First Published: 2011-08-16

Muslims, the West and the Battle for Libya In liberated cities and towns of Libya, the Friday prayers are led nowadays by biblically bearded imams (looked upon as agitators in Western media) who, like all true believers lined behind them, bear no innate grudge against the followers of other faiths, notes Abulqasim Shtaiwie. Middle East Online

Muslims relations with the West are all too often discussed within such contexts as bigotry, chauvinism and theories of conspiracy. Ridding the Libyan case of all divisive issues permeating these relations, and focusing instead on the thousands of people we saw braving bullets in the streets of Benghazi and elsewhere in Libya, and later waving NATO member states flags in the sit-in square, it is reasonable to argue that their actions convey a clear and loud message to the West: we do not hate you. It is a regional partial answer to Bushs famous question why do they hate us? A dubiously worded one presupposing the existence of hatred! The plausibility of this argument is further supported by the fact that the previous phenomenon is the norm in other liberated cities and towns of Libya. Moreover, on every Friday of the past six months, the actual Friday prayers have been held against a patchwork of Western flags. Nothing was missing from the scene except for the faithful to chorus in unison forever will your banners wave! It is the most sacred of Muslim religious rites, and is led nowadays by biblically bearded imams (looked upon as agitators in Western media) who, like all true believers lined behind them, bear no innate grudge against the followers of other faiths. For, quoting the fourth Caliph, a human being is either a brother by faith or an equal by creation. The contents of their message are twofold: in addition to the part outlined above, it also says that they have a right to differ in appearance, and substance, in a way that does not necessarily lead to a clash of civilisations as some intellectuals insist. The foregoing argument notwithstanding, things are susceptible to drastic unwelcome changes if concerned influential Western nations opt for an orchestrated imposition of their common views and global values, pertaining to particular issues, on the government of the hopefully emerging democracy. Such issues may include controversial religious freedoms, blatant meddling in the design of curricula and any other orientations that might undermine mainstream political or social thoughts.

Turning to specifics we may cite two prominent issues: Arab-Israeli relations and tourism. Regarding the first one, if rumour has it that such a relation is being cultivated, it will be the rallying cry of opponents intent on recruiting new extremists, or enlisting the help of old ones, to further their hidden political agenda amongst Muslims worldwide (Iran is a good case in point). Thinking along these lines one can decipher the core message the Gathafi media has been blasting since the formation of the National Transitional Council. It attests to a systematic and persistent effort to falsely accuse NTC of being an Israeli sympathiser, knowing for certain the disgrace such an accusation would bring upon NTC. Keeping this in mind, it is an imperative of political prudence to steer clear of these murky waters for the time being. As for tourism, the development of which Gathafi has foregone on grounds of regime security, it is undeniably a potential future foreign exchange earner. But, what price tourism? All things considered, the establishment of a fullyfledged, western style, tourist industry will almost certainly introduce into the country a host of objectionable values, the effects of which will ripple through its social fabric as some individuals would say. For our view of the burgeoning events to be panoramic we need to briefly touch upon the subject of economic welfare, albeit with a restriction to the issue of assets frozen abroad. Knowing the Libyan folk, we can rest assured that all grumbles will be hushed during the transitional period and probably for a years grace following the formation of an elected government. But, with the grace period over, grumbles will get louder regardless of all learned explanations, legal or otherwise, of the matter. And if nothing was done to resolve it, peaceful demonstrations guaranteed by the new democracy will turn into ugly civil strife. All concerned parties should reckon with the ramifications of such issues, for they are typical of the things on which militancy feeds. In the long run, factors associated with the incessant forces of globalisation will bring about gradual, and peaceful, changes in the prevalent attitudes towards some of the previously mentioned issues. Nevertheless, those of a religious nature are the most involved and should be addressed very carefully. Now, granting the Wests concerns for the causes of democracy and world peace are genuine, their just and apt handling of political, social and cultural affairs in post Gathafi Libya will undoubtedly initiate a period of peace, stability and prosperity in the region, presenting the West with the chance of a lifetime to win their first battle in their proclaimed war for the hearts and minds of Muslims. On the other hand, going against the grain of established values will be tantamount to switching on beacons that incite some of those same flags waving people to grow long beards, or hide behind veils, changing their appearances to resemble images, widespread in western media, of conspicuously stereotyped bearded or veiled figures embodying everything evil, ready to wreak havoc on everything Western.

Lest we forget, they will not be marching alone towards belligerence, for they will be mentored, trained and aided by battle-hardened Jihadists, who will declare that Jihad in Libya is incumbent upon able Muslims everywhere. Seeking to exact retribution on the belligerents, the West will be plunged in yet another battle of their war on international terrorism. Such a war is inherently flawed in the sense that the party waging it is never certain when it has been won. A fact very much evident in the course events have taken in fronts like Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia. If such a grim pessimistic scenario were to unfold in Libya, some would still explain the perpetrators actions within the context of Bushs absurd answer to his question: they committed their atrocities because they hate our freedoms.

Abulqasim Shtaiwie lives in Benghazi, Libya.