The awkwardness of interpretation of Islam and democracy A case study of the administration of Islamic affairs in Thailand according to the Islamic Organization Administration Act 1997 (2540).

Abstract

The Thai Muslims have been challenged by the coming of new values, especially, that which arising from the process of democratization of the Thai politic. Perceived by Muslims as un-Islamic, these values, among which are the rights of people to elect their leader, have to be readjusted and reinterpreted to suit the Islamic framework. The result is awkwardness, it achieves neither democratic objectives nor an Islamic one, worst still it monopolizes power to some actors, and excluding the rights of the entire Muslims communities. The Islamic Organization Administration Act 1997 (2540), the law governing Islamic affairs in Thailand is the best example of such awkwardness. The Act gives the position of Imam to be in office for life, the proponents insisted that there is no term limit for religious position of Imam in Islam. Then the Act gives the rights to Imam to elect Provincial Islamic Committee (PIC) which its members hold the position of 6 years in office. This provision denies ordinary Muslim’s rights in the community. The Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT) – the organization administering Muslim affairs at the national level, and Chularatchamontri – the highest religious authority of Muslim communities in Thailand also suffered from similar results. This article demonstrates the shortcomings of traditional interpretation of Islam and democracy, and provides the alternative interpretations which benefit Muslim community. It also proposes new ideas of Islamic Organization Administration in Thailand.