Fetsum: The Eritrean Islamic Congress Party EIC
Fetsum: The Eritrean Islamic Congress Party EIC Reconciliation: Anyone that preaches for peace and reconciliation should practice the theoretical wisdom in order to stay consistent with the preaching; the person remains being a hypocrite otherwise. Going toe to toe
Fetsum: The Eritrean Islamic Congress Party EIC
Reconciliation: Anyone that preaches for peace and reconciliation should practice the theoretical wisdom in order to stay consistent with the preaching; the person remains being a hypocrite otherwise. Going toe to toe with other minds on any subject matter cannot originate without ego, the disease that makes one a victim of self obsession. Like water pacifies fire, letting go resolves the contradiction between different opinions. No matter how differently Assena and I see the value of my disallowed article, the tension must be defused in favor of the struggle for the most important stake here is the condition of the Eritrean people which we should use to reconcile our differences and move on.
So elusive the question of right and wrong or that of true or false has been it can force one to breach other people’s perceptional territories. Ego can destroy the relationship of two entities only when given the chance, things normalize otherwise. In this situation, I refuse my ego to dominate my integrity into further complicating the little hick up between us (ASSENNA AND ME) and tend to move on without any grudge and personification.
At the bottom line of the matter, there is no such thing as truth or reality in the socio-philosophical spectrum of life for no human nature can measure it in pieces: We can only face a happenstance through compromise to reach a middle ground that best accommodates the two conflicting sides in question. The moment we freely exhaust all possible constants and variables of something without bias to our individual opinions we have relatively reached the limits of absolute truth only in that regard. One’s feelings and preconditions cannot represent the objective reality for the universe does not revolve around an individual’s concept of reality.
No subjective outlook focused on making objective impact can succeed without appreciating the notion that human beings react to different situations differently by natural fabric. Arguing about whether something is true or not does not change the real nature of a subject matter in examination for nothing satisfies everybody else equally.“People may keep looking for the right answer, but there is no right answer. Everything is relative rather than absolute. That is the answer”, says LAMA SURYA DAS in Awakening the Buddha within. There is nothing for me to discuss or to prove in this scenario any longer, only to continue my conviction until I exhaust my potential enjoying the moment. I therefore cannot persist on making the release of my article a condition to continue writing at Assenna without gravitating on the issue beyond necessary and prioritizing my personal feelings to the cause of the Eritrean people for justice and democracy.
You can think of me as a radical or an extremist in so far as the concept of democracy is concerned because I believe I am. I don’t think Eritrea or any other society can fully experience my understanding of democracy: There is no society that practices it 100%. But I hope the struggle will produce some sort of democracy in future Eritrea and I think this is what we are fighting for. I have no idea how the experience will change my style of writing ahead but I am sure it has changed something in me that I have not precisely figured out yet.
Reminding people to be responsible of their reaction to my articles and to read my disallowed article “Women and religion” at the Kunama Website (http://www.mesel-biherat.com) I have chosen moving on with Assenna on the few articles I intend to write till the end of this year when I will have substantially completed my spiritual journey on the Eritrean question of democracy that started in 2012. I hope the website will do its part in this reconciliation drive. Further, I will as well post my articles at this website from now on in order to maximize the probability of communicating with the people without interruption.
This is a continuation of my analysis on the Eritrean Political Parties within the EDA that started way back in time at Assenna. I did my subjective analysis on about ten of the parties in the pool, the last being the Kunama Party and this is on one of the remaining parties in investigation.
The Eritrean Islamic Congress EIC: The Eritrean Islamic Congress is one of the political parties within the EDA and is chaired by Mr. Ibrahim Malik. According to the party’s website; “The Eritrean Islamic Congress is a political and public organization, working to reform the Eritrean political and social situation, to achieve freedom, justice and uphold the principles of consultation and uphold the values of religion and virtue and establish security and stability. In addition, to organize the citizens who believe in its principles, objectives and political programs and protecting them“
Among few other specifications, this political party has the following vision in Eritrea:
EIC: “Principles: Eritrean Islamic Congress deals with the reality of Eritrean situation based on the diversity of cultural, social, economic and civilization, commencing from the following principles:
1) Religion and its values, purposes and norms which are the key components of the decent Eritrean society. “
Comment: This sounds good as long as it is limited to securing the freedom of the people in freely practicing their religious beliefs in the society, which I believe so has been the case since the Ethiopian colonialism in the country and all the way until this time in experience under this regime. The question here is if this party separates religion from politics, which is not very clear from principle (1). I agree that religious values were key co-existential and ethical components of any society including ours but does this party suggest religions staying away from politics or not? Does it consider religion as a private phenomenon or as political as well?
