The Slave Trade and the wounds of history

30/01/2012

Dr Omnia Marzouk (Photo: Paul Briggs)Dr Omnia Marzouk (Photo: Paul Briggs)The last year has been a pivotal year for democracy, says Dr Omnia Marzouk, President of Initiatives of Change International. To move forward means also to look honestly at the past and the wounds of history. (Taken from a speech at the Making Democracy Real conference, January 2012)

The start of a new year is a good time to reflect back on the past year as well as look forward to shaping and creating a better future.

2011 will remain etched in my mind as a pivotal year for democracy. The two events that stand out and made my heart leap with joy were: The ‘Arab spring’ and the birth of South Sudan. Both are life-changing events that represent the hopes and aspirations of Arabs and South Sudanese for a future with peace, democracy, development and the chance to fulfil their own destiny. Both peoples face huge challenges. Both will need support from outside to flourish. But my hope is that the West can develop a values-based foreign policy supporting what people on the ground want, not based on their own interests.

I am a British, Egyptian, Arab, practicing Muslim, professional woman whose life and faith have been greatly enriched by my encounters with people of other traditions. As I followed the converging threads of my own unorthodox life journey I was faced with some more challenging questions about the impact historical events have on our lives today and the legacy they leave that makes nationhood and democracy an even harder challenge.

As I reflected on my passionate wish for the West to have a value based foreign policy towards the Middle East, I was struck by the fact that over the centuries, the relationship at governmental level between Egypt and Sudan has been characterized by periods of conquest, domination, interference and motivated by self-interest. This governmental level of action was out of synch with the affection and regard ordinary Egyptians feel for the people of Sudan.

I am passionate about the city that has been my home for the last 25 years. Most people associate Liverpool with The Beatles or football, but it has another side to it. In the second half of the 19th century the backbone of Liverpool’s prosperity was the slave trade; to walk around its International Slavery Museum is a ‘gut wrenching’ experience of man’s inhumanity to man and the indignity and degradation suffered by black Africans in this abominable period of history.

Even if I could dismiss this as simply the history of my adopted hometown I could not escape other, starker facts. Islam clearly and categorically forbids slavery. In our tradition on the Day of Judgement, the prophet himself will stand as plaintiff against the one: ‘who enslaves a free man, then sells him and eats his money’. Yet, Arab Muslims had their own slave trade and slave routes.

I am aware that I can’t change history. But for the wounded memories and legacy of this history that those of you from South Sudan, and other countries across Africa, still suffer from today – I can only stand here an offer my deepest, sincere apology.

All men and women are created equal, no matter what their colour, race, creed, class or education. All people deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion. If I was ever to succumb to the sin of superiority, my personal reminder of equality is a coin I carry in my purse, which I never spend – a commemorative coin issued on the 200th anniversary of the act abolishing slavery in Britain.

As we move forward into 2012 and beyond, I hope especially that the Arab world and South Sudanese will rise above the wounds of war as well as the wounds of the past. We need each other if we are to create a future with peace, stability, democracy and development for all. I also hope that the International community of Initiatives of Change can play an active supportive partnership role in helping both peoples fulfil their aspirations.

Dr Omnia Marzouk is President of Initiatives of Change International. This commentary is taken from her address to the ‘Making democracy Real’ dialogue on 9 January 2012 speaking just before the keynote Address of Dr Riek Machar, Vice President of South Sudan.

NOTE: Individuals of many cultures, nationalities, religions, and beliefs are actively involved with Initiatives of Change. These commentaries represent the views of the writer and not necessarily those of Initiatives of Change as a whole.

Commentary about the Slave Trade Speech

Submitted by Afaf Badran on Tue, 28/02/2012 - 03:20.

Dear Dr. Omnia,
In your speech you mentioned that slavery flourished in Britain in the second half of 19th century (which is almost between1850-1899); I do not understand when was the issuing of the coin, which commemorates the 200th anniversary of abolishing slavery in Britain? Only 11 decades have passed since the end of the 19th century.

You apologized for the past slave trade saying that even if you could dismiss the history of your adopted hometown, Liverpool, you could not escape the “starker facts” regarding the actions of Arab Muslims and Egypt’s governments over centuries.

This is a glimpse of Egypt’s history:
Egypt was ruled by Mamlouks (from central Asia) from 1250 to 1517 followed by the Ottomans who ruled it until the early years of the 19th century. From 1805 to 1848 Egypt was ruled by the Albanian, Mohammad Aly, who took over its rule from the Ottomans. After the notorious Citadel Massacre where he killed 500 Mamlouks, he started a slave trade in 1811 in Dongola in North Sudan (not South) to replace his Albanian deserting soldiers by more loyal ones. He took over Sudan as well. In1882 Egypt came under British rule and in 1923 it was declared under British protection while still ruled by Mohammad Aly’s descendents until 1952.

If Egypt has unfortunately not really been governed by native Egyptian or Arab governments for such a long time, until Nasser’s revolution in 1952, it is not clear for which period and from which position you are apologizing.

As for your concluding statement, I wish to clear a possible misunderstanding especially by young readers. There have been no wounds of war between the Arab world (as a whole or in part) and South Sudan. Each nation had its own independent struggles, mostly with forces that came from outside the Arab world. The conflict between the South Sudanese and North Sudanese, however, has been within Sudan, which was one country then.

Finally, it is thoughtful to call upon all nations who participated in or encouraged slavery or committed acts of suppression in South Sudan, North Sudan, and elsewhere to apologize to the countries affected. Endeavors to realize and respect democracy are always commendable.