http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=62986&d=1&m=5&y=2005
Sunday, 1, May, 2005 (22, Rabi` al-Awwal, 1426)
Elections and the Golden Lists
Dr. Khaled Batarfi, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
What is going on? Why are losers of the first municipal elections in
decades protesting? What do you think of the "golden lists" of candidates
endorsed by a number of popular Islamic scholars and preachers?
I was asked those questions by some foreign friends who are closely
following the developments in Saudi Arabia.
In a meeting attended by some members of Jeddah's "Golden List" and their
opponents, I listened to arguments from both parties. List members were
defending the right of eleven Islamists to endorse seven candidates out of over
five hundred. This is after all a lesson in democracy and endorsement of
candidates is one legitimate way of playing the game, they argued. Besides, how
can we have freedom of expression if people cannot express their support for
one candidate or the other?
The opponents ask: How can we compete and why should we if certain
candidates are already guaranteed to win? On what basis those scholars chose
the lucky seven? When they say certain candidates are good Muslims, what that
make the rest of us? Besides, the rules prohibit getting support from any
government employee. Some of the endorsers work for the government. Not only
they publicly endorsed the candidates, but they also participated in their
campaign programs and activities with sermons and lectures. It is also against
the rules for candidates to coordinate with each other.
Those complaints were filed with the concerned authorities. But there
were no evidence to support the allegations of material support from government
employees and coordination among list members. After consultation with experts
and Saudi Telecom, it was not possible to establish that candidates and
endorsers were responsible for the broadcast of the Golden List. Members of
conservative websites published the lists. Others distributed them by e-mail
and SMS messages. It wasn't against the rules for scholars to participate in
campaign programs or endorse candidates.
When it was my turn, I explained that endorsement is a citizen's right in
a democracy. In the States, for example, a group of distinguished economists
may support the president in his re-election campaign. Another group of
corporate executives or religious leaders might support his opponent. Even
newspapers could endorse one party or another.
The electorate needs this kind of advice to help them choose from among
hundreds of candidates. Without that, they might lose interest or choose the
more familiar names. Those with the deeper pockets are usually the winners in
this case. Ads and other campaign activities cost more than 100 million riyals
in Jeddah alone.
The Islamists took the initiative and produced a list. The question is
why the others didn't. I expected groups like former mayors, engineers,
university professors in related fields and other opinion leaders to come up
with a list each. The public, then, will find it much easier to choose among
endorsed lists.
What were missing in the Golden List are the bases for the
recommendations. In the Golden List case the only reason given was the endorsed
were "good Muslims" and competent individuals. Those are vague terms that can
be said of many.
Why the public would comply with a set list without much questioning is
another story. This is the story of a generation taught not to argue with
authority whether in homes, schools, or mosques. Children blindly obey parents;
students study only schoolbooks, and believers take their imams' teachings as
final. That is why we are very much behind in scientific research. You need to
have a free mind and spirit to be creative and adventurer. Faithfully following
the script will help us maintain the status quo, but will never help us move
ahead.
This slavish, lazy, dependent mentality and attitude explain why most
people didn't bother to do proper investigation of candidates. On Election Day
they just turned on their mobiles, copied the names sent to them, and declared
their conscience clear.
That being said, we must admit that the chosen candidates are some of the
most capable. They are highly educated. All are university graduates. Three
hold Ph.D. Four are Western-educated. Three are educators. Four work for the
public sector and three for the private. Most have good records in community
service. They worked hard and spent wise. Their campaigns were run
professionally and efficiently. They spoke the common man's language, and
addressed real concerns and vital issues. Their credibility was high even
before the endorsement by religious scholars. They deserve to win.
These are good lessons to learn for future elections. Another is that
liberalism doesn't sell in Saudi Arabia. Even in Jeddah, the most liberal town
in the country, the electorate listened to their sheikhs and trusted
conservatives. Western-minded Saudi liberals should know that Islam is in the
DNA of every Saudi, and that's a fact of life.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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