Jordan Times
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Conference aims to prove democracy does not conflict with Islam
AMMAN (Petra) — The World Affairs Council on Tuesday opened a two-day meeting entitled: Democracy in Muslim Countries — the Experience of Jordan, attended by delegates from Arab and foreign nations.Addressing the conference, Interior Minister Samir Habashneh reviewed the different phases in the development of democracy in the Kingdom and reaffirmed Jordan's solid steps towards enhancing the state of institutions and the rule of law.
Radwan Masmoudi from the Washington-based Centre for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID), said the meeting had been organised to enhance the concept of democracy in Islamic countries and also promote democracy in Jordan to become a model to be followed in Arab and Muslim countries.
Masmoudi called on the world community to contribute towards ending injustice, oppression and corruption plaguing the Arab and Islamic worlds and to replace it with democratic regimes that respect freedom and human dignity.
Fakhri Abu Shakra, a council member, said the meeting, which was organised in cooperation with the CSID, aims to prove that democracy does not conflict with Islam.
Jordan is a democratic country with political parties that require development, he added.