Reason or Islamophobia?
Once again Europe trembles under the discussion where is the borderline in matters of tolerance, this time the topic is even more edgy, as it concerns the presence of Islam in the Old Continent. The chain of events launched after the loud referendum in Switzerland, concerning the ban of minarets build near to new mosques. With the ban passed, the Muslim World declared the beginning of a new islamophobic era and the media dwell whether it is an exaggeration or a serious problem.
The rising population of Muslims in Europe causes frequent cultural clashes and divides Europeans in their opinion on tolerance. The question at issue is if multiculturalism should be put above the basic values of the Western World. This values aren’t strictly defined and the borders are often blurry, although it is possible to agree on a common pattern. Modern Europe is based upon freedom of speech, thought and believes as well as right to live, work and decide. One can say that one’s freedom ends where it endangers someone else’s rights. Based on this Europe welcomed people form all cultures and religions.
Islam was never an European religion so it is unreasonable to consider it as a cultural pillar of modern Europe and therefore implement Islamic law as tradition above state law. European states are lay countries and although all of them have a common ancestral background with roots in the romano-christian cultural circle, state legislation has long been above religious dogmas. On the contrary Sharia law in Islamic countries is most commonly the state law and it is strictly abided. In a case of a foreigner breaking the rules of Islamic law, the regulations are often providing one solution, death penalty. Cases vary, but time to time a shocking news appears in the media as people are going to be persecuted for showing off affection in public, wearing immodest cloths or performing social activities for better treatment of women. All this is even more shocking when we compare it with the fact that every little incident involving the Muslim community in Europe fires a huge response from all the Islamic states. In particular every action performed by legal authorities, based on violation of state law, is considered as an attempt to isolate and discriminate Muslims.
The question that has to be asked is simple. Is it logical, necessary and right to give up our values in the name of tolerance? Tolerance that in fact is misunderstood by most of the people, as letting others to be intolerant towards your own values and culture is everything but tolerance. Europe is proud about the fact that it hosts the most multicultural society. But this is the same Europe where the two World Wars started and where most of the xenophobic and racists philosophies were found. One should hope that Europeans have learned they lesson and that peace and prosperity still will be among their main priorities. The idea of the European Union, putting aside it’s economical spectrum, is supposed to be the means to achieve a stable and splendid global society. This is the project of our own, common future.
Something that is based on equality and integrity, can not create double standards for different groups, law needs to be respected. This rule applies no matter what the subjects nationality, religion or political allegiance is. Yet the problem seems to be evolving somehow only around the Muslim society. Any sign of criticism is automatically assumed to be of islamophobic origin and a constructive discussion is often covered by outbursts full of anger and lamentation. Picturing themselves as victims of intolerance, Muslims gain the upper hand and are able to scar the very idea of a multicultural world. One may think in their vision of global society there is only place for the followers of Mohammed. It were divisions, started over ethnic, national, religious or political reasons, that led the mankind towards its darkest days. ‘Divine’ laws have all the same problem, for one person they are divine for the other they aren’t.
The issue is not only about the conflict between Sharia law and state law, its more of a cultural intrusion and respecting of basic human rights. Muslims who choose not to abide to the rules of fundamentalists, face retaliation and oppression. It is not even the people who abandon Islam, it touches also the less radical, moderate followers of Allah. If a women living in Europe decides to live up to western cultural standards, she may be even killed just for the sake of honour. It is really hard to help victims of honourable retaliation, as members of the society won’t help, because it is against the law and tradition.
While in France removing all religious symbols from schools included Christian crosses and icons and was an act to overcome the cultural differences in public places and government institutions, the ban of the Muslims women veil the ‘Bruqa’ once again caused a fierce reaction. I might add that wearing a big cross in a Muslim country on the streets is not such an good idea. Another things is that while making fun of, doubting and insulting Jesus, Buddha, Krishna etc. is considered to be an outrage to their believers, no one will threaten your life for it. And in the case of Kurt Westergaard the Danish cartoonist who pictured Mohammed in his works, life threats turned out to be very real. Westergaard was constantly followed and finally a 28 year old Muslim actually tried to kill him. The case of the Dane started the awakening of reason in Europe, which was followed by the mentioned above referendum in Switzerland and the ‘Burqa’ ban in France. Where is the border between free speech and blasphemy? How tolerante do we need to be to let people kill each other for their believes? Can a religion, that is absolutely aggresive orientated be a part of modern Europe?
