Sharia for Libya- Arab World Not Ready For Democracy

I'd like to think that the Arab world is civilized enough for democracy, but it is becoming increasingly clear that this is not the case.  At least democracy in the true sense of the word.

What the West has been touting as the "Arab Spring" - revolutions that have toppled regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya- is turning out to be nothing more than a re-awakening of racist, Islamist sentiments in the citizenry and leadership of some of those countries. Rather than embracing the  freedom and equality  that is part and parcel of  democracies, countries like Libya and Egypt are taking a step backwards.

Take Mustafa Abdel Jalil, interim head of Libya's National Transitional Council, who has said that although the new government will not tolerate "extremist ideology": In other words, Libya will become an Islamic state. Sharia Law is most definitely extreme, and lacks any of the fundamentals of equality, as much as Muslims like to claim otherwise. And any country that has Sharia as its rule of law, in no way qualifies to be called a democracy.  Then there are the  allegations of racism  by the so-called rebel liberators of Libya.  Apparently, they have been trying to purge Libya of the black Africans, and as a result have been arresting and murdering them. They deny it, but according to human rights organizations, there is plenty of proof. However, the hatred is definitely there, whether true or not.  According to one rebel "Libyan people don't like people with dark skins." They also don't like Jews, evident in the anti-Semitic cartoons of Gaddafi.

"We seek a state of law, prosperity and one where sharia is the main source for legislation, and this requires many things and conditions."  

And I don't hold much hope for Egypt, as far as Sharia goes, if the Muslim Brotherhood gets its grips on the leadership of that country. And one of the few Middle Eastern lands that was a quasi- friend to Israel is now hurtling in the opposite direction. The current military dictatorship has no love for Israel, and that doesn't seem likely to change.  In fact, Arab Muslim journalist Khaled Abu Toameh, partially blames the government for inciting the recent mob attack on the Israeli Embassy.  According to Toameh, several days before the rampage, 23-year-old  Ahmed al-Shahat climbed 20 floors to the Israeli Embassy and removed its flag.  Rather than punishing the young man, he was honored for his "courageous" deed, and given both a job and an apartment. This, Toameh believes, was more than likely the catalyst for storming the Embassy- individuals hoping to get their praise and piece of the cake in a country with high unemployment.  He fears that it will only encourage more violence.

I'm sure there are some in that region who might possibly possess the intellectual means to embrace freedom and democracy, but I think the vast majority don't and probably never will.





Sources: UKDailyMail, GuardianUK,