Obama’s address to the Muslim world – give your opinion!

Image posted on Flickr by "Volubrjotr".

Obama's address in Cairo on Thursday was a hugely anticipated speech. Our Muslim Observers react: only half of them are convinced. Read more...

Read an overview of the speech here. 

We asked a number of our Observers to comment on the speech. We're publishing the reactions as they come in; here are the first. We're inviting you to give your opinions too. Thank you in advance for giving precise points on the speech and avoiding aggressive or heinous comments.

UPDATE 05/06/09: Our Observers from Pakistan and Iran have added their comments to the post (below).

"He shared some good verses which truly reflect the spirit of a peace loving religion"

PAKISTAN - Awab Alvi is a dentist from Karachi. He writes the blog Teeth Maestro.

This is for the first time I have heard any American president speak words close to my heart. He touched the Israel issue perfectly, there is no denying the fact that Israel has deep ties with America, but there is also no denying that terrorism should be stopped from both ends.

How much he'll actually deliver from this speech we will have to wait and see over time; but at least such a positive speech will definitely uplift the spirits. Generally people are quick to grasp even the slightest glimmer of hope, and people will hold on to his every word.  He envisions to solve all the crises of the world, I'm sure he may fall a little short of this grand plan, but it's a good starting point.

His outright condemnation of the Iraq offensive was a satisfying to hear, his order to shutdown Guantanamo Bay was good.  Practically all his talking points were perfectly in tune to what Muslims would want to hear. His occasional reference to the Quran was important, sharing some good verses which truly reflect the spirit of a peace loving religion.  I would go as far as saying that with this speech - the change he talks of is now one which I too can believe in. Lets all work towards it."

American people should be proud for electing this president

IRAN - Ali X is a student from Tehran. He prefers to remain anonymous.

I found President Obama's speech very rational and very just; especially his comments about Iran. Again Obama's comment about Hamas, especially the fact that he ‘mentioned' the group, was genuine; it was a comment which only he could have made (I myself do not like Hamas, in fact I dislike this Islamism, but I think Obama's approach was realistic and had the capacity of feasibility).

Whether the Islamic world in whole or in part responds to it fairly or not, the speech has its own importance; it is a sign of a change in the US's policy towards the world. I think American people should be proud for electing this president."

"The usual clichés about peace"

WEST BANK - Ghassan Abdullah works in IT in Ramallah in the West Bank.

Obama repeats the usual clichés about peace, but the United States of America remains the main supplier of arms to Israel, and the US is the biggest political and diplomatic supporter of Israel. I will start believing Obama only if he can get the Israeli Army to remove at least one settlement or one road block in the occupied Palestinian territories."

"I deeply deplore his neglect of what happened in Gaza"

GAZA STRIP - Twenty-year-old Lina Al-Sharif lives is from the Gaza Strip. She writes the blog Live From Gaza.

As a Muslim I was extremely happy and excited about his approach to Muslims and Islam. And I agreed with him on most of the points that addressed that issue. However, as a Palestinian living in Gaza, the speech didn't meet my expectations fully. But it was relatively okay if we want to compare it with the previous administration. I admire Obama's decisive tone toward settlements, but I deeply deplore his neglect of what happened in Gaza. Unfortunately, he did not talk about it even though it was a very significant event in the Middle East and in the world. He didn't ignore the Holocaust which occurred almost 65 years ago, but he did neglect - rather than forget to mention - an aggression and siege that are still being imposed on 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza. All in all, what will define Obama is his actions, not just his catchy speeches."

"Obama has found a way of speaking to the Muslim world"

EGYPT - Ahmed Gamal-Eldin works in communications in Cairo, Egypt.

I see that Obama has found a way of speaking to the Muslim world. I noted several things from his speech:

-         His stance against Israeli settlements and the suffering of the Palestinian people.

-         His promise that the US won't stay in Iraq and Afghanistan.

-         His admission that the US took part in overthrowing an elected democratic government in Iran [that of Mohammed Mossadegh in 1953].

-         His recognition, without spelling it out, that invading Iraq was a mistake.

I am however still wary and I do feel that the media have given too much praise to this speech, which has been repeatedly qualified as ‘historic'. Remember that Bill Clinton also had some very good intentions when it came to the Muslim world, but that his speeches weren't followed by any action. Obama must act. For me, these are his priorities:

-        To put pressure on Israel to stop colonising the Palestinian territories and put in place a two-state solution, which he said was the only solution.

-       Stop interfering in other countries' businesses, particularly Afghanistan and Iraq. In Afghanistan especially, where every US intervention and every civilian killed, only reinforces the Taliban."