AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

Scientists Recognized by the Science and Human Rights Program

2003

Randa Saadeddin Ibrahim
February 11, 2003

My father sends his heartfelt greetings and profound thanks to each of you at AAAS for honoring him today. Your support throughout the last three years has sustained our hope and kept the family's spirits high. Beyond that, your solidarity has reinforced my father's resolve to fight for human rights and democracy, in a region that lives in fear of war from without and tyranny from within. This dual fear has made the struggle for his freedom all the more complex.

The United Nations Arab Human Development Report recently summed up the tragedy of the region in three chronic deficits: a freedom and democracy deficit; a gender equity deficit; and a knowledge/technology deficit. This courageous report concludes that as long as these deficits persist, the region will continue to generate a disproportionate share of despair, extremism and armed conflict. We have seen since 9/11 that the ramifications of these three deficits are spilling over to threaten the rest of our globalized world.

Saad Ibrahim and his associates at the Ibn Khaldun Center tried to stand for an alternative vision in the region. We believe that democracy and truly participatory civil society are the only viable alternatives to prevent the rise of other Bin Ladens or Saddam Husseins. If it has taken the imprisonment of the messenger to get this message a world hearing, then it will have been worth the price. We are heartened by the growing awareness in major news media, in institutions such as yours, and even in the Arab world -- though you will not hear it spoken very loudly -- that this is the only way forward.

If we can effect a peaceful transition to democracy in my region, it will go a long way toward assuring peace for the rest of the world as well. We call on the AAAS and thoughtful people of good will everywhere to help us bring that about. Thank you, and god bless us all.