Reflections from Fall for the Book: Emir El-Kader and the Universality of Humanitarian Norms

This Fall, George Mason University hosted a series of literary seminars entitled “Fall for the Book.” On September 21st John Kiser presented his bibliography of Emir Abd El-Kader, described by Mr. Kiser as a combination of “a Benedictine monk and a Marine, with a good liberal arts education.” Mr. Kiser went on to explain that his motivations for writing the book came from a desire for “more stories about good Muslims,” to counter the popular image of irrationally violent Muslims. He hoped to achieve this by reviving the memory of one of the greatest men of the nineteenth century, at the time known across Europe and North America as well as the Middle East. Although not explicitly discussed in the book itself, the seminar brought about interesting questions regarding Islam and humanitarian norms.

In his book Mr. Kiser not only brings us a perspective of a ‘good Muslim’ but also a demonstration of the strong bond between humanitarian and Islamic values. A highly respected religious scholar and military leader, Emir El-Kader conducted his opposition to the French occupation of his homeland according to strict humanitarian principles. Citing Quranic verses, El-Kader forbade decapitation, the mutilation of the dead, the targeting of non-Muslim religious figures, and the gratuitous destruction of nature. Similarly, El-Kader ensured that prisoners were well cared for even when facing limited supplies and a ‘scorched earth’ counter-insurgency campaign. Ultimately, El-Kader ended his resistance by voluntary surrender, as a military stalemate simply inflicted unnecessary suffering on the civilian populace.

During El-Kader’s exile in Damascus the local conflict between Druze and Marionites led to a pogrom against Christians in 1860. Guided by his faith, he publicly defied Muslim fanatics by offering sanctuary to Christians within his own home. For his actions, El-Kader was honored by President George Washington and Queen Victoria, and bestowed the Grand Cross of the Légion d'honneur by the French. In 1863, motivated by a European battle that took place one year prior to the Damascus pogrom, Henri Dunant formed the organization that would become the International Committee of the Red Cross. Although Dunant and El-Kader never crossed paths their examples as individuals reflect parallel aspirations that sought to promote universal humanitarian principles.

In the ‘post-9/11’ environment, some have come to call into question the absolute nature of humanitarian principles. With the denial of prisoner of war rights to "enemy combatants," the pervasive use of indiscriminate violence that has killed innocent civilians, and the deliberate targeting of humanitarian actors by insurgents, the challenges to humanitarian norms have never been greater. However, within this context Mr. Kiser presents us with an historic example that directly confronts those that claim humanitarianism to be a luxury and weakness of the West. He also provides a role model whose faith in Islam was guided by discernment and self-restraint. “Commander of the Faithful: The Life and Times of Emir Abd El-Kader“ offers both hope and insight in an often bleak world.