Close up: Al-Azhar heals By Salama A Salama The Document of Basic Freedoms released recently by Al-Azhar is quite an achievement. Written in collaboration with several scholars and intellectuals, the initiative proposes a set of principles to define essential freedoms and thus pave the way to a new constitution. A heated debate has been going on about the governing rules of the constitution, a debate in which some of the groups affiliated with the Islamic current offered ideas that conflict not only with freedom of religion, but with a whole range of freedoms. If accepted, such ideas could set off a witch-hunt in which people would be denounced for not having enough faith, or the wrong type thereof. Al-Azhar's document was as healing as it was timely, for this country needs to find its moral core. It needs to explore common ground. It needs to hold on to what keeps it together, not focus on what can only divide it. In Egypt and across this region, revolutions brought hope for freedom, but for this hope to materialise, we need our scholars and thinkers to step in. We need them to clarify the relation between moderate Islam and the set of freedoms the world has come to identify with human dignity. The Al-Azhar initiative was clear in its support for the freedom of religion, expression, scientific research, and literary creativity. It also notes that the rights of citizenry -- involving full equality among all citizens in all matters of rights and duties -- are the cornerstones of modern society. The initiative rejects any form of religious discrimination and persecution. According to Al-Azhar, people have the right to embrace any ideas they wish to as long as they do not challenge the right of society at large to uphold monotheistic creeds. The liberal views mentioned in Al-Azhar's document match anything Western societies have come up with. The document asserts the right of all citizens to perform religious rites without disrupting public order. This is the essence of plurality and the mainstay of equal opportunities. Judging by what Al-Azhar said, no one will be able to persecute another person on religious grounds, or question the correctness of another person's faith. The document notes that freedom of expression is the mother of all freedoms. This should silence anyone hoping to obstruct free expression, suppress artistic production, or restrict digital communication. This should also dissuade anyone wishing to start sectarian strife in the name of freedom of expression. Interesting too is the fact that Al-Azhar's document voiced support for scientific research in the humanities, mathematics and science. Accordingly, scientific research institutions must enjoy full academic freedom to perform experiments. Also, the document encouraged creativity in drama, cinema, art and literature. Eventually, the document resulted in a "Statement to the Nation" endorsed by Al-Azhar's grand imam, Pope Shenouda, the prime minister, and the Muslim Brotherhood's supreme guide, and a wide range of politicians. The statement calls for the release of political prisoners, an end to military trials of civilians, and medical treatment for all victims of the revolution. Thus, Al-Azhar has not only spearheaded an initiative that can heal the divisions in the nation's ranks, but embraced the various demands made in Tahrir Square. This is the way to move forward. This is the way to bring the nation together and build consensus around essentials. The document and the statement have spelled out the nation's priorities and pre-empted a lot of the moral posturing that could have divided the country at a crucial juncture in its history. Now we can all stop arguing the finer points of creed and focus instead on rebuilding the country.
