why does islam hate democracy so much...?, page-5

Islam does not hate democracy. I just spent a month in the city of Medinah, Saudi Arabia, doing governance work including a number of public meetings involving voting on harmless subjects. It was all run by Egyptians and Arabs, and while I set up the format, it was made clear I was just an honoured guest. They were all a bit bewildered by it but liked it.

Afterwards several heavy duty arabs in full mufti came up to me and said to me, look, who say saudis cant do democracy, we just did it!

I think it would be cautiously welcomed by most of the community leaders but only if it were done in adherence with islam and local customs, and not if it were shoved down their throats by westerners.