The latest national dialogue forum held in Makkah has just ended. The discussions were shrouded in secrecy, keeping the public in darkness.
Such a thing raises some serious questions. At the very least, how could it be called a national dialogue when the dialogue was held behind closed doors? How could it be called a national dialogue when people had no idea what was being discussed or how the discussions were going? The only information came from officials responsible for the conference.
Any dialogue worthy of the name should be conducted in an open and transparent atmosphere with participants freely stating their views, exchanging ideas, responding to points raised and generally evaluating the proceedings. A national dialogue should not be a series of closed-door negotiations between individuals or groups meeting in isolated rooms where everything is done in secrecy.
It may have been understandable to hold the first session of the dialogue in secret. After all, this was the first time such a forum had ever been held here, and to ensure success, it may have been necessary to limit discussions to the invited guests. It was bound to be a unique experience for everyone, including the participants, and there were fears that heated exchanges would take place, followed by withdrawals that might lead to serious rifts.
Fortunately, however, all went well. The participants showed a commendably high sense of responsibility and toleration for other points of view. Constructive recommendations were made and many of them have been endorsed.
Many — with me among them — have called for the next round of dialogue to be open and for the participants to show a proper spirit by committing themselves to ethical approaches and rules of discussion. There have been calls to allow media coverage of the conference.
Limiting such conferences to a carefully selected group of individuals whom we all respect and closing it to the public denies citizens the opportunity to contribute. Opening these gatherings to the public would encourage free discussion and serve as a trial balloon to motivate the entire population and help accelerate the progress we so desperately need.
The conference seemed to focus on one issue, ignoring many others, especially those relating to social development. Women did participate in the conference but via closed-circuit TV. Ironically, a few meters from where the dialogue was being held, male and female visitors to the Grand Mosque were worshipping side by side, without barriers, in an atmosphere of freedom, tranquillity and spirituality.
