Europe’s Muslims divided in wake of cartoon furor
Europe’s Muslims divided in wake of cartoon furor
As protests against the Danish cartoons fade, Europe’s moderate Muslims are facing difficult choices about their faith, identity, and values.
„The middle ground in Muslim communities is between a rock and a hard place”, says Omar Shah, an Afghan-Danish commentator on Muslim affairs. „The moderate majority is having to decide where they stand.”
During a month of flag-burning protests in Europe against cartoons of the prophet Muhammad, the voices of Islamic radicals were the loudest. As the flames die down, however, it is increasingly clear that the cartoon affair has reignited difficult debates within Europe’s 20-million-strong Muslim community. Though radical organizations have gained strength, new ”progressive” Muslim groups are beginning to challenge traditional ideas.
In Denmark, where the cartoons were first published, Muslims who want to live in a pluralistic, secular, and tolerant Danish society have formed a new group to publicize their ideals. „We want to use this group to tell ordinary Danes that we are also Danes first and foremost”, says Fathi El-Abed, a spokesman for the group, Democratic Muslims.” We want to tell them: We are democratic just like you, the only thing different is that we come from a Muslim background.”
In Britain, meanwhile, the new Progressive British Muslims group defended newspapers’ right to publish drawings of the prophet. „Although it is forbidden for Muslims to pictorially display the Prophet Mohammed, it should be remembered that living in a pluralistic and secular society Muslims cannot expect those who do not follow Islam to respect its boundaries”, said their spokesman, Dr. Shaaz Mahboob, in a statement.
More: refdag.nl