It is common knowledge that the Palestinians have long been direct victims of the directionless, spineless and hypocritical polices of the Arab leadership. It is equally common knowledge that the State of Israel need make no effort to impose its vision, its methods and its objectives. Given the support of the United States, Europe’s guilty silence and the compliant passivity of the Arab regimes, we know what to expect. The foreign policy of most Arab states has been described with good reason as “pro-Zionist.” Their cowardice and treachery comes as no surprise.
Following last year’s murderous attack on Gaza by Israeli forces, we may have thought we’d seen the worst. That judgment failed to take into account the ingenuity of the “worse yet” scenario produced by the Egyptian regime and the “religious authorities” of al-Azhar. In the name of “national security”, of the fight against “terrorism”, and ultimately, of combating “corruption”, “smuggling” and “drug trafficking”, the Egyptian government is building a wall reaching twenty meters below ground level to stop the “Gazans” from carrying out their “illegal” activities and from digging “smuggling tunnels.” Of course, the Egyptian government has no intention of confining the inhabitants of Gaza to their hell; of course, the measure is dictated only by concern for national security! So persuasive is the argument that the committee of religious experts of al-Azhar quickly endorsed the government decision, declaring it to be “islamically legitimate” (“in conformity with the Shari’a”) for the country to protect its borders. (The al-Azhar scholars were responding to a fatwa issued by the International Union of Muslim Scholars that had ruled the exact opposite, that the Egyptian decision was “islamically unacceptable.”)
For shame! So this is how justice is mocked, how power and religion are misused. The Palestinian people, and most of all the inhabitants of Gaza, are denied their dignity and their rights; deprived of access to food, to water and to basic health care. And now, the Egyptian government becomes the ally of Israeli policy at its worst: isolating, strangling, starving, and smothering Palestinian civilian life after having eradicated hundreds. The aim is clear: to choke off all resistance and to destroy its leadership. The Egyptian government has blocked convoys attempting to deliver badly needed aid to the Palestinian people in an effort to raise the siege of Gaza. The mobilization that brought hundreds of women and men from around the world to Rafah was met by refusal upon refusal by the Cairo authorities, along with a strategy of selective humiliation.
For shame! No wonder the Israeli government purring with contentment. After all, a new and “promising” start for the “peace process” has been announced! There will be something for everybody: the United States, along with Saudi Arabia and Egypt has spared no efforts to draft a new and “comprehensive” program. A splendid “peace process” indeed, in whose name civilians have suffered months of blockade before their leaders are invited to take their place at the “free” and “respectful” negotiating table. Israel can keep on purring: it can play for more time without making the slightest concession. Settlement activities are to be temporarily frozen—except for construction projects already underway. Finer negotiations would be hard to find!
It cannot be repeated often enough: the Egyptian “national security wall” is a wall of shame. The religious authorities that have legitimized it have behaved exactly like the notorious “ulama” (Muslim scholars) or “Islamic councils” that openly serve power, whether of dictators or the forces of colonialism, or of some self-styled Republic specializing in the manipulation of religion. What can possibly remain of their credibility after issuing a “political fatwa” that lends the Islamic endorsement of craven scholars to the power of dictatorship? Silence would have been far better.
We must condemn these unacceptable acts, and stand beside those who resist with dignity. If successive Israeli governments know one thing—with which we must agree—it is this: the Palestinian people will not surrender. For those who may still harbor doubts, we must add a second certainty, that of time: History is on the side of the Palestinians; it is they who represent, today and tomorrow, hope for the noblest human values. To resist oppression, to defend one’s legitimate rights and one’s land, to never yield to the arrogance and to the lies of the mighty. As for the power of the Israelis, the Egyptians and others, as for the fatwas of government-appointed ulama, these things too will pass; they will pass, and will be forgotten. Happily forgotten. For the duty of memory is transformed into forgetfulness when it comes to the names and the acts of dictators, traitors and cowards.
Hello/Salem,
The wall and actions of Egypt and many other countries (especially the Arabe and Islamic ones) is indeed a shame, a big shame. It is very frustrating to realize all the silence of many countries about what is all still happening in Israël and to the Palestinians.
