America’s Position in the Middle East

Mohammed Salim Al-Awa (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Mohammed Salim Al-Awa (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Host Marco Werman speaks with Dr. Mohammed Salim al-Awa who is a devout Muslim and a prospective candidate for president of Egypt.

He says Islamists don’t hate the United States but America needs to realize it’s not the only big player in the Middle East.

Read the Transcript
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Marco Werman: Egypt’s ruling military council is promising to step aside in June of this year. Presidential elections are due to be held before then. The formal registration process for presidential candidates is slated for mid March. One of the prospective candidates is Islamic scholar Mohammed Salim al-Awa. We reached him in London today. Al-Awa says his work lead him to become a candidate.

Mohammad Salim al-Awa
: I’m in the position of a very good friendship with all the Islamic powers in Egypt, not only in Egypt, but all over the world because I have been working for the Islamic cause since more than 45-50 years. I was the founding secretary general for the International Union for Muslim Scholars, so I have very good relations with all the Muslim activists in the world, and especially these scholar circles.

Werman: Now another relationship that is apparently pretty close to you is that with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, SCAF, the Egyptian military. Would you describe yourself as pro-Army?

Awa: I have to have this relationship with them because I’m an activist. I work for the benefit of the people. I have many political situations which needed contact with them, and I did that all the time.

Werman: Let’s talk about one thing undertaken by Egypt’s military that’s become quite controversial. This week America’s highest ranking military officer said he pleaded with Egypt’s ruling generals to resolve the crackdown on nonprofit groups in Egypt, NGOs. What are your views on the current NGO detentions in Cairo?

Awa: Well, by the way it is not only American NGOs, it is international NGOs from all countries and Egyptian NGOs.

Werman: Right.

Awa: We have a law that regulates the activities of NGOs in Egypt. And as in every country, in strong support of abiding by the law, any NGO that did not abide by the law should face the rules and regulations presented thereof. And I think the legal matter should be left entirely to the judiciary, to the Egyptian judiciary. It can’t be dealt with internationally or from outside. It has to be dealt with the by the judiciary of Egypt.

Werman: Bearing in mind current events in Syria and general regional instability after the Arab Spring, why do you so vocally support Iran and vilify Israel. Won’t this just create more tension?

Awa: No, it wouldn’t create more tension. In fact, it will decrease tension because what I’m saying, that Iran is a part, eternal part of the Middle East. Eternal people in the Middle East, and they cannot be ignored. Once we deal with Iran as a normal country with which we have interests and to which we have some fears, and then we deal with these interest and those fears in a practical way, Iran will become a normal country like any other. But putting it in the square of [inaudible 3:06] and make a sort of propaganda all over the world that this is the country which may destroy civilization is very unfair in my view.

Werman: But doesn’t vilifying Israel as you’ve done in the past prompt and provoke even more tension?

Awa: I think the way Israel is dealing with the Iranian problem, as well as the Palestinian problem in fact, will not lead us to any point of agreement or any solution. It will lead us to more tension and conflict in the area. Israel needs to change its policy toward the Arab world and toward the Islamic world, and toward Iran, in particular.

Werman: There are concerns in the west, Dr. Awa, that with Islamists in power in Egypt that there could be a real break between Egypt and the United States. I don’t know if you would call yourself an Islamist or not, but you’ve been critical in the past about the US. Are you an opponent of the US?

Awa: No, I’m not an opponent of the US. I criticize the US when I see something that needs to be criticized, as I do with any Egyptian governments, including Mr. Mubarak. I used to be critical of what I think needs to be criticized. I’m not anti-American, even the Islamists of Egypt, of them of course, I am one. I’m not anti-American, but we need to deal with the American people, the American government, the American administration on equal footing.

Werman: We should say too Dr. al-Awa, Egyptians are also concerned by Islamists in power in their country. So let me just ask you straight out, are you, do you consider yourself an Islamist?

Awa: Yes, of course, I’m an Islamist. Islamist is a man who believes in God and Muhammad, his prophet, in the Koran, who tries to live in his family, his society, his business, his relationship according to Islamic values.

Werman: Should those values be imposed on others in a kind of legal way?

Awa: No, no.

Werman: Sharia?

Awa: No. On the contrary, we recognize the rights of everybody else, whether being Muslim, non-Muslim, Egyptian or a foreigner, to do and believe and act as he wishes.

