3 Middle Eastern imperatives: freedom, democracy and justice

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Below is a version of a statement by 40 leading Middle Eastern and North African civil society groups who met in Beirut on Sept. 5. The text, which may have been amended in its final version, was to have been presented yesterday, Sept. 24, to foreign ministers from the G-8 and Arab countries meeting in New York. The proposals feed into the Forum for the Future that was set up at the G-8 summit in Sea Island, Georgia, last June. It begins by proposing "three imperatives" - freedom, democracy and justice - and "seven programs" - equality, rule of law, free expression and organization, inquisitive education, economic inclusion, transparency, creative artistic and literary expressions.

Democratic and freedom imperatives: We first take the opportunity to welcome and express our appreciation for showing your concern on how the G-8 can support political, economic and social freedom in the Middle East. International initiatives for reform are important; the situation is grave in the Middle East, and most governments turn a deaf ear to internal calls for reforms. This meeting could be an important occasion for an open, committed partnership between democrats in our region and like-minded citizens in the international community, both as civil society leaders and as officials in willing democratic governments. While the participation of concerned governments in the region would be welcome, we cannot wait.

We are here, as individuals, simple members of the so-called Arab-Middle Eastern civil society, women and men who believe in the rule of law, an independent judiciary to protect it, an active and freely elected parliament to enact laws, an accountable, freely elected government to carry them through, meaningful human rights, including foremost the freedom of expression. We take pride in a profound and varied tradition that includes some of the most remarkable human achievements in law, theology, literature, arts and science.

We did not wait for this occasion to defend democracy and call for the respect of human rights. All three religions which emerged from our lands have always claimed justice and freedom as their clarion call, and our societies, like all societies on the planet, have time and again resisted "the patterns of authoritarianism" - Abdelrahman al-Kawakibi, the author of the famous pamphlet with this title in the 19th century was poisoned for his frankness and courage. The fight against colonialism was carried out through immense sacrifices in "the Liberal Age." The Arab Human Development Reports and various civil society declarations are the latest expression of a solid and consistent tradition of denouncing the effects of authoritarianism. While the belated rallying of some Western leaders to the central importance of democracy in our states is welcome, Middle Eastern democrats need a more solid commitment. Over a century ago, Kawakibi identified dictatorship as a crime against society. Dictatorship must now be declared a crime against humanity.

3 Middle Eastern imperatives: freedom, democracy and justice....