EIC: 2) “Shura, justice and freedom, equality and human dignity, are the basic principles of politics, governance and organization.”
Discussion: Shura justice is now part of the party’s principle (2) and this provokes me to research on what it may be. One of the sources of information states the following:
“Shura (Arabic: شورى shūrā) is an Arabic word for “consultation”. The Quran and Muhammad encourage Muslims to decide their affairs in consultation with those who will be affected by that decision. Shura is mentioned three times in the Quran as a praiseworthy activity, and is a word often used in organizing the affairs of a masjid, and an Islamic organization, and in parliaments on democratic votes. “
Comment: It so seems like Shura justice depends on communal consultation instead of constitutional justice on a given case so to say. Obviously, the communities affected by this justice system may then be the Moslems and the consultants most probably being the elders or the most religious elements of the communities. The question is how the communities are expected to apply this justice system and based on what: Is it based on the Sharia or a different form of Islamic law that is obscure so far in this information? Are women allowed to be in the consultation team or it is exclusively reserved for men?
Further; “Shura in Islam: Some modern Sunni Muslims believe that Islam requires all decisions made by and for the Muslim societies to be made by shura of the Muslim community and believe this to be the basis for implementing representative democracy. Traditionally however, the Amir/Sultan/Khalifa would consult with his Wazirs (Advisors) and make a decision, after taking into consideration their opinions.
Shia Muslims say that Islam requires submission to existing rulers, however they are chosen, so long as they govern according to sharia or Islamic law. This is a more traditional approach, characteristic of many centuries of Islamic history. The difference between the two appears more semantic than actual—the latter accept that the rulers must be accounted in all aspects of ruling, to ensure affairs are managed in the best possible way whether decisions were taken through consultation or not.”
Comment: Ultimately the two types of said justice system appear very much the same with the exception that the rulers of a society take the responsibility of justice in the second Islamic denomination (Shia). The rulers are supposed to be chosen according to the Sharia and thus most probably carry on the Sharia law in delivering justice to the community. The community does its justice in the first arrangement, in what still appears of being based on Sharia law. Which one of these two the Eritrean Islamic Congress party wants to practice is still unknown but it sounds like it supports the application of Sharia either way. In whatever way the issue may be put under for discussion, this law strictly applies to Moslem communities and one wonders how the Party will manage the diversified Eritrean society should it take power in Eritrea through democratic election. Will Eritrea have two constitutions under the leadership of this political party (for the Christians and Moslems)? Is it possible to apply two religion based constitutions in diverse country such as Eritrea? Has this type of governance ever been practical in any other society in the past?
Source of Information: “Shura and contemporary Muslim-majority states: In some Muslim nations, shuras play a role in the constitution or governance. Some Muslim nations, such as Turkey, are secular democracies, and (Morocco) is a constitutional monarchy. They could thus be said to be ruled by one version of shura. For instance, the bicameral Parliament of Pakistan is officially called the Majlis-i-Shura, although the Constitution uses various spellings of the term. In Egypt, the Upper House of Parliament is known as the Shura Council. The People’s Consultative Assembly in Indonesia is called Majlis Permusyawaratan Rakyat in Indonesian language. The word musyawarat is derived from shura/syawara.
In some monarchies and clerical regimes, there is a shura with an advisory or consultative role. Saudi Arabia, a monarchy, was given a shura council, the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, in 1993; there are now 150 members. All real power is held by the King, who is elected by family members. Oman, also a monarchy has a shura council; all members are elected except the president, who is appointed by the Sultan. The council can only offer advice, which may be refused if vetoed by the Sultan.
In Iran, a council called the assembly of experts has the ability to impeach the supreme leader. In addition to that, a general shura wields legislative powers, equivalent to a modern day Western parliament.
Shuras have also been a feature of revolutions in Islamic societies, such as in the Iranian revolution of 1979, where they were formed by workers and held considerable power over parts of the economy for a year before being dismantled. Shuras were similarly a feature of the uprisings in Iraq[5][6] in 1991, where they functioned as a form of participatory democracy.”
Comment: Now this being the case in the majority Moslem countries, what should be done in societies that are half Christians and half Moslems like ours? How may this political party apply the Shura in our society and what is it suggesting to do with the non-Moslem portions of our country? So far there is nothing in its vision that clearly explains these matters.