Werman: So Islamists in Egypt are not to be feared?

Awa: No, no, no.

Werman: Dr. Mohammed Salim al-Awa, one of the prospective presidential candidates in Egypt, thank you very much for speaking with us.

Awa: Thank you.

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Discussion

3 comments for “America’s Position in the Middle East”

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_HJCI7X475NRXONSYAVZWOFK6HI Jennifer

    Dr. Salim Al-Awa’s comments show just how effective has been decades of anti-US and anti-Israel incitement under the Mubarak regime. That regime may have gone, but its hate filled media, intended to distract from Mubarak’s failures, have left their mark. Only a true change in attitudes can solve Egypt’s economic problems and the broader problems of the region. Instead Egypt et al seem set to sink deeper into xenophobia, which will help them no more than the Iranian regime’s incitement helped Iran. The millions that live on a few dollars a day will see their plight worsen – and successive regimes will try to direct their anger towards “external enemies”.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Mohamed-Osama/1204090268 Mohamed Osama

    the man has made his point of view very clear , egyptians does not hat americans or citizens of any other country but they criticize thier regimes and defind the egyptian interiste as all countries do , and if other countres did not realize this fact egypt will not suffer any economic problims , egypt is a sovregnt country with lots of resources but the past egyptian regime gave a wrong impression about egypt that will never last after the democratic reforms and the revolution

