11.05.2011
Dialogue Forum with Jordanian and Egyptian Experts on “After the Revolutions: A New Political Landscape?“
At the invitation of our research unit for Middle East and Comparative Politics and the Seminar for Religious and Jewish Studies, the former Jordanian U.N. ambassador Hasan Abu Ni’mah and Prof. Dr. Muhammad A. Sharkawi, professor at Cairo University, discussed the current upheavals in the Arab world. In their speeches they examined both causes of the protests and their consequences for the whole Arab region.
Prof. Sharkawi especially elaborated on achievements of the revolution, but also on prevailing challenges. The new Egyptian society would be democratic and religious. According to Prof. Sharkawi, there was no reason for concerns about Islamic extremists because adherents of Islam had a disposition to moderate attitudes. This was reflected in recent exchange efforts between the Muslim Brotherhood and clerics of al-Azhar University. He furthermore stressed the role of Arab women during the upheaval, which signified another step towards emancipation.
H.E. Hasan Abu Ni’mah called the current developments in the Arab world irreversible. People stood up against repressive regimes even if this led to them being personally threatened. In this process their demands were basically the same in all countries affected. Economic demands were always followed by political ones in second place. He criticized the behavior of Western states which at first had been one-sidedly concerned with the security of Israel.
The talks were followed by a vivid discussion with the audience who took advantage of this opportunity for exchange with our guests, while the moderators Schreiner and Schlumberger remained in the background.
