It’s not only the English language bloggers from Middle East who are continuously trying to bridge the cultural gaps, but Arabic language bloggers are facing similar tough battle at home, within the Arabic blogsphere itself.
Muslim moderates are criticizing some of the taboos of their system. One of them simply pushed away the unworthy books he was reading, another challenged his authorities to treat Christians alike Muslims treated in the West, but worst is to get kicked out of your school for practicing your freedom of speech.
From Egypt…
Kareem Amer was kicked out from his school because he spoke freely on his opinion about Islam. Last year he was detained for some time in reference of what he published online, and what he argues on forums that discuss critical issues about Islam, especially of what is going on Egypt.
Few days ago he wrote that he broke Al Azhar chains. He said:
هل أحزن لأننى إستعدت حريتى ؟؟ ، هل يكتئب العبد عندما ينجح فى إنتزاع حريته قسرا من قبضة من كان يعد نفسه سيدا عليه ؟؟ ، هل يبكى من ينتصر على الظلم والإستعباد وتقييد العقول ؟؟ ، لقد إنتزعتها إنتزاعا من بين أيديهم وكانوا يساوموننى عليها ، كانوا ينتظروننى أن أنكر وأن أتنصل من نسبة آرائى الحرة الجريئة لشخصى ، كان ينتظرون ولادة شخصيتى الثانية أثناء عملية التحقيق ، ولكن هيهات هيهات لما كانوا ينتظرونه منى !!
Should I be sad because I reclaimed my freedom?? Would a slave get depressed when he succeeds in extracting his freedom forcibly from the hands of his masters?? Would one cry if he wins against persecution, slavery and mind enchaining?? I forcibly extracted it from there hands when they were haggling for it, they expected that I denounce and controvert from my free fearless personal opinions. During the investigation, they waited the rebirth of a second character, but how impossible that is from what they waited for!!
In Kuwait…
Jandeef is upset by the way his country's authorities treat non-Muslims. He quotes clips from local newspapers which present the reactions to authority refusal to grant a piece of land for the Catholic Church. Jandeef then writes:
نحن من نطنطن بأن ديننا دين تسامح واعتدال واحترام للآخرين ، ونردد كالببغاوات “لكم دينكم ولي دين” ، هذه فعايلنا ، لو تم رفض طلب لنا لبناء مسجد في أميركا أو أوروبا ، تجدنا أول من يعايرهم بحرية الاعتقاد واحترام الأديان.
We claim that our religion is a one that calls for forgiveness, toleration and equinoctial and respecting others, and we repeat like parrots “you have your religion and I have mine”, this is what we do, if a request to build a mosque in America or Europe get rejected, you will notice that we would be first to disgrace their claims of religion freedom and respecting others religion.
In Saudi Arabia…
Fuad Al Farhan reviews some of the new novels, written my Saudi females. He notices something that all these novels share and he writes:
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Arabisc: Moderate Muslim Voices
This is a cross-posting. It was initially published at Global Voices!
The following is an abbreviated translation from some of the Arabic-language blogsphere.
It’s not only the English language bloggers from Middle East who are continuously tryin…