Rejecting stereotypes about Islam, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Sherry Rehman on Sunday underscored that the globally practiced religion and democracy were not only compatible but also complemented each other.
She was addressing the 49th annual convention of the Islamic Society of North America. The envoy told the gathering of intellectuals and diplomats that Pakistan would accomplish a landmark democratic transition with the completion of the constitutionally mandated term of the democratically elected government.
Islamabad, she said, remained firmly committed to safeguarding rights of women and minorities. She also cited Pakistan’s long tradition of giving women high positions of responsibility in the government and private sectors.
“The omnipresent misconception that we must all battle to debunk is the belief that Islam and a modern democratic society cannot co-exist,” she remarked.
The ambassador noted that the association of Muslims with hatred and extremism stemmed from a fear that Islam was fundamentally incompatible with a democratic and modern way of life. “The political and economic vitality of the North American Muslim Community demonstrates what we have always known — that democracy is not only compatible with Islam but is its central tenet.” Islam, she said, stood for equality, unity, tolerance, and rights of people and the global religion allowed peaceful co-existence of various faiths in the society.
“I come here not to defend Islam from the charge that it is incompatible with democracy. Rather, I come here to prove that Islam and democracy are intertwined, always have been as such and would always will be. Islam is not the caricature that has been hijacked by extremists, but rather a peace-loving religion of equality, opportunity and tolerance,” she said while canceling out some misperceptions about the religion. Islam includes members of every race, ethnicity, and nation on every inhabited continent on earth, she said. North America is a living example of Islam’s international reach, as well as its complexity and diversity.
“The ethnic makeup of the community mirrors the plural nature of American society, with believers from across the racial, cultural, and economic spectrum,” she said. “The values at the core of Islam transcend the superficial differences in skin color, gender, sect, geography, and nationality. Islam is not limited by the artificial boundaries established by wealth, nations, or society,” the ambassador said. She said the US had been a welcoming home to Muslims, and it was a country where Muslims had prospered, flourished and had fully integrated at every level of society.
Had Islam and Democracy been compatible then there should have been at least one Muslim country where democracy has worked successfully. For democracy to take its roots and flourish in a society, the masses have to be open minded, enlightened and tolerant, which has not been the case in any Muslim country as yet.
hehe she is an expert in both apparently
Just like Zardari and Corruption and PPP are very much compatible
hmm ~
well if it comes to corruption almost every Pakistani is corrupt
hehe
In Islam there is no exemption for criminals to escape justice and haraam and shirk not allowed!!!
I am not a Muslim, but I have friends that are and I love my friends, my dearest one is from Pakistan and he is an awesome man with great faith in God, he inspires me and my faith in God. God is love and when we love one another with kindness and compassion we are revealing God.
I am not a Muslim, but I have friends that are and I love my friends, my dearest one is from Pakistan and he is an awesome man with great faith in God, he inspires me and my faith in God. God is love and when we love one another with kindness and compassion we are revealing God.
this gaga lady and Islam LOL
What democracy is she talking about -democracy without law and order,democracy where the judiciary is not respected,democracy where innocent Shia's are murdered in broad day light in an Islamic country.Some of these people when power gets to their head talk through their backsides
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