  • Anthony Jipson

    I beg of you

    Dear World,There has come a time that a voice does speak up, rise up, to promote change in this world. For only Love. The world has become a thing of and filled with shame. Everything held dear, everything that gives a sense and feeling of purpose and pleasure has been taken and rationed, put on a price, and distributed in the rise for ultimate power and glory. Every body whom lives within every organization, community, township, city, island, country, hemisphere, world, and anything that is outside of this particular existence. Of any person or thing spoken that has not yet expressed genuine concern for the very existence of your and this beautiful planet on which lived your lives. Why do so many humans feel the need for power, money, or anything that places one within a category above an other? Matter it does not how much money one has. Humans were not created within to be or act in this way. You are all born and raised different. No human, no being, the same. What has is taken for granted and then pursued more in hopes to be happy and at no matter the hurt caused in the process. Nothing and nobody, neither standing nor laying, does know exactly how created. How all came to be. Many theories there are in which trained to believe, but when one human, one person, does not lie within any categories expressed by governments, media, industry, or any miscellanea power, one is shunned, shut up and kept out of society with hopes all will cease to exist as to not ripple the flow of life. Why is it done? What is in this world that has pureness left that our creator did intend? A baby in womb is not immune to the impressions given and left on and to them by a world that is doomed to succeed. The very word of success may bring with it for many a feeling of glory, but what has been succeeded in doing? Borders and laws in which are governed and forced by those that are chosen, but instead taken. Do not label this success. Taken away from lives with leaving very little hope for the children and time forward is not success. A  century labeled, but is not yet close to being success. Earth. This beautiful and sacred planet that was once pure and untouched. An answer unheard. If one does created is wrong.  If intended to know, it would be. It is not and acceptance is needed. As you all read on you do know what is here written. Nothing is done and that is what does bring extreme sadness. Lies are disliked and to promote truth is correct, but the very truth in which is promoted is either unknown or accepted but not questioned. I am one being. Looking upon others brings such sadness to heart. Special lies within all of you and not I. See how your society and you does promote this way of life that just in the end hurts all. Although not know how did come to be science will always be in argument with religion but the received answers redundant. Never search for an answer not meant to have. Never would there be life if there was not a true purpose for it. All are incredible beings. Truly incredible. Rather than enjoy what has been given our creator wasted are lives in searching for answers. Power. Matter not what is won for does not it matter. Nor each do alone. Does matter that while placed timeless years do go on. And do not fear death. Fear not living life. Truly is if lived life, regret not be what left lay. Death, correct in the information given thus far is a glorious event. With life lived right that event will be birth. That is what does matter. So much to enjoy in living life, but with how it is given…sold…is within a catastrophic mistake that has been made. A mistake that has and continues to rob one of living life. It is THE ONE mistake that is going to cost humanity its’ very existence. Known that what is written within the Bible is of truth. Believe not otherwise, and truth is where concentration should lie. Being the only book and one thing to have ever truly changed the world believe it is what is needed to promote because it be the intent of all to follow. Not rewrite. True and one creator all shared is not proud of this called success. Look at the world around. Trained. Believe in heart that creator, all that matters, would be proud of all who stand for change. Make correct what all have wronged. In heart is known that it be the one thing needed, and to be done with peace, and to be done with Love.Money.Every day stress. Values. Ethics. All code that is truly supposed to be lived by based on one thing in which brings so many tears. Not for fault of failure. For fault of hurt caused. All worries (in which) bound this one thing that can simply be eliminated. Never has it been needed. Never has it done any amount of good. Placed is a value on all values. The most wonderful things, the most rare and passionate, most pure yet most simple, all come without cost. All possibilities not yet discovered have not so for reason. If all were in sync, all were equal. Truly equal. That most certainly is purpose. Does not matter how or whom one is, no different are they than any other that walks among. Our creator does not place one below anything or any one else. In knowing so, why are those that do? Promoting to destroy the very things in which once saved for much less a reason than what have since been created. Not trying to do so, but continue to do so is being done forth much faster that since beginning. Mass is incredible, but what happens when run nothing left? There can only be so much used of something before there is absolutely nothing what so left for those behind in whom have not yet even had chance. All are murderers. Acceptance is a must to move forward. A need to cage or condemn those that have committed it for reasons of sickness other than health to stop is a must in so knowing different are they than the person or others that pursues to condemn. Created governments that control and although disliked, accept it is. Those select within that try to cause change and from whom truly leave mark and absolutely make our Creator proud. Continue in celebrating their very being. Allowed is holidays for those that prove to make broad change. True change in which brings about proudness from every heart from all four corners of the world. None are immune to their touch. Matter they do. Why, though, is not learned from? Seeming so not to make easy, yet so very obvious it is. One left question in which answers are truly able.War.Misunderstood and causes so much pain, though comes with so very small result of anything. Those fighting are in honor, though questioning the very thing they being fought does stir in the minds of all. Heroes, and rightly so, but done it be as felt it need be done. It need not. You need not fight nor kill one another. Death brings pain, and not intended in such a way. So very sad. Bare does repeating over and over until felt within ones’ heart. Felt it when that tear does form. Land is not intended be fought over. So much of it is there that need not it be fought for. At all. This Earth will not overflow with those in any generation to come for how our Creator created. There are those who send cost to learn when so many talented in this world tenderly would love to teach all and one another without reimbursement. You are all Brothers and Sisters. You are all