When something small happens(as Cartoon issue), a scandal of it is made. Followed by all kind of revolts and violence, boycotting etc.
When people and brothers in Islam and above all in humanity are killed every day, oppressed, neglected etc, there is silence, killing silence……… where is the logic, were are the universal principles and values?
History will indeed show….
May God bless, Loves Hakima
I have read many of your articles and I respect your opinions in religion. However, this issue seems purely political. You dismiss the concern over drugs and terrorism as if it did not exist, but it is a serious problem. Does not Hamas have some blame in this affair since they are breaking laws and threatening Egypt’s national security? It seems to me that you, like Yusuf Qaradawi, have employed a straw man argument because you do not deal with the real issue: drugs and terrorism. Rather, I see this article as apologetics and propoganda for Hamas. Perhaps if Hamas changed its behavior, we would not need a wall. Furthermore, scholars on both sides say this is acceptable with “Shariah.” The abuse of our religion and specifically our religious law to legitimate or delegitimate a purely political action is simply shameful.
There is nothing political about that opinion.
Although one does not necessarily agree with Hamas and drugs. Starving people has never been used, or condoned in the history of islam, to my knowledge.
Religious throughout history deteriorated when the quest fro social justice and equality of mankind, was dropped in favor of the building or the effigy.
I sense a perverted interpretation of common decent principles here, to separate our conscience from day to day life, separating religion from “politics” a la Mubarak!
The real issue is not drugs and terrorism, the real issue is that Gaza is equivalent to a jail. For Egypt to build this wall is for it to deny the inhabitants of Gaza the only outlet they have. Hamas used the Egypt/Gaza border to smuggle in the basic necessities that Israel has denied to the Palestinians in Gaza. Ramadan is pointing out the irony in the apparent religious and political justification that Egypt has offered, and is saying that as humans, we have an obligation to advocate and fight for the basic human rights of the oppressed population in Gaza.
I am amazed by this article how can any human being not see what is being done to Palistenian people and what the Govt of Egypt has done and is doing if the Fatawa was issued by Paid Ulmas it has been done before and History will remember traitors too. And Of course Allah SWT is The Final Judge It is this kind of Ulmas who will be ., Insha’Allah Draged by their forelocks into the place where they belong. This world is a Place of Test , I hope those Ulamas had “READ ” that Haidth Of course Tariq Ramadan ‘s article is supper as usual. Full of Truth . Truth is something paid politically or otherwise Ulma can not utter .
Thank you very much for the brave and honest words, which I fully endorse. I hope and pray that those of us who stand up for our Palestinian sisters and brothers will be more successful in the future.
“When people and brothers in Islam and above all in humanity are killed every day, oppressed, neglected etc” – were do you mean? in Sudan? Pakistan? in Afganistan? in Iraq? in Yemen?
Let us not make the same mistake as in Ulster/Nth Ireland,unconditional support for either side continues the oppression.I pray the people will realize the ride they are being taken on ,without politics we are all HUMAN BEINGS
This is what sincere people say. Providing all help to Palestinians is the action that all of us should be doing. Well said Prof. Ramadan
Nasser Abdel-Hakim
Melbourne – Australia
Thank you for your article and I congratulate you on your website and your video debates. I certainly learned a lot from them. On the Palestinian cause, I don’t agree with you on few points as I believe they should clean their ranks and speak with one voice. Without that I don’t think they will ever be free nor have peace (Incha Allah I am wrong). If they don’t fight for their land no one will. Regarding the Wall, I think if I was an Egyptian I would be ashamed of the action of my country. I will be ashamed that my country is treeing the Palestinians the same way as Israel. The next step will be to gun them down if they try and cross the borders. For sure soon we will hear about a US/Israeli handout of few billion $ to the Egyptian dictatorship for doing their dirty work.
You touched on the “spineless and hypocritical polices of the Arab leadership” I think they should be removed and tried for the crimes they committed (corruption, human right, abuse of power …).
I would love to see an article from you about the “Arab leaders” I think they are the real shame.
I am proud to be Muslim but really ashamed by every single Arab leader. Instead of advancing their nations they dragged them back centuries. They had a beautiful religion representing a perfect democracy that encouraged the righteousness, liberated the slaves, liberated women, and encouraged us to learn yet in this day and age Muslim men are treating their women as slaves, forcing them into marriages, not allowing them to study or work in the name of Islam.