Source of information: “What is the shura principle in Islam? … It is predicated on three basic precepts. First, that all persons in any given society are equal in human and civil rights. Second, that public issues are best decided by majority view. And third, that the three other principles of justice, equality and human dignity, which constitute Islam’s moral core, … are best realized, in personal as well as public life, under shura governance.”
Comment: Are women going to be considered equal to men in this justice system? Do they have the same rights as men? To my understanding, the marriage and divorce rules for women and men are always in favor of men in Islam and this does not guarantee the equality of women in Islamic societies leaving the many other controversial issues associated with the religion aside for now. Second, what may be said majority view in Islamic societies that considers women unequal to men? One way or another I see great danger to our women in the future in this justice system. Third, if women were to be judged differently to men, how can the concept of equality and justice apply in this situation? How can women be dignified while considered different in this situation?
EIC: 5) “Arabic and Tigrinya languages are the two national official languages in Eritrea but with a consideration of other local dialects.”
Comment: This has been the norm of the Eritrean life since 1952 and I have written few articles on this at Assenna. I don’t need to discuss this in detail here. What appears different in this situation is the fact that this political party leaves a room for considering other native languages or dialects for the national language status. I found this consideration very important to the people in future Eritrea specially if applied in practice because I believe our native languages must get the same respect as Arabic to say the least.
EIC: “Eritrean Islamic Congress works to achieve the following objectives:
2. Consolidate the values of religion and good morals in the Eritrean society. “
Comment: It is not clear what ‘good morals” is supposed to mean and who decides this in a given society? Do women have the same deciding power as men in here? Do said morals conform to religious values in this case and what may the values be? How good are said values to women in terms of justice, equality and freedom?
EIC: “7. Cooperation and integration with the Arab, African and international interests so as to ensure Eritrea interests. “
Comment: Although the cooperation part sounds good in this article, I cannot understand what the integration may mean in this context. Integration is taught to mean one of the following according to a source from the Net:
1. an act or instance of incorporating or combining into a whole.
2. an act or instance of integrating a racial or other ethnic group.
3. behavior that is in harmony with the environment.
Question: What exactly does this political party want to do with its concept of Integration? I believe this must be clearly answered and taught by the Party in order to avoid confusion.
In conclusion; a balanced political society applies democracy completely free of religion and ethnic affiliation and I have no idea how we Eritreans can manage such a setup by mixing up religion with politics. The Eritrean Islamic Congress certainly claims to be democratic but yet, it projects to treat the Moslem Eritreans differently from the other portions of the society through the Shura justice system. It advocates equality of all people in the society but yet, treats men better than women by the merit of its Islamic program. By suggesting the Shura justice system in the Moslem portion of our society, this political party indirectly forecasts accommodating two constitutions in the diversified Eritrean society, where in fact geographically defined societies should adopt a common constitution to guarantee equality of its members. I found it very contradictive as such and I cannot see this party delivering equal justice to men and women because the Shura does not. I cannot see this party delivering freedom in Eritrea while at the same time forecasting of governing it with two separate constitutions. I don’t see it as a neutral political force because its vision adopts Islamic law in our diversified society where half of its composition is Christian by religious denomination. Further, its concept of integration with the Arabs for instance is not clear and more information is necessary for us to understand what this is about. Thank you
Adulis August 19, 2014
Italian colonialist created a conglomerate of nine ethnic groups in Eritrea. Whether western style democracy can work in Eritrea remains to be seen. EPLF and ELF (to some extent) forged a unity between Christians and Muslims. However the unity seems to have vanished in diaspora. We have a long way ahead to see a working democracy in Eritrea. We don’t want to see religion and region based political parties that resemble parties during British occupation. We should learn from Lebanese experience. Otherwise we will end up disintegrated into Ethiopian and Arab camps. The 94% Tigrigna speakers in Tigray and the Arab on the other side will challenge Eritrean unity if we can’t be governed by a constitution free of religion, region and tribal influences. I am not trying to be pessimistic. The British took them more than 500 years to transform from monarchy to parliamentary democracy. The road for democracy won’t be easy. Fortunately, we are not alone in this journey. May God give wisdom to future leaders of this country whose people sacrificed so much for Eritrean cause.
Genet-orginal August 19, 2014
What a pleasant surprise!! Mr Fetsum, Welcome back home to Assenna!!!!!!!!!!
I have been waiting patiently, for you two to get over your hick ups soon. Mr Fetsum, I know now, you are a dedicated teacher, writer and educator. You are dedicated to the justice seekers cause. Thank you for your articulated articles always ready to stimulate our brain to thinking critically. Please keep the articles coming! I love it!!!!!!!!
