A minute’s silence in memory of the victims that have fallen during the “Arab Spring”: This gesture, which inaugurated the regional strategy workshop for member organisations of the Network of Arab Liberals (NAL), arose from a sentiment marked by anger – about the bloody suppression of protest movements in many countries – as well as determination, to make use of this historical opportunity and realize the shaping of free and democratic societies.
For the duration of two days, from June 17th - 18th, more than thirty participating liberal politicians and youth activists, among them observers from Algeria, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia, met in Amman to discuss the topic “Liberalism, Social Justice and Religious Freedom in the Arab World”.
„Regarding the developments unfolding in the region, we - as Arab Liberals - feel confirmed in the validity of our convictions. The challenges that democratic and liberal movements face at the present time vary from country to country; they have common subjects nevertheless which concern all of us”, said Saed Karajah, president of the foundation’s partner Free Thought Forum (FTF), in respect of the workshop’s topics.
Content and strategy of the workshop, which was organised in cooperation between the foundation, NAL and its Jordanian member organisation FTF, were based on the results of the Cairo Conference on the topic “Transition to Democracy in the Arab World. Historic Challenges and Liberal Responses” held in May 2011.
“It is our objective to use this meeting here in Amman to achieve tangible programmatic progress in the subject areas ‘Economic Freedom and Social Justice’ and ‘State and Religion’ for the benefit of our member parties” explained Wael Nawara, president of NAL. “We are determined on spending the remaining time before the elections in Egypt and Tunisia effectively to strengthen our liberal profile and to work on campaigns.”
Top class experts such as the Jordanian Economist Dr. Ibrahim Saif from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Lebanese philosophy lecturer and political analyst Wissam Saade from the Université Saint Joseph in Beirut were involved in the program and offered valuable contributions to the discussions.
The participating politicians developed together in working groups recommendations for invigorating civil and secular states, as well as reform ideas for economic and social systems according to the principles of good governance.
The subsequent and well-attended press conference turned out to be a final highlight that NAL president Wael Nawara and FTF president Saed Karajah used to convey the quintessential message to a politically aware public: “Freedom and human rights are universal values. Moreover, in the Arab world those values are in the process of making their way in spite of injustice, tyranny and repression. The liberal Arabic parties do have concrete political suggestions and they will introduce them to the political process.”
