Syed Arif Ahmad
Understanding of Islam
Most of the respondents in the survey suggested that there is limited recognition of the contribution that Islamic civilization has made to the world civilization and to Europe. Furthermore, they also feel that there is no recognition of the contribution Muslims have made to the communities in which they live.
Many interviewees felt that there was a lack of understanding in public and policy discussions about the diversity between and within Muslim communities and the changes that are taking place. They suggested that the public sees and hears more about those with extreme views than about those for whom their faith identity provides a set of values which supports integration and is compatible with European values. Young women who were interviewed in the survey reported that they feel upset and offended when people automatically assume that all Muslim women wearing a headscarf are forced to do so by their family members.
The role of media
Respondents consider that the media present a negative image of Muslims. They get frustrated over what they consider as negative portrayal resulting from distortions through selective reporting. They claim that often Islam is presented as monolithic, authoritarian and oppressive towards women, which is often the consequence of the treatment of women in some Muslim communities, but this is reinforced by a constant focus in media and public discussion on issues such as forced marriages and female circumcision.
The controversy over headscarves
Official policies such as the ban on women wearing the headscarf are perceived by a majority of respondents to militate against integration. Although the ban can be framed by the authorities in terms of a general ban on religious symbols, many Muslims feel that such a ban is targeted at them. Respondents in the survey also mentioned that the headscarf debate in education has had a wider ‘knock-on’ effect by legitimising discrimination in other areas such as employment, as well as stimulating more aggressive anti-headscarf reactions in both discourse and incidents on the street.
Daily discrimination
In the survey a majority of respondents suggested that attacks suffered by Muslims are mostly verbal rather than physical violence. Nevertheless, respondents state that they are ‘worn down’ by such daily experiences, which are far more likely to happen when a person is visibly Muslim, such as when wearing a headscarf. Respondents also reported facing discrimination in access to housing, education and employment. Many felt that Islamophobia is also expressed in the small details of everyday encounters, in passing comments, in jokes, in the way Muslims are observed and looked by others. In matters of housing, the discrimination can be detected in questioning about language ability, headscarves, or the size of a tenant’s family. In matters of education, it can come from the denigration by teachers of a Muslim pupil’s ethnic culture or the reinforcement of stereotypical views about Muslim communities and Islam. In matters relating to employment, interviewees were aware of instances of employment agencies receiving requests from employers not to send Muslim workers as also respondents mentioned the difficulty in finding a job or accommodation when wearing a headscarf.
The provision of services
Respondents in the survey agreed that public organisations do not always take the needs of Muslims into account in devising service delivery. The interviews show that EU Member States have varied in their responsiveness to requests by Muslims for changes to accommodate their needs. Campaigns for the needs of Muslims to be addressed have often centred on the same issues: access to and provision of halal food, religious education in schools, planning permission for mosques, and so on. In the experience of respondents, the response ranges from support and willingness to make adjustments and changes to policies, through to indifference and resistance.
It is reported that in may instances Muslims rely on the good will of officials working at the local level. Examples given in interviews reveal that even when the law is on the side of those making the request, they face resistance in the form of extra bureaucratic hurdles or refusal by local officials to apply the rules.
The difficulties of anti-discrimination
Respondents suggested that often Muslims do not feel confident enough to be able to challenge discrimination. In the experience of respondents, most cases of discrimination or Islamophobia are likely to go unchallenged. In some instances it has been due to the absence of legislation to protect against religious discrimination. But even where legislation has been introduced those interviewed reported the need for campaigns to inform people of their rights.
Support for victims of discrimination varies across Europe. In some Member States interviews show that there are anti-discrimination bodies and human rights organizations that have the confidence of Muslims and are able to bring cases that complaints are unlikely to lead to action. Despite many respondents in the survey confirmed that most of the Muslims continue to see the law as an important tool with which to challenge discrimination.
Police and other law enforcement agencies
A vast majority of respondents agreed that there are positive attempts by law enforcement agencies to engage with communities and develop relationships through liaison groups and community forums. They indicate that Muslims want to be seen as partners, who have as much at stake in ensuring community safety as the rest of the society.
However, some respondents indicated that they are more often than not treated as suspects by law enforcement agencies. The actions of police are felt to particularly alienate young people from the mainstream. Respondents in the survey are also frustrated at the disparity between the attention given to initial police action, where Muslims are concerned, compared to the silence when those arrested are found innocent or released without charge.
