news details |
|
|
| Liberalism gradually replacing extremism | | | Gradually fundamentalism and extremism are being replaced by love for liberalism and moderation in several islamic countries,including Pakistan,Iran,Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The none too old election in Bangladesh and Pakistan have lent further credence to the reports that winds in favour of moderation and libralism were blowing in these two countries.The latest to fall in line is Iran where the recent Presidential election has been disputed by crowds protesting on the roads for the last several days. Equally a large number of civilians have been killed in the police action ordered by the Government to quell violence. It was a close contest between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, considered to be a hardliner, and Mir Hussein Mousavi, one among the moderates. President Mahmoud had secured the support of 63 per cent voters and Mousavi had polled 34 per cent votes. But the supporters of Mousavi are not prepared to accept defeat on the plea that the election has been rigged.The Government in Tehran is under tremendous pressure and there are possibilities that recount may be ordered in some pockets which may not change the election results because the difference in the polling percentage between President Ahmadinejad and Mousavi is quite large.Well whether the poll results get altered by the r ecount or not that is not important. What is important is that people have taken to the streets,facing bullets and lathis to send shivers down the pants of the extremists. But the way Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has dished out a threat to the protesters that in case they did not end the street protests they would be held responsible for the bloodshed as the Government contemplated st rict action against the agitators. While several European countries and the international human rights organisations have criticised the election and its aftermath, the US Government led by Barack Obama has preferred to adopt a passive role. It has not reacted to the developments in Iran with the hope that it may succeed in reestablishing political diplomatic relations with Tehran. The relations between Tehran and Washington stand strained durig the last several years over Iran's nuclear programme. Fortunately the US Government has not repeated its Iraq misadventure in Iran. With Khamenei on the side of President Mahmoud the extremists may win the first round but it may not silence the roaring moderates. It is better for Tehran to listen to the voice of the moderates failing which Iran may be in bigger political crisis. Had not the moderates outnumbered extremists in Pakistan and Bangladesh the hardliners would not have been defeated in the elections.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
