How do you see the Middle East - Issue 9

[Dirk/DSF]

Originally Posted by jake.B

Chopping peoples hands off if they steal? Killing people because they had sex outside of marriage. Or because they wish to convert from Islam to something else. In some countries its Illegal to do so believe it or not. I was shocked.

Yeah, but in the 1940s sometime (i think), in Britain, some 14 year old boy was executed for stealing a spoon.

[Dirk/DSF]

Originally Posted by AKU//

Also if you see the stats I posted above Britain is a Christian country in name only. I predict that within the next 15 years there will be more practising Muslims than Christians in the UK.

No, the UK is a Christian country because there are religious - i.e. Christian -representatives in the decision-making sector of Government. Specifically, they're protestant representatives.

But i'd argue that they're not representatives because they're not popular-democratically elected. Which places me against them in addition to my ideal of secular Government.

[politicalagnostic]

I see the Middle East as different wherever I look. One thing I think is an awkward situation is the lack of democracy - but a good king/nobility can provide just as good a service as an open democracy. Look at Saudi Arabia which built an enlightened welfare state.
When you look at the poorer countries, you undoubtedly see more extremism, and terrorism. Some of the countries seem uncomfortable in their existence, taking for example the diverse ethnic groups in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as Iraq.
I agree with Reza Aslan when he says than Islam is in the process of a reformation and a counter-reformation, fed by issues such as Israel.
Essentially, I see an evolving place, where some nations will fall apart and others will thrive. I also see a place that is neglected by international aid but will play a much more pivotal role in 21st century affairs than Africa. I think we should be aiding development in poorer countries but never be seen to be interfering with Islam. Then the extremists will win. They would be able to call the reformists tools of the West with some conviction.

[politicalagnostic]

One more thing - foreign labour. In Qatar the number of Asian labourers is double the number of ethnic Qataris. Don't get me wrong, I don't subscribe to the BNP idea that immigration can destroy a nation, but there will come a point where the class system in the smaller gulf states such as Qatar is challenged. It could be that political radicalism too comes to the nations of the middle east.