There is an anarchist essence inherent in Islam, which deserves our attention. Koranic cosmology states that a human being in the state of nature is a ‘slave (or serf) of Al-lâh, just as a sunflower is a slave of the sun, because they are organically linked. The concept of submission to a Single Reality (al- islam) does not translate into submission to human institutions, rather the reverse: it leads to a rejection of all external coercion as contrary to the nature of things. Muslims reject the limits that the market and the institutionalisation of life impose on their freedom, as an inner space in which intimacy with Creation becomes possible. The freedom that Muslims recognise is not political freedom under protection of the State, but an inner state/space that enables us to reject the world of representations, reject the fiction of power that some sheathe themselves in. This is based on idea that human beings are noble in essence, that their state of nature (fitrah) is superior to their state of culture. Ibn Jaldún says: “The political and educational order is contrary to the power of the soul because it embodies an instance of external control”.This point explains why Islam has been described as ‘mystical anarchy’. Abdennur Prado is a writer, president of the Catalan Islamic Council and co-director of the International Congress of Islamic Feminism.

3 Mostra de Vídeo Independent de Barcelona 1996.

L'escriptor Jordi Esteva torna a Costa d'Ivori per a esbrinar sobre l'esperit de la pantera que es va manifestar durant el rodatge del seu anterior documental "Retorn al país de les ànimes" sobre les creences ancestrals i els fenòmens de tràngol i possessió. En la pel·lícula, rodada en blanc i negre, amb el ritme d'una "road movie", l'escriptor assistirà de nou a una cerimònia de tràngol en la qual un komian serà posseït per l'esperit de la pantera i emprendrà la cerca de l'altra komian, en tota la Costa d'Ivori, posseïda pel mateix esperit poderós. El periple li portarà a la veïna Ghana a la recerca dels únics percussionistes que poden invocar a l'esperit de la pantera amb els seus ritmes.

2 Mostra de Vídeo Independent de Barcelona 1994.

Kali, consort of Shiva. Representation of its regenerative power through destruction.

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