The victory of an Islamist Party in Morocco's parliamentary elections appears to be one more sign that religious-based parties are benefiting the most from the new freedoms brought by the Arab Spring.
Across the Middle East, parties referencing Islam have made great strides, offering an alternative to corrupt, long serving dictators, who have often ruled with close Western support.
In Tunisia, Morocco, and also Egypt, newly enfranchised populations are choosing religious parties as a rebuke to the old systems, which often espoused liberal or left-wing ideologies.
However, the Obama administration is showing concerns about the rise of Islamist movements in Arab countries in transition, even as developments in Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Egypt indicate that the so-called “Arab spring” may leave Islamists in charge of the post-election period.
What the West does not understand about the phenomenal success of political Islam in the democratic elections, is that Arab voters are Muslim and moderate by nature.
They place their confidence in Islamic parties because they have suffered for decades under secular and dependent regimes.
The West itself must take responsibility for the prominence of political Islam in most of the Arab countries because Western governments backed corrupt dictatorships for 50 or more years on the pretext of supporting "stability" and cheap Arab oil.
“So let the Islamists have their chance, and let everyone respect the verdict of the ballot box. The West must restrain itself from interfering in Arab affairs for the sake of Israel, its hegemony and aggression, and to be able to take our resources cheaply” says Abdel Bari Atwan, editor in chief of Alquds al arabi newspaper.
In this edition of the show we ask the following question: How significant are the achievements of Islamic parties for the Arab world?