Dear Amanuel, our hero! You are true son of Eritrea. I appreciate your hard work on behalf of the voiceless Eritrean all over the world. Especially, especially our poor people inside Eritrea want us to get along and work on their behalf. You my brother has been the driving force. Thank you for being you. God bless you two!
God bless our people!
Power to Justice seekers!
Genet-O
Yosiefom August 20, 2014
Genet-O,
It also takes a dedicated teacher, writer and educator like yourself to know another quality person as Mr Fetsum. Indeed, it seems your patience and waiting time has paid off at last by seeing the great man returning to his natural home which is Assenna. Mr Fetsum, very educational points you made and please keep it up dear brother.
Genet-orginal August 21, 2014
Dear Yosiefom,
Thank you for your kind words. You are being very generous.
Let us keep sharing information. We all have something to offer to each other.
God bless our people and country!
Rahayta August 19, 2014
You can not create a worthy nation, when one who was born in Mendefera, Asmera or Keren is ashamed of his own languages. People who see themselves as inferior and slaves can not create any worthy nation.
Only proud people can create worthy institutions. Ask the Turks, Ugandans, Ethiopians, Iranians, Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans.
Voluntary slaves are worthless, only good as slaves of others.
Statestic August 19, 2014
Welcome back with interesting anlysis of “The Eritrean Islamic Congress (EIC)”.
Said August 19, 2014
Rahayta I having not read the holl story , but you rong you calling your people useless people that’s not the way to go born in keren or madafer , believe me they know their religion in their language and then not scared to speak to, or use it in any way I think you clueless, you need to go back and redo his history, or the history of those people. I think you need to apologize to Eritrean people.
Wedi-Hagher August 19, 2014
“Only proud people can create worthy institutions. Ask the Turks, Ugandans, Ethiopians, Iranians, Americans, Europeans, Japanese, Chinese and Koreans.”
Rahayta aka Tecklay, Kombistato …etc
You use every opportunity to insult Eritrean Muslims to create mutual suspicion among the two communities. You are wasting your time. People know that a few Tigreyans posing as Highlanders are trying their best to see Eritrea divided along ethnic and sectarian lines.
ahmed saleh August 20, 2014
Hawna Fetsum
If you want to dig on our weak points you may find a lot of them but to look for important issues is beneficiary
to our cause . Dukhumat ab dukhum hito yiguayeyu , hayalat ab hayal hito yiguayeyu , wedi seb yitefie alo , wedehanka .
Kidan, Sudan August 20, 2014
it is very interesting analysis, i have got good information. I donot trust the organisation you mentioned. They mix religion with politics and they use it to come to power, in reality it will be totally different if they get the chance. we want to create a country that respect basic human right freedom of speech, assembly, belief and so on. State shouldn’t interfere with individual belief. They have the freedom and men and women are equal in front of the rule of law regardless they belief. Modern Eritrea should be an example for others. There are some elements in both religion they want to use religion for their advantage to come to power. If we couldn’t do this in practice we might end up in civil war or split. we might join Sudan and Ethiopia by split ourselves which we donot want but we might be forced to do this….
Tamrat Tamrat August 20, 2014
We have to read this piece thoroughly.
And then we come across to the contradiction 1)’ At the bottom line of the matter, there is no such thing as truth or reality in the socio-philosophical spectrum of life’
I don’t think Eritrea or any other society can fully experience my understanding of democracy:
2) ‘
Tamrat Tamrat August 20, 2014
You have to read this piece thoroughly and then you come to a general conclusion why cyber struggel is so useless regarding the mass of eritreans who live at home
See the horrible contradtion here;
1)”there is no such thing as truth or reality in the socio-philosophical spectrum of life”
And
2)”I don’t think Eritrea or any other society can fully experience my understanding of Democracy”
We can only face a happenstance through compromise to reach a middle ground said Mr. Fitsum and what we are experiencing in Eritrea is the extream dictatorial system practiced for 53 years. This is happning. Not relativ. It is real. People die, leave in mass their home, the Whole nation is in termoile to fit in the reality created by isayasians.
And what we get is a cyber warior who Call himself absolute Democracy thinker. The most pathetic thing is he wishes that People Call him absolut thinker. Did not he start by saying there is no absolut but realtiv. Ya there is absolut thinker when they dont live at home and preaching absolute Democracy.
What a west to be detached from rality.
