Salam al-Marayati’s guest column, “Why do Muslim nations stand by as Bosnians continue to suffer?” (Op-Ed, March 3) raises some interesting points relevant to the current political scene.
Mr. al-Marayati decries the inaction of Islamic countries toward their brethren, asserting that they have had “. . . little or no impact on besieged Muslims.” Sadly, this is nothing new. Oil-rich Islamic nations of the Middle East, for instance, have continually left their Palestinian Arab brothers to languish in refugee camps, preferring to exploit them for propaganda purposes rather than using their billions in petrodollars to resettle and re-educate them. This is in marked contrast to the efforts of world Jewry, who have assisted their fellow Jews wherever they may be persecuted, such as in Iran or Syria.
The writer further states that “monarchies, dictatorships and theocracies do not represent Islam and they cannot be considered legitimate agents for positive change. . . .” Unfortunately, many Islamic countries in the Middle East are nothing but monarchies, dictatorships and theocracies. Nepotism, absolute rule and religious fervor are a way of life for many inhabitants of these nations. Democracy, consensus and compromise tend to be the exception.
Until Islamic countries embrace democracy and its inherent respect for individual life, the tragedy befalling Muslims in Bosnia and elsewhere will continue, and the world will suffer as well.