Lovers. With that all are capable to promote a society that is run on so alone. Love. Cease creating this currency and killing all trees and the very carbon that promote all of your existence and being. Cease at once warranting to waste resources that need be generously conserved. Talented are those in which are written in books that have discovered such miracles of and from nature in which intended discovery knew that what discovered were most certainly special in one way or an other. Purpose was found, given to, by the intended as reward for right. Discovering few further natural resource in which translated pleasure are not discovered so used for a reason. Reward. Genuine things that are lived for yet so easy are so to receive. Blinded are all until time is correct for reward. Little is  there to look forward if continue all wrong being done. All can work together in which to bring what and taken to that meant to be. Know what is yet disregarded for a reason surely confused. When found an answer why pursue different an answer or solution within that already found? Moving forth, though the wrong direction are all. Dying are those alarming and all beauty in which the world slowly does fade as destroyed. So numerous beautiful children to suffer consequences in which they should not and do not need. Stop. Order. Reason for war. Control. Need not of control do any. Need not for war. All are neighbors. Borrow from one and each other yet return payment did become unintended responsibility the outcome of one gesture that is right and is being made wrong. One place flourishes with abundance to help so another of. Help those that help you. Absolutely none should create problem. Repayment does become problem. When sad, so very often so does, is sad when seen or heard of something so truly breaking of heart that continues happen so many times over. Involve one or every one. All do know right from wrong. Natural instinct it is. Before those whom steal, before those that do murder, before those that do kill, and there most certainly is a difference, know what is being done is wrong. Felt a reaction not at all liked so being the reason you all feel that. Wrong so is doing. Repeat not. If be not done this world would so be the one thing all thought impossible, but is so not at all impossible. Think. Those thoughts in which do race through each mind at sleep, and each night thereafter, know said thoughts do not need be there at all. How would this world truly be if all were kind to each? This place was filled with love and no hate and no crime be here at all. No violence would there be. Doors without locks and no need for any key. Open all homes to everyone and each other. Continue being done baffles all and troubles everyone. As long as created things in which could destroy such existence impose results for all to blame.Energy.There is so very enormous amount of energy within and of the world. Broken down is every substance to find out what may make atom of substance. So does not matter. Energy has become similar to currency as all have deemed one with most be one with power. All cannot deny that if one comes up with ultimate solution created as problem because of the wrong caused harnessed other methods of running the things that are almost necessity to life would be. Never had to be, but since has become problem, all need to help figure out solution. All need work together in trying and so if may have figured out. Power would such the things held most dear other than love, materials that seem to matter so much to so many of you. Immune to this is nobody. That promoted in society is so desired as much as one another, but seen a solution is there for all to have without need to purchase. All do work who are able. Some, most unfortunate that have fallen victim to tragic events in life and are unable, so disabled, supposed to care for are they. Fallen victim and as family help without need for payment. All in professional careers whom so passionate for the things you do in end care not how much that passion brought in reward. Rewarded in ways intended so search or expect more than is meant. Results being tragic. All bad can be prevented. All catastrophe avoided if all work to prevent done together. The Bible is correct. Worry outcome being brought. End to life. Not that intended when created. All do believe, even those not do. A body brings thought from many area, though in the end, trickled is feeling that originated from ones heart. Those are not doing rightly so, letting that feeling control. Not so intended. Why does one cry when cried? Why does one feel any way felt when felt? Why such thirst for power and revenge becomes broad outlook? All can have and share plenty of everything. If it does feel good reward is causing pleasure. If bad is felt within, punishment is being imposed and not doing so again becomes the intent. If all do live life happy, in balance with everything around, then will pass you certainly will so and with that reassuring feeling that waste your life you did not. All tragic events that had chance for avoidance have happened in existence were all caused by self. That is shame. No matter a sea between, all can respect as though across lawn. All influential people. Those remembered and so will be as long as placed, which could be eternity if brought about was change, were the chosen to deliver a message bigger than all combined. Together accomplishment will succeed and all can have everything. Divided eventually will devastate the very fabric that once held all together, in doing did go the wrong direction. One of the greatest things given is change being the fact that all are able to make it. All can come together with no scandal, no power of and or governments, no politics, nor what politics have become. Deception is most definitely a lie and all are having difficult a time dividing thin line in which always is crossed. Never do the wrong when one or all could have done so the right.Fame.Felt the need this subject is strong. All have created a lucrative and powerful industry at that. Love to entertain one another and love to be entertained. Why a need for repayment and endorse payment for this? So is a gift. Abusing it has become habit. Those that have beautiful voices that reign out among are given such talent though not for the reason being used. Those do give much back to others and they are known and have a touch of greatness in heart they do. Influence you do have. Do not mix entertainment and politics. Do not mix politics with lies. Sing. Dance. Give great performance to millions who would flock to with complete order to see or hear and that is something that immensely gratefulness and proudness of yourselves should be felt for. Those are kissed with ability and inflicted with destiny of a higher purpose. Lyrics in which brings about change of emotion for many and that is a powerful thing in which does matter. Media is one that should feel not immense but a sense of guilt or shame. Taken is your ability to show the world such things meant to see so change could be brought about if wrong is supposed to be right. Chased is all the wrong things and delivered are all the wrong messages. See what happens at the center of this. Industry has brought about circle in which causes chaos and occasion