Genet-orginal August 21, 2014
Dear Tamrat Tamrat,
What is your contribution to the struggle for basic right for the Eritrean people? I think you need to separate Mr Fetsum’s opinion or his understanding of Democracy and the information he is digging out about the so called opposition groups. As all of us know, the opposition groups have been useless to say the least, to provide alternative to the dictatorial system in Eritrea. Mr Fetsum is providing Assenna readers a very important information, by shading light on the obscured so called opposition groups. Unless you Tamrat, know all the opposition groups inside out, it is unproductive for you to pass judgement whether Mr Fetsum is a thinker or not. Cyber or no cyber, what have you done so far to get our people out of the terrible reality they are in? If you ask me, I am just learning about what is going on, but I am not passing judgement. I want you to tell Assenna readers what do you think we should do to save our people? Thank you.
Tamrat Tamrat August 22, 2014
Dear Genet,
You see one of the resasons the oppostions do not score a significant change is we creat an utopian world in Our dream or Cyber now a days. The oppositions parties (not all of them) reflects the eritreans stand too. I can give you a simple example. Arond 2008-210 eritrean oppostions specially who reside in Ethiopia were organized themselves well. But to my surprise they were attacked and challenged by cyber Warriors than the pfdj itself. To be honest at that time pfdj (at least their leader) was in panick attack. Now after 5-6 years a very well known cyber fighter blaming the incompetency of the oppositions residing in Ethiopia.
Everybody is pulling everybody’s leg and balmming for not abeling to stand still is the story of the last decades. And if we have an absolute Democracy which can not be accepted by the Whole world yet as an agenda then we are not only mad about the ‘bad’ oppostions, the pfdj, ypfdj but we are mad about the Whole eritrean populations.
Genet-orginal August 25, 2014
Dear Tamrat Tamrat
You said, “Around 2008-2010, Eritrean oppositions specially who reside in Ethiopia were organized themselves well” can you please give us what you mean “organized themselves well” If they were organized well, how come they couldn’t weathered any attack? According to you, it has been 4 to 6 years since their well organized start ups. Where are they now? what have they accomplished since then? what was their goal five years into their start up, which is now? Don’t take my questions as attack on them. I think it was great for them to take the time and let us know they wanted to do something. five years later did they accomplished something? What we are hearing is they are doing personal business, marrying Ethiopian/Tigrayan women and living their lives. Don’t give me wrong, they can marry who ever they want or who ever they love or who ever they want to do business with. However, my concern is if anybody wants to work on be half of the Eritrean people and remove the dictator and the PFDJ system, then he/she has to prioritize what needs to be done first. If you start with cultural assimilation, then you are weakening you position as a fighter against the PFDJ system or the dictator. You can’t blame critics for your own weakness and failure. I agree with your point, everybody is pulling everybody’s leg. It is because the lack effective organization, poor prioritization, self observed control freak personality of individuals and greed. I don’t think any Eritrean wants “utopian” world. What we want is normalization to start with. So our people can tolerate to stay in their own country, rather than risking their lives to scape. To try salvage our people and country from the 53 years of one man’s leadership. Most Eritrean, cyber no cyber want a simple life in their own country. They want their kids to go to school without the PFDJ’s coyotes snitching them on their way home. Let us stop blaming others for our weakness and failures.
Genet-O
Tamrat Tamrat August 26, 2014
Dear Genet!
For any eritrean opposition to fight pfdj from inside Ethiopia is a very complicated affair. The pfdj propaganda, the brain washed shabia supporters puls the paid sabotgers. That is not enough the opposition outside of Ethiopia was attacking the well organized eri opposition equll to the pfdj. Even a common Citizen like you talk rabbish they marry ethiopian bla bla.
You are just a single individual, think of the organized oppoosition who just want only to sit in the Palace of Asmara Direct from usa can do.
I dont have time for you but you can Google and find it how theopposion party and wabpages like awate bombarded almost rediculed the oppostion in Ethipia.
If their motives were to marry Ethiopians they dont need to bother to metnion Eritrea or issaias for that matter. If they were they are making theier serch for wives more difficult because in Ethiopia every one knows isaias is not some thing cool to talk about. People in Ethiopia dont talk about much about him.
The pulling of the legs was Heavy because their were near to the action and they were suposed to be in the Power but this typical if i dont get it you dont get either principle of some eritreans that straggle is dead.
From now on if you get any help from Ethiopia it has to be With some additional value. Because tplf couldnt hold on the slaps from the majority for rdiculing its sacrice showing its fraternity for the majoirty of Eritreans.
The game is save Your ass first, according to the wise ape.
Genet, after all what tplf and eplf went throug and tplf makes it in Ethiopai, i dont see the problem whay not eplf can amket it?
There is some thing basic disaster we have to change about oruselves not only the leaers of the tow countries.
Thanks for sharing my anger.