Islam And The Middle East Essay -- Politics Religion

The current state of governance in Middle Eastern countries is one that demonstrates numerous examples of human rights being violated and preposterous actions being taken in the name of Islam, the most widely practiced religion in the region. In light of these instances the question posed is whether or not religious beliefs should be excluded from the consideration of public policy in the area. Despite the current state of affairs in the Middle East, this paper asserts that religious beliefs should not be excluded from the consideration of public policy as this would involve ignoring the undeniable fact that Islam plays a major role in Middle Eastern public life, it would lead to the better protection of ethnic and religious minorities and it would result in development since the objectives of Islam and public policy coincide more often than not. When discussing the role of religion with regards to public policy one cannot help but recall Max Webber’s observation on the subjec t, where he notes a decline of religion especially in the public sphere. This paper will demonstrate the compatibility and importance of religion with public policy by highlighting the wealth of common objectives that the two share, placing a key emphasis on the interdependence of Islam and Middle Eastern life. It will also explore the high-quality treatment extended to minorities in Middle Eastern states while drawing parallels with Western societies and discussing the incompatibility of Islam and the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights. In stating that religion should be detached from public policy the implication is that governments should be secular. This however is not possible in an area such as the Middle East as Muslims not only perceive Islam as a... ...12 November 2010. British Broadcasting Corporation. French scarf ban comes into force. 2 September 2004. Web. 15 November 2010. Esposito, John L., and James P. Piscatori. "Democratization and Islam." The Middle East Journal 45.3 (1991): 427. Proquest Research Library @ Scholars Portal. Web. EuropeNews. Is Islam Compatible With Democracy And Human Rights Part I. 22 June 2009. Web. 18 November 2010. The Islamic Council Of Europe. Universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights. 19 September 1981. Web. 12 November 2010. The Organization Of The Islamic Conference. The Cairo Declaration On Human Rights In Islam. Web. 15th November 2010. The United Nations. MINORITY RIGHTS AND THE PREVENTION OF ETHNIC CONFLICTS. By Dr Fernand de Varennes. 22-26 May 2000. Web. 16 November 2010. The United Nations. The Universal Declaration Of Human Rights. Web. 15 November 2010.