complete madness. Every body is beautiful. Do not care about what others may think of appearance, if so is problem then change is certainly needed. Comfort is a feeling all does want. Contentment a gift to fill time and abusing it has become habit and problem. Many drink and do chemical in excess and results of this brings about crime, but it is what has been taken on as responsibility to restrict these things of nature that is in itself causing the very problem. If it feels good then can it be done, but if so doing then moderation and control is a must and that all do know. What does feel good most always causes problems if tried restriction and profit from. There is a certain natural rhythm all do feel. A sync that all do sense but noticing misaligning is problem. All are given clues, but so blind as not to see. All have evolved. Science and Religion will so agree, but not adapting to the amount or speed in which all are evolving. Slow down. Life is not a race. If not is figured then somebody, person intended, will. Do not worry. If frustration become outcome never give up, simply change what doing and see more clearly you will. Body is filled with electricity, an energy, for reason. All energy is caused by necessity but harnessing such energy is not to be played. Wrong action will bring such devastation not intended and artificiality becomes a temporary alternative to a permanent problem. The earth, much like the body, if not damaged too badly will eventually repair self. It is how all nature was so made. If fed artificiality, nature will so bring about something not meant to be. Reason for learning these natures is to use properly and in way that will not interfere with natural flow of existence. There are those that will try arguing some, but in end will be shown correctness and learn from mistake. To eliminate all problems without causing death is a road all should be working together in to solving. When shown danger, do know what the full consequences of knowing truly are. In so is why solution to all problems always lies within the very problem itself. That is what matters in any problem. No matter how big. No matter how small. Drama and chaos that in the end causes problems can be avoided. People, no matter what, if you have a talent for them to see will follow. They would do so respectfully and do so safely if taken upon the responsibility and duty one has as artist and role-model within society to fulfill in love for those. They do love. Screaming and crying would not be habit when able to be seen if not so. Adore that, not profit from it and the feeling of reward will be that much more intense and pleasurable. I promise you that.Love. It just feels good. It is what it is all about. Ultimate reward. One so easy to achieve but so many do such bad to achieve feeling. No supplement lies out nor within so stop such search. The ONLY way to feel true love and complete companionship with your one true love and life partner, man or woman, woman or man, is by completely giving yourself to the other with pure intent of making other happiest able all and one to be. All are capable of feeling such, achievement, if right was done so all the time. Not in any way similar to following laws that have been written to bring about a sense of control is this. The intention of the legal system and so feeling of necessity is understandable, but does not warrant such necessity in life. If all were good to one and each other, and the goodness does bring about happiness and ease in society and relieves those of all stress that brings about such madness in which does befall one to hurt an other with intent. Condone not murder. Nobody, absolutely nobody should. Do know so much less would lay within for impulse for so if there were not these things felt needed for survival and so many do work extreme hardness to purchase if all were generated in abundance, equally, and without expectation follow payment. Understood are borders and the need for governance. All feel need to follow. Brought about is feeling of comfort and security in which some body other is watching over all. For those that feel such should know that there is and that you are. Life is incredible and repeat will such until change does broaden. Sense and purpose can be found. Love was (is) always meant to be. Eliminate need for currency and repayment. All do charity out of goodness in heart for they get wonderful a feeling which is in return reward for the gift in which they have given. If so is done, then matter not what amount populated, that one will be remembered for eternity. If all did give such small piece of time in which to help create such wonders and joy then all could build enough together and all have the same joy, but know that any material thing, no matter at all, is ever going to replace feeling of love. Love is all in which matters in this world but yet hatred so vast. If one does die apart from an other, never changing that moment is there ever. All ones’ monetary worth, all ones’ supposed power, does mean not at that moment stepped into when answer for your cause is of reality. That is what need be kept close in knowing when all have choice to do right, but wrongfully chose. All leaders, all military, all grudge and displeasure about that which already did happen need go away. Momentary and within a shake of hands be all that need be. When all work together matter is done and with no worry. Be happiness for one and all so given all another chance and do what all are supposed in life. Another chance impossible not as never too late is it in which to turn such madness around. All have to want and all need to love each other. Stop hurting each and other. In so end Love be all that lay on side for the beginning and there never need occur a permanent end.Change. That is full intention. Ability to right something wrong so incredible. Fact of something within simple as music hold of ability at calm and to change mood added to millions of other such small but incredibly beautiful things are true miracles, in miracles a deed need learn hold more dear. Less anymore to treasure and do what does held. Help pull all together what hurt and pain is cause of outcome. Cease commercial and industrial importance of mass distribution for pleasure and joy with monetary gain. Cease all such nonsense and need for domination. Domination will turn damnation. All have such ability to change only not the world, but in process all selves undergo remarkable change that one may not notice, but those that be in bound touch by said life certainly will. Does so make sense. One does not continue read something as this through to finale if change were not considerable or ability thought incapable. Take care of each and all and need for such care eventually dies away. Take care of self, and so please, do correct. Children are future. If taught right from wrong and shown all how easy love be, then war that brings violence, violence that brings war, hate from lies, lies within hate shall become needless and such senseless things of time past. If all look in which shape this world lay, regardless of what country stood when read, then all should so will realize that nothing is had to lose in doing so.A MessengerValue those that value you and harmony and peace in this universe will align.