The Community on Friday

Whistleblowing and Dissent by Ammar Abbasraza Anwarali (Port Louis, Mauritius)

Power is never truly tested in moments of agreement, but in how it responds to criticism. Leaders throughout history have faced challenges in responding to and dealing with opposition and dissent plays an important role in exposing injustice and bringing about reform. However, dissent also requires boundaries to prevent disruption of public order and stability, bringing to question the limits of tolerance. This can be examined in the leadership of Imam Ali and specifically his response in dealing with the Kharijites. Not only does his response show us the practical balance between protecting the freedom of expression while maintaining safety and security, it also opens our eyes to the reality of the way modern democracies today approach this issue.orth