Conference on Political Islam

by paul b Thu Sep 18, 2003 16:12

Widespread privatisation in recent years has seen the Algerian economy carved up for the benefit of the usual suspects. This process and the tacit support of a repressive regime by a greedy EU and US under the mantle of a "war on terror" has served to further entrench a massively polarised country, whose marginalised citizens continue to look to political islam as a force for betterment.

Algeria seems a fascinating case study for how political islam will evolve.

Good luck to the conference. It will be interesting to hear the debate, especially getting an Iraqi view and a workshop on gender issues.

By the way, a fortnightly paper directed at Ireland's 25,000 muslim community is going out tomorrow for the first time.

by caph Thu Sep 18, 2003 15:08

led Aznar to meet Qhadafi / Ghadafi this week.
Most Maghreb oil and gas is concentrated in Algeria and Libya. Both Aznar and Burlosconi wish to win the pipeline contracts.

by Z. Zidane Thu Sep 18, 2003 13:00

It's not all that surpising to see the Irish Government slithering up to the Algerian generals in refusing to meet this guy.

I'm looking forward to hearing what he has to say on Saturday.

Check out some of Salima Ghezali's writings on Algeria. She's an inspirational journalist (won the Sakharov prize in 1997) who's been banned for refusing to comply with Algerian government's censorship laws.

by pat c Thu Sep 18, 2003 11:21

theres an interesting article in Black & Red Revolution No 7: "The trouble With Islam" (published by WSM0. It gives an Anarchist perspective on Islamic politics, religion and society.

by >>>>>Seáinín Thu Sep 18, 2003 02:15

Trócaire are not getting another cent from me, ever. When they're collecting money it's all pictures of starving scaltháns, but when it comes to spending it, it goes on this sort of blather.

That's fraud, pure and simple.

by brendan - algeria solidarity group Thu Sep 18, 2003 00:23

Dr Dhina who is the spokesperson for the Algerian Islamic Front was invited to address the Conference and while here we were arranging for him to meet with the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreifn Affairs.
Then things started happening . The Department of Foreign Affairs refused to meet him and there was no room on the Joint Oireachtas Committeefor him. I interpret this refusal as kow-towing to the Algerian Government and the so-called Bush war on terror. -WE MUST NOT LET OUR FRIENDS DOWN.
However the voice of DR. Dhina, who is a political refugee, will not be silenced .
It is claimed by the Algerian Government that he has terrorist connections but the Algerian Generals are the real terrorists in Algeria.
Dr Dhina will bw on TVAM at 7.00 on Friday morning and will later meet with Michael D , Joe Costello, John Gormley and Joe Higgins -if he is still around.
Come to the Conference on Saturday and make up your own mind.
The title of this piece should be " Another example of our loss of an Independent Irish Foreign Policy"

by lamech Wed Sep 17, 2003 17:04

then you're barking up the wrong tree. The leading theologists of that movement are not cited by the Irish RC Bishops, in fact, it appears to Vatican watchers that the Irish bishops are "on the right" of the church mostly being post-Cardinal Ratizinger and thus pro-Curia apppointments.
If it were true, then Leonardo Boff would surely have been invited to speak or offer a sermon
in Ireland by now.
If it were true, than at least one of the staff of Irish seminaries or one of the Irish RC Bishops would have called for the decision to remove Hans Küng's licence to be if not overturned, reconsidered.
The Episcopal council of Ireland is "on the right".

by maybe Wed Sep 17, 2003 16:42

Still, you have to look at the work that some of the priests and nuns are doing in places like latin america.Not talking about missionary work, but human rights, social work, etc. Maybe this is the angle catholic agencies are veering towards, as opposed to the bureaucracy and orthodoxy of the hierarchy. Also, surely sponsoring a conference on political islam is not something a conservatively catholic organisation would do?

by oxymoron spotter. Wed Sep 17, 2003 16:03

oxymoron.

by -------- Wed Sep 17, 2003 15:14

Set up by the Irish catholic bishops to be the development arm of the church. So, the founders gave it the mandate I suppose.
I think you can look at their annual report to see exactly where the money goes. Some of the bishops involved seem very progressive - the chairman spoke out on Feb 15th about the use of Shannon. Not afraid to speak out for poor people, regardless of politics.

by Lone gunman Wed Sep 17, 2003 13:43

Was it the Irish Govt?If so it is then a political organization? The UN? Well that wouldnt surprise anyone ,or is it self appointed?
Either way untill such organizations start accounting for their political views and policies.They should get nothing from anyone.

by ------- Wed Sep 17, 2003 11:50

All you have to do is look at their website:

"Trócaire was given a dual mandate: to support long-term development projects overseas and to provide relief during emergencies; and at home to inform the Irish public about the root causes of poverty and injustice and mobilise the public to bring about global change."

Development work is not just about sending money to people in need. This narrowminded view of the world does not help anyone. Change in attitudes in needed and global education - like this conference - is a part of that. I think its a perfectly valid way to spend money, given their dual mandate.

by >>>>Seáinín Wed Sep 17, 2003 00:32

Tugann cosmhuintir na hÉireann a gcuid airgid do Thrócaire faoin tuiscint go mbeidh an chuis is mó den airgead caite díreach ar daoine atá i gcruachás. Mar sin, cén fáth in ainm Dé go bhfuil Trócaire ag caitheamh an airgead sin ar díospóireacht (is cuma cén ábhar)in Éirinn?

by Palmiro Togliatti Tue Sep 16, 2003 22:55

Níl aon chuma air seo gur 'political agitation' atá ann. Cinnte is dócha nach mbeadh trócaire ró-bháúil don Ioslam polaitiúil nó is eagraíocht Chaitliceach é, ach cén chaill atá ar é a phlé, in ainm Dé?

by beth Mon Sep 15, 2003 23:06

or did you keep some in reserve?
go on let us in. trust us. we are your trusted friends. aren't we?

by >>>>>Seáinín Mon Sep 15, 2003 19:25

So this is what Trocaire is spending it's money on. People will feel cheated that money they give in the belief that it will be spent on feeding straving people is instead being thrown away on political agitation.

What possible interest could the Islamic Salvation Front have to Irish people? We already had a taste of Theocracy and we didn't like it.

I think we ought to investigate how Trocaire is speding it's funds, it looks like people are being defrauded.