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Islam and the Arab Revolutions: The Ulama Between Democracy and Autocracy

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Author Usaama al-Azami
ISBN 9781787388222
Published Language English
Publication Year 2022
Publisher C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd
Binding Paperback
Pages 392
Original Price £20
Edition FeelBooks Special Edition
Ships By 2−3 days
SKU: HC-172 Categories: , Tag:

Description

The Arab revolutions of 2011 were a transformative moment in the modern history of the Middle East, as people rose up against long-standing autocrats throughout the region to call for ‘bread, freedom and dignity’. With the passage of time, results have been decidedly mixed, with initial success stories like Tunisia contrasting with the emergence of even more repressive dictatorships in places like Egypt, with the backing of several Gulf states.

Focusing primarily on Egypt, this book considers a relatively understudied dimension of these revolutions: the role of prominent religious scholars. While pro-revolutionary ulama have justified activism against authoritarian regimes, counter-revolutionary scholars have provided religious backing for repression, and in some cases the mass murder of unarmed protestors.

Usaama al-Azami traces the public engagements and religious pronouncements of several prominent ulama in the region, including Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Ali Gomaa and Abdallah bin Bayyah, to explore their role in either championing the Arab revolutions or supporting their repression. He concludes that while a minority of noted scholars have enthusiastically endorsed the counter-revolutions, their approach is attributable less to premodern theology and more to their distinctly modern commitment to the authoritarian state.

Additional information

Author

ISBN

Published Language

Publication Year

Publisher

Binding

Pages

392

Original Price

Edition

FeelBooks Special Edition

Ships By

2−3 days