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RELIGION: Danish Muslims Look to Better Days
By Sanjay Suri
COPENHAGEN, May 3, 2006 (IPS) - Danish Muslims were taken aback by the violence
the cartoons controversy triggered around the world. But now many of them
are looking to better days ahead - because of the controversy.
''A lot of positive things have come out of it,'' author Rushy Rashid
Hojberg told IPS. ''Some of the good things that have come out of this
crisis is that the debate is out in the open, a lot of Muslims who never
joined in the public debate have now come upfront and are saying loudly
and clearly that I'm a Muslim, I'm a democrat, I'm a Danish citizen, and
my loyalties belong to Denmark.''
But was the controversy over the publications of cartoons of Prophet
Muhammad a blessing in disguise? ''With so much disaster and explosion
around I wouldn't say so but then again it has made the debate come out
in the open,'' said Hojberg, who is of Pakistani origin and has a Danish
husband. ''You are discussing more constructively today than you were
doing six months ago.''
Muslims are beginning to head more into the mainstream of public debate,
and many Danes are more accepting of them, she said. ''There has been a
bigger focus on these issues, and the focus is that well, Muslims have
their own customs and values, and they should be respected.''
Muslims are about two percent in a population of 5.4 million. But the
cartoons controversy has made integration of this minority into the
mainstream a new national priority.
Rushy, author of two books around issues of cultural acceptance, is not
alone in looking at the bright side of the consequences of the dispute
for Danish Muslims.
''Two months after this crisis, we feel that the Danish people begin to
understand us better and we try to do some bridge between the Muslim
community and the Danish community,'' Mahmad Khatib, principal of the
Islamic DIA Private School told IPS. ''It is better now and may be much
better in the future.''
Acceptance is at the heart of the new change - and an old dilemma. ''We
are Danish citizens on one side, and on the other side we are Muslim,''
Khatib said. ''We wanted to find a balance between what is religion and
what is citizenship. So it was not easy for the Muslim community here in
Denmark.''
Khatib pointed out, though, that a new acceptance of Muslims is not
universal. ''It depends who you ask,'' he said. ''There are different
parties and every party has a view of the Muslims. But generally I think
they accept, and this crisis will help us better and the Danish Muslims
will begin to feel better.''
The one party that most strongly opposes Muslims is the Danish People's
Party, a partner in the ruling coalition. But there could be a new wave
of tolerance sweeping Denmark that right-wing political leaders cannot
block.
''Three months ago when this crisis started I heard people saying we
don't want any Muslims to be a part of our company,'' Rushy said. ''Today
I see it's become trendy to hire Muslims or people with other
backgrounds. Because this globalisation has come to Denmark now.''
Such views are backed by evidence in the form of massive peace
demonstrations across Denmark following the cartoons controversy. The
demonstrations calling for a new brotherhood with Muslims were far larger
than the relatively small anti-Muslim protests.
''At the moment on one of the national Danish television channels we have
a girl with a hijab (Islamic head dress), and that has really created a
debate,'' Rushy said. ''But most of the people are saying, well, it's her
choice, and if she's doing her job and she's doing what she's put up to
do.''
Inevitably there are objections. ''You also have Danish women's groups
who are protesting because they see the hijab as suppression of women,''
Rushy said. ''So there are different attitudes towards the hijab thing.''
Some of the change has come because most Muslims could be turning away
from extremist leaders.
''We have extremists here which take most of the focus from the
majority,'' said Zubair Waheed, vice-principal of the DIA
school. ''Basically the politician and the ordinary man on the street
focus on those few we have in this country, and don't realise that most
of the Muslims live similarly to the rest of the society here in
Denmark.''
''I think a lot of Muslims have not been a part of the public debate, but
this crisis has made them come up front because they did not feel they
were represented properly by the imams or by the other groups who are
maybe very well integrated Muslims,'' Rushy said.
''So the big silent group of Muslims have come upfront now and showing
that they have the education, they know the language, they've been here
for ages. There is a bigger openness among Muslims now.''
(END)
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