By: Said Chekri
The situation seems to smile on Islamists. They win in Tunisia and Morocco and are waiting to do the same in Egypt. The wave of Islamist threat, leaving only a single color in Spring Arabic: green, not to be confused with the color of environmentalists. At least in North Africa, Algeria and therefore, the advocates of political Islam, have become cautious since the attacks of September 2001, now have reason to believe again in their ambitions. Spring has taken or weakened Arab dictatorships in these countries, the United States and other Western powers do not seem much frightened by the rise of Islamic power "soft" in these parts, and some suddenly discover the "Turkish model" as the ideal alternative to plans that crumble and collapse under the weight of political and social demands, long resisted, repressed and stifled.
Never, indeed, the international situation was favorable to a resurgence of Islamism.
But note that the first instinct of winning parties in Tunisia and Morocco was to reassure the West. The Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt have already done and according to some indiscretions that are already crispy around Cairo, their first pledge is to not touch the Camp David Accords. From there to dare to challenge the privileged status of Israel, there is a gap wider than the Suez Canal. Reassuring to Washington? Be.
But how will they do, these elected Islamist-anointed to reign over the country where individual freedoms, the right to difference, equality of men and women before the law are claimed to hue and cry, to bring down dictatorships fortified? While countries in the region are facing the threat of Islamism, Islamists are, in turn, to the test of democracy, because come on the back of popular revolts driven by two strong claims: Democracy and social justice. Two applications which they have to answer this asset is their hypocritical: governing in the name of God. This augurs a bleak future for democracy and social justice. Is that in this transfer of power from the hands of autocratic theocracies to those of graduates emerging, there is a bug. Spring will have to play extra time, just to regain its colors.
S. C.