Should the PES manifesto mention Muslims?

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Rating: 3.8/5 with 6 votes

Published Monday, January 21, 2008 at 12:34
by tolerance in European democracy & diversity (788 views and 5 comments)

Not long ago 400 Muslim groups met in Brussels to sign a charter for the Muslims of Europe. The charter is aimed to be a code of conduct, describing the rights and responsibilities of European Muslims. According to Euronews ‘The European Islamic Charter’ stresses moderation, equality between men and women and rejects violence and terrorism.

Now Muslim organizations have given their suggestion to what it means to be a modern European Muslim. It makes me wonder: is it also up to European parties - like the PES - to have a stance on Muslims in Europe? Or is this something which is for religious organizations to discuss?

Islamophobia – fear or dislike of Muslims and their religion – is on the rise in Europe. In this respect the European blogosphere is a good example: new so-called ‘Islam-critic’ blogs (many of them I would rather label xenophobic!) pop up every day. I’ve come across many bloggers whose mission seems to be the search for juicy fundamentalist quotes – the more ferocious the better. One thing is to gabble online. Another is when Islamophobes start to gather in the street, like it was the case in Brussels last year.

There’s certainly a need for a counterweight to this xenophobic sentiment – and isn’t this a task for Europe’s left? I just read the consultation’s discussion paper on European Democracy and Diversity and it is not a lot of space which is devoted to religious freedom and minority rights. In my opinion the PES manifesto should clearly express condemnation of ‘Islamophobia’ and xenophobia’s other ugly faces. The manifesto should also highlight that Europe’s socialists and social democrats favor freedom of choice and expression and equal chances for everyone regardless their ethnical or religious background. Given growing anti-Islam sentiments there is – in my opinion - a need to mention European Muslims and discrimination of Muslims explicitly in the PES manifesto.

Tags: diversity, multiculturalism, tolerance

Comments

1. discrimination by kimrevc Join PES activists on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 15:30

It is true that it is hard to be a Muslim in Europe today. Sometimes it feels like we are reliving the 1930's, only this time its Muslims and not Jews -although they are still discriminated as well- who are blamed for everything and are being treated as inferior. And it is certainly an issue that should be discussed.

But I would like to stress that one ought to condemn any form of discrimination, whether it is based on religion, colour, health or anything else.  Too many people in are society are discriminated nowadays and too many people think that is ok.

2. Religions and the society by pattheact Join PES activists on Monday, January 21, 2008 at 17:57

Dear kimrevc,
I do feel concerned when I read that as muslim you encounter such heavy discriminations in our countries, even if I don't think that comparing it to jewish progroms is the most appropriate comparison.
Where I totally agree with you is when you state that the PES, or every democratic political party has the responsibility to clearly condemn any form of xenophobia or discrimination on the basis of your religious, ethnical or sexual orientations. The PES manifesto should clearly mention it!
It is clear that today the former "communist ennemy" has been replaced by the "muslim ennemy" in order for the "free world" to be able to continue to manage world affairs with the same techniques than during Cold War, justifying it's modern cruisades with the wrong belief that the Islam has become the major threat for our democratic societies...
I think the PES manifesto should mention the future accession of Turkey as full member of the European Union as I am convinced that including 80 million muslims of secular Turkey to a secular Europe will be the most effective way to show that Islam and Catholicism can play a positive and peaceful role as long as religion is clearly separated from the State.
I would just like to add a little remark: Moderated muslims exist but I really miss their opinions and thoughts! European media have the bad habit to give the floor to all kind of extremists, islamic or catholic, but you don't hear the voice of the large majority of moderated muslims and I wonder if this doesn't contribute to the wrong picture a lot of Europeans have of Islam...?

3. Interesting debate in another community by editor on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at 13:41

http://www.eurotrib.com/?op=displaystory;sid=2008/1/21/95517/1250

4. we have to adress everyone by kim Join PES activists on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 11:56

It is true that in Europe we live together with different cultures and religions. I live in a very divers city a I see that sometimes it is very difficult to live together.

This problem should be adrest by every democratic party. Also in European parties. But this is a problem of dicrimination and equal opportunity. Here we have to adres everyone. This is a problem that affecets more then only muslims. Living in a divers city I have learned that the biggest problem is that we think in terms of " we - them" and we should stop whit this thinking. We are al europeans and everyone should start to realize that. If me mention just muslims or another group that we help the " we - them " thinking. I think we better adress the entire problem. We have to learn to live together, being differend should not be a problem but a enrichement to europe.

an other remark: Mulims are a big group in Europe and I do support that PES ( also athor parties) hears the opinions and worries of these people. Becaus sometimes this group is ignored, and as socialist party we can't ingone them.

5. rectification by kimrevc Join PES activists on Friday, February 1, 2008 at 20:54

Eventhough my beliefs in this discussion should not matter I would like to say that I am not a Muslim.  I do have some Muslim friends and family and I have seen the way they are treated solely because of their religion, that is why I wrote it is certainly something the PES -and people in general- should not ignore. I also really reject to the way a lot of xenophobic and other parties keep referring to "our" European catholic or christian ways. Especially because the Member States are supposed to be secular and should assure the freedom of religion and that means every religion.

I reacted to the article because I specifically wanted to stress that people get discriminated all the time and that the PES should condemn any form of it.  I might not be a Muslim but that does not mean I do not experience discrimination on a daily basis (I would rather not tell why).

It is like my namesake said we are all Europeans and we all have to be protected from discrimination. 

 

 

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