Hayet Howayek Atia is a Syrian-Lebanese distinguished journalist, searcher and thinker, who dedicated her works to issues linked to identity, modernity and mass medias. She is a Christian woman who leaved Lebanon during civil war to settle-down in Jordan, and her personnel journey has perhaps affected her way of thinking, and the elaboration of some thesis concerning acute questions. For example, she has an interesting opinion about minorities issue in Arab world, and more specifically religious minorities, although we can generalize her statements on other categories.
In an ancient interview with the Lebanese Tv channel El Mayadeen, Hayet Howayek had answered several questions linked to plurality in Arab and muslim societies, the notion of otherness, and linguistic and religious minorities.
Professor Howayek had boarded in depth the statut of Arab Christians in the past, in comparison with their situation today.
During authoritarian regimes and baathist movements era, religious minorities like Christians benefited from freedom and stability to a certain extent, because they were protected by a certain regime or president, like Sadam Hussein in Iraq.
However, it would have been better for Arab leaders to set basis for a plural and strong society where everyone tolerates others, exchanging points of view, in order to avoid crisis and communitarian wars.
After Saddam’s death, Iraqi Christians couldn’t count on anyone to protect their rights, becoming prey to different groups fighting on their land. Hence, they were forced to leave. The situation is the same for other minorities increasingly persecuted after the disruptions of Arab-Muslim world in the last decade.
Once again, it has been proved that prevention is better then cure. It is necessary to create a society based on plurality and openness instead of leaning on a heroic leader who will rule the country all by himself.
Lyes Ferhani