Changes in Muslim communities themselves
The interviewees show that many Muslims acknowledge that they themselves also need to do more to engage with wider society, to overcome the obstacles and difficulties that they face and to take greater responsibility for integration. In particular respondents noted the need to move away from being inward looking and in this regard several interviewees place particular importance on the developments of an Islamic discourse that places emphasis on integration, engagement and participation with wider society. They see the development of an outward looking community as crucial in developing integration further and deeper.
Several interviewees acknowledge that a key challenge for mosques today is for them to become more inclusive and accessible for women and to be more relevant to the experiences of second and third generation European Muslims. Respondents recognise the need for Muslim organisations to improve the quality of their contribution to policy making discussions. Muslims are stated to be increasingly involved in politics, standing in local and national elections.
The Future- Looking for optimism and pessimism
In the survey respondents could identify reasons to be both optimistic and pessimistic about the future of Muslims in the European Union. In countries where Muslims are forming the second and third generations, respondents could see a new generation of articulate, progressive young people, increasingly well educated, gaining positions in society, motivated to be actively addressing everyday social problems, and committed to the development of a cohesive and just multicultural society.
On the other hand, the pessimism of many respondents came from seeing the vision of such a society being eroded by what they see as media distortion and hostile government acts, from increasingly unreasonable pressures and inconsistent demands put on them, from their treatment in daily life, and the impact of anti-terrorist measures.
Syed Arif Ahmad is a graduate student at an European university.
Mr. Siddiq,
And may we all know what exactly happened Sire ?? The last time I heard, the Hindus were not burning embassies, nor were they blasting the London tube..nor were they planning to create a Hindu-Londonistan…nor were they spewing venom in the name of religion inside temples…nor were they resorting to any kind of violence….nor were they composing sob-articles with title “Hindus in Europe – perceptions of discrimination”
And thank goodness, u didn’t find my post to be offensive…and how much do I owe to you for letting me off alive !!
Thanks and best regards
Banusiddiq,
I see that you avoided answering a simple question that I asked of you: How is killing of the people I mentioned and the violence by Muslims over publishing of cartoons a respect for Muhammad or Islam? Any reasonable and sane person would agree that these actions were highly disrespectful to both.
I’d suggest that you spend some time at Mukto-Mana (http://www.mukto-mona.com/new_site/mukto-mona/index.htm) and read some articles there – maybe you’ll come out of your delusion. Or read a book or two by Ibn Warraq.
Syed Arif Ahmad,
I’m still waiting to hear from you regarding your opinions and thoughts on the points I (and others) raised in Part I of your post. Please engage the readers and people who commented here in a discussion on relevant points. Thanks.
Dear Amit, I am so pleased to know that my article generated a lot of interest and am extremely grateful for all your comments and suggestions. First of all, let me make this very clear that the views expressed in both of my article is based on a survey conducted European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia between Aug. 2005 & Jan. 2006. So the main purpose behind it to highlight the perception of discrimination that persists despite best possible efforts on the parts of govts. in EU.
So, this was meant to apprise the readers of this blog that inspite of inclusive policies in EU Member countries; a lot needs to be done in order to dispel the notion of discrimination persisting in the minds of Muslims living in the EU.
regards
arif
Amit,
I do not want to doubt your IQ in any way but please dont make me do so either. you are trying to put it in this frame (I see that you avoided answering a simple question that I asked of you: How is killing of the people I mentioned and the violence by Muslims over publishing of cartoons a respect for Muhammad or Islam?) but for us it not so. It is simple for us that someone tried to portray our Prophet in a bad taste. Well it is enough for us to retaliate with whatever seems justified to us. This looks as voilence and terrorism now but should the action had been initiated by a state of formidable force it would have been a non-issue and no one would have dared.
By the way thanks for suggested reading. I do not read any other books apart from my religious books and books written by my ilk (hahahah).
Madan,
Then enjoy your new given life mate. See, I am not abusing you or cursing you in anyway. Only fools call me idiot. I guess you wouldn’t agree less.
Glad to know that the entire Muslim ummah has a spokesman in you.
