Secularization

Some of my ideas in your article about me and my thoughts (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 17, 2003, page 3) were not precisely, or even correctly, reported and I wanted to make the following remarks: 1. When asked about "secularization" or being myself a secular person, my answer was very precise: It is important first to have a clear definition of what the concept of "secularization" actually means. Secularization does not mean an absence of religion or a society rejecting "religion." Some ideologues try to drive our understanding toward this definition. Secularization means the neutrality of the state toward religious communities, and equal treatment. As long as we are allowed, as Muslims, to implement and to live our Islamic teachings, practices and principles, there is no hindrance for us to live in a secular environment. 2. For the majority Muslim countries, as Indonesia, I think that it is crucial to rely on universal principles and to find a specific model of society based on its values, history, collective psychology and culture (as is already the case). Islamic teachings give us, in that field, four main universal principles: A state based on law, equal citizenship for people of different religions, universal suffrage and accountability of leaders before the population. Beyond these principles, it is up to Indonesian society to find its own model of society and democracy that will be considered as legitimate in the eyes of its population and leaders. 3. Speaking about the Palestinian issue, I said that I was advocating one common state for Jews, Christians and Muslims respecting the universal values aforementioned. We shall of course need a religious Council to deal with and equally protect the rights of the different religious communities, but the ideal end of the process is a common democratic state that cannot be labeled a "Jewish state", "Christian state" or "Islamic State," but a state respecting the teaching and principles of each of these religions.

TARIQ RAMADAN Geneva, Switzerland