A pioneer for democracy
What was his offense? He had not directly rebelled against or attacked the government. But he did something much more far-reaching: he claimed the right of the free interpretation of scriptures (not arbitrary, but free and responsible interpretation).
It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing away of Nasr Abu Zayd with whom I had met repeatedly, both in Europe and in America. He was a friendly and gentle person, and of a truly inquiring and philosophical disposition. He was also an exile or expatriate, persecuted in and banished from his native land (which he loved dearly). What was his offense? He had not directly rebelled against or attacked the government. But he did something much more far-reaching: he claimed the right of the free interpretation of scriptures (not arbitrary, but free and responsible interpretation). His enemies were astute enough to get the point: that the right of interpretation signals the downfall of all autocracies and theocracies, opening ultimately the gateway to democracy. I salute my late friend Abu Zayd as both a genuinely pious man and a pioneer for democracy.
