Kifaya in the Middle East

The slogan for the Middle Eastern people’s revolt has become “Kifaya", which means “enough” (enough of oppressions; enough political, economic, and social repressions, enough autocrats whom retarded power management is growing more infuriating).
Nowadays, the Middle East has been humming the tone of democracy they yearn for. The vivid spots toward this path appear indistinctly in some places.

Even in the hottest corner and the source of Middle Eastern conflict, Israel-Palestine, the recent progress indicates cheering signals. Its peaceful election effectively voted for the new Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas whom the Western leaders trust despite of many radical element nuisances.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon seriously responds the signals of Palestine, by removing 30 illegal Jewish housings in Palestine, in the midst of threats from Jewish fundamentalist-extremist.

Iraqi election succeeded with eight millions voters who have the courage to visit the polling stations in the middle of terrors and security threats.
Saudi Arabia held parliamentary election last month, in spite of controversy on woman’s exclusion to vote. Even though terrors took place in several cities of Saudi, the next election will be held. Furthermore, the 74 years authoritative regime say they would allow women to vote and to be voted in the next municipal elections in respond to the hard criticism inside the country and abroad.

Gradually, Syria withdraws the troops of the Lebanese boundary, after 30 years occupation, along with their intelligence network and deadly troops that fond of murdering and tormenting citizens. Assassination of popular ex-Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, drives the people crazy. Hundred thousands Lebanese hit the street and yell anti-Syria slogan, as the answer for previous thousand people’s pro-Syria demonstration driven by Hezbollah movement. Above all there has been the outburst in the streets of Beirut following the Feb. 14 assassination of Lebanese leader Rafiq Hariri. It laid bare all the resentment of Syria’s 30-year occupation, meddling and hit squads. The demonstrations against Syria, and even the massive counter-demonstrations last week by Hezbollah, have framed a broad and (so far) nonviolent debate on the future shape of the entire Arab world.

The largest Arab country, Egypt, is humming the similar tone. President Hosni Mubarak announced the constitution amendment plan to enable race of the more candidates in this year election. Many people were contemptuous on Mubarak’s step who rules for 24 years. They believed that his maneuver just to facilitate his son toward presidency. Some believe that the 77 years old Mubarak will positively elected for the next 6 years in this election, which is the result of engineering. In the largest Arab country, Egypt, President Hosni Mubarak grudgingly announced on Feb. 26 that the constitution would be altered to allow other candidates to run for the presidency. While everyone expects Mubarak, who has ruled for 24 years, to win yet another six-year term in elections this fall at the age of 77, the Sphinx had blinked.

However, Sphinx seems to blink this time. Muhammad Hasanayn Haykal, an Egyptian author and writer who has been promoting democracy, has pronounced 2005 “the year of the big scare” for Egyptian nation.
Kuwaiti women hit the streets to demand the right to be the Member of Parliament. They won the government’s support for a new proposal to parliament. In Jordan, Amman press issues critical news and cartoons –usually about the autocrats in the Middle East. Although the press dares not to criticize Hasyimi regime, the articles are obviously satires the King and royal family. 

The wave of democratization seems irresistible. Many factors underlie this, and the US pressure -by President Bush’s direct statement- is one of them.

Besides the US factor, several objective conditions contribute much for this raising wave. Demographic pressure is one of the key factors. The quantity of citizen blows up, while those weary regimes incapable to provide employment and sufficient life. The sources of State’s revenue decrease while political system becomes stagnant, and social injustice is getting more visible. Both security and intelligence network move on as the killing and persecuting machine.

The slogan for the Middle Eastern people’s revolt has become “Kifaya", which means “enough” (enough of oppressions; enough political, economic, and social repressions, enough autocrats whom retarded power management is growing more infuriating, enough corruption).

The irresistible flow of information opens the youngsters’ eyes. They exchange information and analysis by email. Al-Jazeera TV presents various political events, by a remarkable method and technical skill -which make it adorable to millions of spectators in the region.
Middle East is still the most important exhibition for Islam, although its quantity of Muslims only about 260 millions or 1/5 of the world Muslim population. Therefore, if the most recent history of Middle East runs linearly toward democracy, it would be the best advertisement for Islam. The West arouse by responding this progress positively. Conference of G5 (Germany, France, Italy, England, Spain) several days ago generated official resolution that Islam should not be identified to terrorism.
This Western aid should be welcomed, not only by the old regimes supported by the West, but also by people –the main source for democracy and determinant of the face of that region.

The baby of democracy is crawling on the Middle Eastern streets. We will observe his growth as a kid, teen and –hopefully- mature. Kifaya!