Authoritarianism in the Muslim world: An update
A year after the Turkish regime survived a military coup, the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has consolidated its grip in power, but it is still a bit shaky moving forward.
Last year, conspiracy theorists were quick to jump into conclusion and cry victory for Turkey in the aftermath of the bloodbath that ensued during the failed military coup.
They were blaming the west, they were blaming Israel, they were saying Turkey is a successful Muslim country which has no debts, and does not depend on the West thus it will survive the dilemma.
It survived, but barely, as there were no overwhelming support for the Erdogan regime in Turkey with the recent constitutional changes brought through a referendum.
It is very good to see that Turkey has many followers. But it confirms my fears that a large number of Muslims simply love authoritarian rule.
Yet they were probably against Bashar Al Asad’s authoritarian rule, and they are now in favor of Erdogan’s authoritarian rule…baffling!
They were against Muammar Gaddafi for his authoritarian rule, but they support the new authoritarian rulers in Libya.
They were pro-Saddam when the US-British invaded the country, even when he was seen as a dictator.
Now they are against the Iraqi government, which is not seen as an authoritarian regime, though it is a more of a religious bigot.
Political scientists use the term authoritarianism to describe a way of governing that values order and control over personal freedom. (ask Mr Google).
Nevertheless, the high incidence of authoritarianism in recent history in the Islamic world may mean that a certain number of Muslims, not Islam, may be incompatible with the idea of an open government solution – that is a democratic one.
A certain number of Muslims are also ready and willing to support authoritarianism for several reasons, but the obvious reason would be the fear of losing political control to others, to more liberal or less controlling agents.
But the whole situation warrants the begging question: Does Islam support authoritarianism?
According to Harun Yahya, a Turk, authoritarianism, and Islam are not compatible.
And he explains why:
“Forcing people to believe in a religion or to adopt its forms of belief is completely contrary to the essence and spirit of Islam.
“That is because according to Islam, true faith is only possible with free will and freedom of conscience.”
Be my guest…tell me more!