THE Doha Debates team recently held their end-of-series party, and promised to be back in September with even more controversial motions, “challenging even more stereotypes,” according to its chairman, veteran journalist and broadcaster Tim Sebastian.
“We have a responsibility to look beyond the stereotypes and clichés, and really understand factors such as the Shia-Sunni divide, and other issues in the Arab world,” argued Sebastian who was speaking to Gulf Times following the end of series celebrations.
“The Arab and Western media have a big part to play in this, and I believe there is good and bad reporting from both sides, but too many people are experts on the problems of the reporting, without ever having read it,” he added.
The latest series of the programme, which is sponsored by Qatar Foundation, dealt with highly controversial issues that affect the lives of people throughout the region. Sebastian explained that he chose the motions, had them examined by respected experts throughout the region and then finalised.
“What is the point in discussing issues that are meaningless to people? We need to debate about factors that young Muslims will be faced with on an everyday basis, including their perception of the West,” he said.
“The biggest difference between this series and others has been the level of interaction with the audience and their reaction,” explained Sebastian, “and this is how we judge our success.”
“Nowhere else in the world would you be able to see young Palestinian students openly criticising a senior official from Hamas,” he said, referring to the special episode at the end of the series featuring Dr Mahmoud al-Zahar, adding “it was quite extraordinary.”
He argued that Qatar’s educated and increasingly aware young students are the “best export” from this region, and that their development bodes well for the future.
He also mentioned that fact that the panellists were “better-matched” for this series, which made for lively but well balanced debates.
Sebastian said that the debates provided a “new and different view of the Arab world,” and that people throughout the world would be surprised by the diversity and range of opinions on show.
However, he recognised that relations between the West and the Islamic world were not particularly strong at the moment, and this was something he hoped would change. He said that he believed the imminent change of the US administration would definitely help to repair relations, but “whoever takes over will still have the issue of Iraq to clear up.”
He also referred to the role of the UK in Qatar and the region, which was the subject of the debate held in the Cambridge Union earlier in the series. “I wish there were more UK institutions here, as this is a vital region for the UK and the West. People here certainly notice the gap, and I think it is time for the UK to make some key decisions about how they work in this part of the world.”
He pointed out that a lot more understanding of the Arab world in the West was needed. “Rather than Arab unity, I am interested in Arab diversity, and this is something the West needs to understand,” said Sebastian, adding that contrary to a great deal of public opinion, there is a large variety of different thinking throughout the Arab world.
The end-of-series dinner also gave a chance for them to explain a number of advancements which have emerged from the debates, including the new Qatar Foundation project, “Qatar Debate,” which includes a national debating team which “will soon be competing in the world championships.”
Overall the feeling for the team at this part of the year is one of exhaustion, satisfaction, and excitement for the future – a future which promises many more guest speakers at the Doha Debates, as Sebastian jokingly remarked, “perhaps I’ll finally get Tony Blair next series!” |
