Freedom of expression in the Muslim world

Recently there have been reports suggesting that the Muslim world is overwhelmingly democratic in persuasion. Surveys of respondents in the Arab Middle East as well as other parts of the Muslim world indicate that there are high levels of support for democratic government and democratic policies. An analysis of the "World Values Study" conducted by the University of Michigan claims "that strong Islamic attachments do not discourage or otherwise influence support for democracy to any significant degree." In this discussion I want to look at some examples of intellectual restrictions that are found in the Muslim world. These impede political development, above all by restricting intellectual discourse, curtailing dissent, and cutting off discussion that would lead to new understandings and new social harmonies. The following illustrations indicate only a few of the many restrictions that exist widely in the Muslim world and which serve mainly to inhibit change while curtailing intellectual and human development. The concern of these leaders may not be different from the desire of the Religious Right in this country to put moral concerns first. But the consequences are fairly weighty.