that marred the election run-up, when 42 people were killed in demonstrations demanding an immediate transition from military to civilian rule.”
These encouraging and peaceful elections held for the most part with transparency and fairness prove that islamic parties in North Africa have won fairly and democratically and have taken to the democratic process. This is an excellent start as these legitmately elected governments will have to face the external difficulties of a recession and even a depression in Western countries and the problems of widespread unemployment, pensions,education and health services.
