: Slowly, Muslim Countries Confront “Jihadi” Culture

Paralleling US President George W. Bush’s rallying cry, militants have thrown down the “you’re either with us or against us” gauntlet to Muslim populations with varying degrees of success. In Gaza, thousands came out in support of recent suicide attacks (even with Arab victims) while in Pakistan, the pro-Osama throngs (and T-shirt sales) have largely dissipated. Muslim leaderships know that more than their relations with the west are at stake and are making attempts to reform “jihadi” culture. For some it is a grassroots-driven spiritual renewal. “We talk with the young men in question-and-answer sessions,” says one imam. “I notice some bad thoughts in the young generation these days, and I am trying to correct these thoughts before they turn into terrorism.” For others like Indonesia and Egypt, the goal appears to be resisting long-standing political threats. And in Uzbekistan, there are undercurrents of a Wahabi/Naqhsbandi rivalry. What makes it more dynamic is that the processes have spurred the idea of democratic reforms as fighting two evils: terrorism and dictatorship. “Please remember that in democratic countries the fanatics, the fundamentalists, the terrorists are not such a threat as in dictatorships, and that is why we want to build a democracy,” says Muborak Tashpulatova (a National Endowment for Democracy honoree). “Only educated citizens can oppose fanatics.”

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.