Banu wrote – “My comment said it very clearly regarding our Prophet what we expect and what we dont…and you missed the bus again…if the blasphemous cartoonist was killed it is not our call by itself…he brought this on himself…I am saying it again…don’t disturb the sleeping tiger and when you do, please do not cry foul when you get killed…isn’t it simple to understand…and yes remember, if you dont disturb the tiger you have 100% chances of living….”
listen mate, thats a threat. a silly threat. full of BS. the sleeping tiger is no one way traffic. the europeans can kick anyone’s ass as they have shown in the past. so get of ur illusion of sleeping tigers, we are all human beings.
as to muslims’ respect for the prophet – hey chum they run terrorist organizations called jaish e mohammed in pakistan. so how many of ur kuran thumping mates attacked the pak embassy? or is it allowed? hypocricy goes well with religion, my sleeping tigre (sic)?
Banusiddique, when i state facts – u think i’m spewing venom. those are actual laws in saudi my superior brother. since when stating inconvenient facts became spewing venom?
abt me drawning in that venom, i hope thats only figurative speech tigre (sic)
A small insight into how the Holy Prophet (SAWA) handled ridicule.
An impudent woman came up to him, and said derogatory things about Muzammam (she even distorted his name). He only smiled.
Later, when asked why he did not retaliate, he disarmingly said, “She was talking about some Muzammam
”
Tolerance was always practiced by the Holy Prophet (SAWA). Something to be admired
triple,
listen dude…if it sounds BS to you…good..live in your illusion.. we like it that way!! step 1 accomplished…
SA has partial laws for hindus, and they dont like it then book an Air India ticket and come back from there. You should not cry and yet live there, you should either integrate and assimilate in their culture and respect their law of land and get the hell out of there…hahahah…this is what you all say to muslims living in West, right?
for jaish-e-muhammad or whatever group…I dont support them…they are not my ilk you see…We are a level above them…intellectually, islamically and humanly…so we don’t kill innocents but we dont sit quite when innocents are killed either…we plan and we develop ways to achieve tranquility based on our own conditions and laws…
banusiddiq:
Who are the “we” you are talking about?
Banu,
No thats not what some ppl tell muslims, thats the logical thing to do for ALL when they go to a different culture that they become a positive well adjusted part of a new culture.
I’m not saying the same thing as u at all. i’m saying bigoted laws that treat people in inhuman ways are bad, yet i do not advocate the hindus in SA to plot to take over SA and implement laws that suit them. however, u want to and are working towards changing the well implemented european laws that treat all equally with a bigoted system that makes u superior. its not the same.
i realized there nothing the civilized world can tell u tigre. it’ll just have to deal with u when the time comes. until then, we are happy with our illusions of liberty and u with ur illusions of flying angels.
Banu, i know u r only a level above jaish intellectually and as a human, so u did not understand the point that u don’t have to support jaish to protest against the abuse of the prophets name. u did not support the danish cartoonist did u?
i do hope as a muslim too u r only a level above jaish, as i do hope all the other muslims are much much better.
@All,
In the early days of Islam, Muslims made amazing contributions in terms of algebra, chemistry, astronomy etc. Islam was synonymous with learning, development and culture. Those were the days that the faith was vibrant and tolerant (even today, the faith is the same, but the practice has deteriorated).
It is time now for all members of the Ummah to again pursue knowledge with a missionary zeal, and integrate with all other members of the human community in doing so.
Mohib,
Common mate, I am talking on behalf of all muslims…no hold on…obviously moderate and secular muslim will have something other than this to agree on…so “we” here is all muslims who aspire to live under sharia-laws…
triple,
bigoted is your understanding…for i never said we want to establish sharia-laws in europe…it is your conclusion ..so live with it…
I guess we cannot ever agree on anything. We have different ways of life and aspiration of future and different ways of achieving them. So, I will agree with this one, “we are happy with our illusions of liberty and u with ur illusions of flying angels.”
Banu,
Can you pls check with the war room and find out if India is identified for sharia rule?
glad to know europe is excluded as we were getting mixed signals as some of ‘your people’ were saying europe was an ‘objective’ too, but you seem to have changed plans. but now i’ve his prophetic feeling that India is surely an ‘objective’.
it is isn’t it? common, pls tell me. curious.
we are no different brother, we are both doing what we think is best. but one of us is wrong, and one is right. so don’t dilute the stakes.
triple,
You will never agree with me and I will never find anything better than my religion.
Yes, you just said it, one of us is wrong and one of us is right, and we both silently assume we are right based on our convictions..atleast I do. So back to square one…
Well, truly nothing is excluded to say and nothing is included. For us all land belongs to Allah and he created it for his subjects (All living beings). Borders are just a hurdle and they need to be wiped one day. You might have something to say now…but bruv please….
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