Editorial: Olive branch to Islam fulfils hopes

Opinion

President Obama has been on the verge of disappointing the high hopes held by many at the time of his election. His first four months have produced positions - on the economy, torture, detainees at Guantanamo Bay, on company bailouts, healthcare and much else - that were as cautious as could be expected of a conventional Democrat. The promise inherent in his unconventional background, the promise of change in the character and thrust of American leadership, has not been evident, until now.

The President's speech in Cairo late on Thursday was an appeal to the Islamic world that could not have been made by any previous President. Mr Obama was able to speak to Muslims as an avowed Christian who knows Islam intimately through his father's Kenyan family and his own worldly upbringing.

He was able to use Arabic phrases, quote the Koran comfortably, allude to Islamic history and values and, most important, he was able to criticise from a position of respect. Only his audience could tell if his familiarity was credible. The applause that greeted his sentiments at unexpected moments suggests it was.

He came, he said, to seek mutual respect based on a willingness to speak the truth. He acknowledged that tension had been fed by "colonialism" (Israel to every Arab ear) and the penetration through modern communications of Western influences that were seen as hostile to Islam's traditions.

He damned those who exploited the tensions as a "small but potent minority of Muslims" and observed that the attacks of September 11, 2001, had given rise to a misconception that Islam was hostile not only to America and the West but to human rights. Yet Islamic empires of the past had permitted all religions and fostered learning and enlightenment when Europe was in the dark ages.

But he did not duck issues that had to be confronted. Violent extremism would be dealt with, in Afghanistan, Pakistan or elsewhere. Israel's existence was unquestionable, its tragic history undeniable and its bonds with America unbreakable. Palestinians had an equal right to a homeland and their daily humiliations in the occupied territories were intolerable. He would pursue a two-state solution "with all the patience and dedication the task requires".

Iran should have the right to peaceful use of nuclear power but a nuclear arms race in the Middle East must be prevented. Democracy would not be imposed on any nation; each expresses the will of its people in its own way. Democracy was not a matter of elections alone, the exercise of power by consent, the rights of minorities and a culture of tolerance and compromise were just as important.

His speech confronted issues of religious tolerance and women's rights.

Western countries should not impede their Muslim citizens' religious practices. None should dictate what a Muslim woman should not wear. "I reject the view of some in the West that a woman who chooses to cover her hair is somehow less equal, but I do believe that a woman who is denied an education is denied equality," he said to applause.

He finished with a reminder that countries with non-Western traditions can prosper in the global economy. Japan and South Korea were shining examples.

No development could be based only on what comes out of the ground.

Education and innovation were the currency of the 21st century and he announced a number of programmes for Muslim students and business partnerships.

A single speech could not eradicate years of mistrust, he said. But this one was a powerful start.