The biggest shame is Saudi Arabia, ruled by a corrupt family beyond imagination. They are enjoying a luxurious life yet some citizens don’t have a shelter or enough to buy dinner.
Bribe allegations surfaced following an arms deal with the UK government and when investigation started they put pressure and stopped it. The UK statement was “it is not in our interest to carry on the investigation” how convenient? (no comments on the UK hypocrisy). This is one drop in the ocean from the Arabic dictatorships.
Thanks again for your views & hard work
To Justin:
I don’t see how this article is a propoaganda for Hamas. Palestinians were pressured by USA ands Israel to hold elections and when the results didn’t suit them they create a siege. How hypocritical.
Civilians have been denied basic necessities and are dying because of the occupation. How about state-terrorism that Israel is committing even against those who use non-violent methods?
The world condemned violent resistance to occupation and constantly called upon Palestinians to adopt non violent methods in their struggle. Now that has been accomplished, through peacefull demonstration such in the case of the village of Bilin in the West bank, this same world stands by MUTE while thoughtful, non-violent leadership are illegally detained and held indefinitely in Israeli prisons. This is an outrage.
Check the links below for stories of ordinary people who have been violently dealt with by Israel despite their peaceful methods of resistance.
http://stopthewall.org/latestnews/2139.shtml
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10994.shtml
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10984.shtml
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10955.shtml
How would you feel and what would you do if someone came to your house and simply kicked you out of it by force to live in it and you had no place to go?
This is common pratice in the occupied territories where settlers take over Palestinian homes.
How would you feel if you woke up one day and had your house demolished by tanks and you were not even allowed to take your belongings?
Regarding Egypt’s Wall of Shame:
It is known that Egypt bows to USA which provide them with billions in aid. What I find sad is that Egyptians didn’t react. This was far from the reaction they had after a soccer game with Algeria when the entire population mobilized for weeks. I wish they are as passionate about the Palestinian suffering as they were about soccer.
Shame on the Egyptian gouvernment and on all the islamic scholars who endorse its shameful policies.
Egypt is the largest aid receiving poor nation in the world. It has received hundreds of billions of dollars in the last 40 years. Why do you expect America and Europe to give free dole without payback?
Without the aid from UK, Germany, Japan, USA mass of Egyptians would be starving like so many people of Africa. The regime and its Islamic Ulema are being selfish protecting their own.
Palestine is a passion for us living in Europe. We have access to good food and good education and a democracy. Tariq, you have no idea what your family escaped when they left poverty and injustice of Egypt. Islamic ideals are easy only when your stomach is full.
“Islamic ideals are easy only when your stomach is full.” what bullshit. blaming your incapability on these responsibilities instead of your own procrastinating cowardly self? just look at other people, at the oppressed Palestinians and other Muslims who never gave up. How empty is your stomach really?
And do you really know his family’s background? As far as I do know, you’re way off track.
Bismillah ir rahman ir raheem
As salaam alekum wa rahamtulahhi wabaraketu
Again Brother Tariq your words have triggered in me a sense of necessary action against this opression. I must inform myself of what is going on and write to the Egyptian, Israeli and other governments to cease what they are doing. It is a genocide right in front of our eyes! I am so busy in my life that I fail to read and find out what is happening to my brothers/sisters in many parts of the world muslim and non-muslim. Here I sit in my comfortable home worrying what I will make my family for dinner! I must not be a silent observer. l can not believe that muslim scholars are agreeing to this wall?
Thank you brother Ramadan for enlightening me to this tragedy. What will we say when we are in front of Allah and he asks us what we did to fight oppression and help our brothers/sisters who are dying at the hands of tyrannical oppressors?
I met you when you came for the R.I.S conference and have read your book WHAT I BELIEVE. You can not imagine how that book has helped me to realize and sort out a lot of inner turmoil. I am no longer going to be a silent social outcast because I am muslim. NO! I am going to be part of society, learn my deen and take my cultural identity back. I can not thank you enough.
from the lady that works in aviation and was at your book signing in Toronto with my son. I know I will cry but I will get over it and get up and no longer be a victim.