Should the World Trust Islamists?

Like it or not, this is the year of the Islamist.

Fourteen months after popular uprisings toppled dictators in Tunisia and Egypt, Islamist political parties - religiously conservative groups that oppose the use of violence - have swept interim elections, started rewriting constitutions and become the odds-on favorites to win general elections.

Western hopes that more liberal parties would fare well have been dashed. Secular Arab groups are divided, perceived as elitist or enjoy tepid popular support.

But instead of the political process moving forward, a toxic political dynamic is emerging. Aggressive tactics by hardline Muslims generally known as Salafists are sowing division. Moderate Islamists are moving cautiously, speaking vaguely and trying to hold their diverse political parties together. And some Arab liberals are painting dark conspiracy theories. […]

Months after gaining power, moderate Islamists find themselves walking a political tightrope. They are trying to show their supporters that they are different from the corrupt, pro-Western regimes they replaced. They are trying to persuade Western investors and tourists to trust them, return and help revive flagging economies. And they are trying to counter hardline Salafists who threaten to steal some of their conservative support.

Read more. [Image: Reuters]

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21. ohmeursault said: We trust Christianists so why not? If not, then let’s not trust any of them.
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25. thurmansnotebook reblogged this from mohandasgandhi and added:

    Why should Islamists be any less “trustworthy” than Christianists? Fundamentalism, regardless of the flavor, leaves a...

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28. sageoflogic reblogged this from mohandasgandhi and added:

    Islamist Huh That’s actually apparently a word. Admittedly one I’ve only heard white Islamaphobes use…

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31. gardariki replied:

    

32. mohandasgandhi reblogged this from theatlantic and added:

    David Rhode, what did you just write?

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