What Egyptians really want

[Jake]

Are you all cool with this?

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/562840/201102101920/What-Egyptians-Really-Do-Want.htm

Islamofascism: Romantics in Western media expect "democracy" to flower from the anti-Mubarak rioting in Cairo. But polling shows Egyptians actually seek strict Islamic rule.

According to a major survey conducted last year by the Pew Research Center, adults in Egypt don't crave Western-style democracy, as pundits have blithely trumpeted throughout coverage of the unrest.

Far from it, the vast majority of them want a larger role for Islam in government. This includes making barbaric punishments, such as stoning adulterers and executing apostates, the law of their country. With the ouster of their secular, pro-American leader, they may get their wish.

Among highlights from the Pew poll:

• 49% of Egyptians say Islam plays only a "small role" in public affairs under President Hosni Mubarak, while 95% prefer the religion play a "large role in politics."

• 84% favor the death penalty for people who leave the Muslim faith.

• 82% support stoning adulterers.

• 77% think thieves should have their hands cut off.

• 54% support a law segregating women from men in the workplace.

• 54% believe suicide bombings that kill civilians can be justified.

• Nearly half support the terrorist group Hamas.

• 30% have a favorable opinion of Hezbollah.

• 20% maintain positive views of al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden.

• 82% of Egyptians dislike the U.S. — the highest unfavorable rating among the 18 Muslim nations Pew surveyed.

[Michael Hardner]

If not, then tell us who deserves democracy ?

[scribblet]

I'm surprised at the numbers, I thought Egypt was fairly secular, not as radical as some areas. 95% prefer the religion play a "large role in politics.", 84% favor the death penalty for people who leave the Muslim faith• 82% support stoning adulterers.

[Bitsy]

For me, it is important to go the source rather than depend upon another’s analysis. I see that most of what is depicted as to what Muslims want is taken from the poll but I take issue with a couple of points, suicide bombings and their view of the US, which I cannot seem to find in this poll. I may stand corrected on both since I have not done an in depth read of the poll.

One-in-five Muslims in Egypt and Jordan offer support for suicide bombing in defense of Islam, as do 15% of Indonesian Muslims. Yet, far more in these three countries say these violent acts are never justified; 46% of Muslims in Egypt and a majority in Jordan (54%) and Indonesia (69%) reject suicide bombings. The notion that these types of attacks against civilians are never justified is even more widespread in Pakistan and Turkey, where 80% and 77%, respectively, share this view.

http://pewglobal.org/2010/12/02/muslims-around-the-world-divided-on-hamas-and-hezbollah/

[Scotty]

If not, then tell us who deserves democracy ?

People tend to forget, I think, that Democracy is really not an end unto itself. It is freedom, people want, and good government. Democracy is merely a means to that end because we haven't come up with any better way to get it. But Democracy which does not bring freedom or good government is of little value.