Thursday, May 29, 2003
Following some developments in Iraq, "Islamic Justice Taking Hold in Baghdad" (washingtonpost.com)
It reports that Shiite Muslim clergy have stepped into the vacuum in Baghdad to establish courts of justice. In the absence of any other authority, the Shiite courts seem to be welcome by the Iraqis but there are concerns that the actions forbode a return to a fundamentalist Muslim state.
I find the tension between religious fundamentalism and liberal democracy here very interesting. From an American perspective, the prospect of a religious government is threatening for its oppression of individual liberties. But social stability is necessary for any government to flourish and an institution like the church can provide such stability. I won't carry this thought out to its fullest for lack of time but it's an interesting line of thought.
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