Of course there will be people that are islamophobic and full of hatred towards Muslims, but do reasonable people have to suffer because of that. Islam isn’t any more aggressive than other bigger religions, its just a matter of interpretation that leads to all the hostility. Though we can not stay passive, a dialogue is needed and if someone thinks there are truths that can not be discussed, then well nobody forced anybody to move to Europe. To put it into simple words, if you visit someone you’re a guest and he is the host. Of course as a guest you have certain privileges, but you act in favour of the the hosts policies. If you decide to stay and you’re becoming from a guest a host your self, well then still, you have to respect the traditions of the house. Otherwise it is just rude and you are an unwanted occupant.
Terrorism in not an Muslim invention either. Fundamentalism? Same. Oppression of infidels? As well. Lower status of women? Was also in Europe. So the problem are not just the Muslim people, we are the problem as well. We need the dialogue to move ahead but we also need to put our foot down sometimes. That is why the Swiss people had their right to decide whether they want minarets or not.
MP
” the rules of Islamic law, the regulations are often providing one solution, death penalty. ”
this is not true , if u read the islamic law , it never states anything like that , and even if it does its in specific cases and the law never differentiated between foreigner or not , some countries follow laws like that like saudi arabia but that has nothing to do with islam , its how saudies are , other countries like Egypt follow the islamic law without getting too far…
Well I agree it differs from country to country. But Saudi Arabia isn’t the only one, here you have a list of countries that have regulated capital punishment http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_capital_punishment_by_nation
Egypt is on the list
And well the fact tha islamic law does not differ foreigner from national, is also my point in matters of state law being binding to everyone no matter what religion
No matter, how wickedly it sound, I strongly believe that going too far seems to be a bad idea, even when it comes to freedom. History showed us, that picking wrong paths causes collapse of the whole cultures. I totally agree, with main thesis put forward by MP, that if we are to cooperate, first we have to learn to respect each other. In my opinion, West has done enough to show you, that we respect your culture. Now it’s your turn to return the favour. At least attempt to understand our foundations. If you fail, we won’t have any common grounds to build a unified community.
I have to admit I share your views. I guess the most important issue is that the Western World needs to respect basic rights and freedoms to which all humans are entitled. However, as far as the matter of Muslims in Europe is concerned, the rights and freedoms of Europeans are the limits – as you said, they are the host. Undoubtedly the problem of indicating the limits is truly difficult. IMHO it should be specified with regard to European culture and European law.
It is probably kind of cynical point of view but since society of Old Continent is getting old, we may need „cooperative” immigrants for the future. That is why educating the youngest Muslims, making them more open minded and tolerant (I mean integration, not indoctrination) seems to be a time-consuming and labour-intensive but also good idea.
Though the character of Australian culture is different from the European one, it may be just inspiring to observe how the Australians solve their problems with immigrants, mainly coming from Asia.
you are absolutly right when you talked about the necessity of dialogue, it’s crucial at this point to understand each other and to base all the realtions between nations on constructive dialogue.
But as a muslim young woman who lived in many muslim countries allow me to say that at some points you were mistaken!!
our religion did not gave the woman a lower place, it’s the way people treated with it, the goverments and the society, our religion encouraged the tolerance.
Moreover, in many muslim countries there are many christians who live in total peace with muslims, i studied in a crustian school and saw a lot of women who wore the cross and nobody made any comment, i have a lot of friends and religion was never a problem!!!! in our countries we have many churches and christians just like jews or whatever their religion can practice their religion however they like!!!
I have never heard anyone saying anything bad about other religions in my whole life, and with all my respect, i was shocked when i heard about the cartoons made about our prophit!!
why would any body harm a people’s emotion and disrespect them with such behavior?!!!! anyway i really wish that you, all of you try to know more about islam and just know that the examples you see in medias are not the muslim people, just try to know them more, and see things from their point as me and many other muslims are trying to see things from your point.
talking about islamophobic, well if you can notice how muslim people are judged in airports, in public places in your countries, or even in a job interview you will understand why we talk about islamophobic!!
We, most than all, need this dialogue! why should i be judged and treated with caution basing on my relgion or my name!! what crime have i done!!!
anyway it’s really great subjec to talk about
Well you are absolutely right that Islam at its core is a peaceful religion and fundamentalists twist it into their own world view, but you have to realize that even if they are the minority, their voice is louder. I do not attack the dogmas of Islam, I just say in my post that every religion has it tendencies to pathology, I mean take Christians of instance they were many times out of the line, even now there are a lot of radicals. The same goes for Muslim people, I have a lot of friends that are Muslim, some of the live in Europe some of them in the Middle East, but there are also Muslims in Asia etc. My idea was just to show the discrepancies that occurred in Europe. Here state law is ABOVE religious dogmas.