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Engaging Political Islam: An Option for Europe‘s Centre Right?

Engaging Political Islam: An Option for Europe‘s Centre Right?. Roland Freudenstein Centre for European Studies Brussels EDS Summer University 2010. Sharia. Jihad. Eurabia ?. Why engage?. National security/terrorism Urban peace/de-radicalisation International security

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Engaging Political Islam: An Option for Europe‘s Centre Right?

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  1. Engaging Political Islam: An Option for Europe‘s Centre Right? Roland Freudenstein Centre for European Studies Brussels EDS Summer University 2010

  2. Sharia

  3. Jihad

  4. Eurabia?

  5. Why engage? • National security/terrorism • Urban peace/de-radicalisation • International security • Teaming up against leftist secularism?

  6. Questions • Political Islam? • Moderate Islam? • Euro-Islam? • Muslim Democrats – like Christian Democrats? • Engagement • Cooperate • Dialogue • Debate

  7. What‘s in a term? (I) • Qur‘an – hadith (statements of the Prophet) • Sharia: Islamic law; halal - haram • Ulema (clergy) – imam (cleric) • Fatwah (ruling) • Qufr/Infidel (non-believer) – dhimmi (monotheistic non-believer under Muslim rule) • Hijab – chador – niqab - burqa

  8. Muslim Brotherhood • End oftheCaliphate (WW I) • Founded 1928 by Hassan al-Banna - Sunni • ShapedbySayeedQutbsincelate 1940s • Egypt: al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun • Morocco: Party for Justice and Development (PJD) • Jordan: Islamic Action Front (IAF) • Palestine: Hamas

  9. Sayeed Qutb (1906-1966)

  10. Muslim Brotherhood • True Islam is lost in jahiliyyah • Restore Islam bymakingqur‘anandshariasystemofgovernance • Re-establishtheCaliphate • AgainstArabnationalism (Ba‘athism) • AgainstcorruptArabelites (takfiri) • Againstthe West, colonialism, decadence etc. • Recently: Non-violenceexceptPalestine, Syria

  11. What‘s in a term? (II) • Jihad: Struggle – holy war • Taqiyyah: self-protective dissimulation • Ijtihad: Reasoning • Islamophobia • Respect • Resistance

  12. Resistance and popular culture

  13. Resistance and popular culture

  14. Walid Phares

  15. Irshad Manji

  16. Icon: Tariq Ramadan

  17. Quote: Tariq Ramadan (On massacres of Christians in Nigeria): „We need to consider the situation objectively and bring a critical view as much to the causes – global homogenisation and a sometimes savage Westernisation – as to the consequences – ethnic and religious tensions.“

  18. Icon: Mustafa Çeric

  19. Quote: Mustafa Çeric „Religious tolerance is clearly commanded in our Holy Book: God does not forbid you to deal kindly and justly with those who have not declared war on your religion or driven you out of your homes (60:8)“

  20. Icon: Abu Laban

  21. Quotes: Abu Laban • „If we discovered Islam was a threat to the West, I would be the first to fight it.“ (2005) • But: orchestrating anti-cartoon protests in DK and Middle East (2005) • „They accept the chador and Islamic lifestyles. We, therefore, must pretend that we accept their religion and individual freedom. But this is impossible. Islam can accept no one who does not adore Allah.“ (1995)

  22. Christopher Caldwell

  23. Islamists in Europe: New European Brothers (NEB) • Most Muslim orgs in EU are not Islamist • But: governments often talk to participationist Islamists • Union d‘organisations islamiques en France (UOIF) • Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) • Islamische Gesellschaft Deutschlands (IGD) • Milli Görüş

  24. Goals of the NEBs • Preservation/creation of strong Islamic identity among EU Muslims • Participation in mainstream society • Leader and official representative of Muslims • Create, implant and expand ultra-orthodox Muslim bloc = against integration as we understand it

  25. Implicationsof a CentreRightoverture • NEB positions directly clash with core European values • Mainstream Muslims would hardly understand this • Embarassment among non-Muslim public (like multi-culturalist Left)

  26. Lorenzo Vidino The Brotherhood in Europe (forthcoming)

  27. Other important authors • Alistair Crooke: Resistance • Tamim Ansari: DestinyDisrupted • Timothy Garton Ash: Facts are Subversive • Ian Buruma: Murder in Amsterdam • Gilles Kepel: The War for Muslim Minds • Paul Berman: Who‘sAfraidof Tariq Ramadan? (article) • Necla Kelek: Die fremde Braut • Nick Cohen: What‘sLeft? • AyaanHirsi Ali: Infidel

  28. Conclusions • Muslim Democrats: cooperation • Traditional Islamic parties: dialogue • Islamists: debate

  29. Time to respond • Counteringthe narrative ofthe End ofthe West • Learn, learnandlearn! • Acknowledgeimmigrationas a fact • Avoidrelativism • Recognisefriends (Muslim liberal democrats) • Defineenemies (Islamists) • Choosetheappropriatetools

  30. www.thinkingeurope.eu

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