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| Liberal leaders, Experts Discuss Role of Opposition Parties at Cairo Conference |
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Senior members of the Network of Arab Liberals actively participated in a conference in Cairo on July 12, 2008 titled "The Role of Liberal Opposition Parties in the Arab World: Challenges and Perspectives". The one-day event was co-sponsored by the Regional Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF). Political experts from Egypt and politicians from NAL member countries made presentations and discussed the constitutional, legal, political and social framework of liberal politics in the Arab world. In their papers, the speakers referred to numerous political and legal restrictions and constraints that prevent the liberal forces from coming to power. Speakers from Morocco and Lebanon stated that in their countries the situation for liberal parties is better than in other Arab nations and that their governments are not as restrictive as elsewhere in the region. |
| In the picture : Adressing the Conference is Mr. Mohamed Moustafa Sherdy, MP, Wafd Party, together with Ambassador Nagui El Ghatrifi (Al Ghad Party) and Dr. Mustafa El Fiky, MP, National Democratic Party |
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Presenters also argued that in many Arab countries the people "on the road" are unaware of liberal principles and values or do not fully understand them. Said Dr. Mohamed Sherdy, Member of Parliament for the Egyptian Wafd Party: "We need political education. If you talk to the Egyptians about liberalism they will ask what it means." Political liberalism is also weakened by internal divisions: In several Arab countries more than one political party supporting liberal positions exist. It was argued that in some cases authoritarian regimes are fanning internal divisiveness in order to weaken the liberal forces.
In the final discussion, the participants agreed to two conclusions: First, liberalism as a political concept and program needs to be redefined in an Arab context so that it may become conceivable for a majority of Arabs "in the street". Second – to quote Beshir Abd El Fattah from the Egyptian Democracy magazine – "the citizens have to understand that liberalism has a direct impact on their lives".
Read the detailed report by Beshir Abd El Fatah.
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