Secularization
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