Ikhwanweb :: The Muslim Brotherhood Official English Website

Islamist Parties and Democracy

Abu Khawla, a human rights activist, argues that Islamist parties like the Muslim Brotherhood can not be trusted to preserve democracy if they win elections. But they can’t just be shut out of the political process either. Instead, the most effective way to head off the Islamist threat, says Khawla

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Abu Khawla, a human rights activist, argues that Islamist parties like the Muslim Brotherhood can not be trusted to preserve democracy if they win elections. But they can’t just be shut out of the political process either. Instead, the most effective way to head off the Islamist threat, says Khawla, is for broad coalitions of moderate parties to compete with them in free elections, and for governments to undermine extremism’s appeal through economic reform and social services. “For Washington, and the international community, the lesson is clear: Instead of supporting failed autocracies in the Middle East, resources should be provided to support groups struggling for modernization, secularism, and human rights. These groups are well-placed to carry out much needed educational, social, and economic reforms.”

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