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November 18, 2004

Denmark's Moderate Muslims Afraid To Speak Out

Topics: Middle East News and Perspectives

Reporte by The Copenhagen Post:
Denmark's moderate Muslims have shied away from speaking out critically against Islam out of fear of reprisals

Members of Denmark's moderate Muslim community say they are reluctant to speak out with critical observations of their religion, fearing social isolation, threats and violence.

Daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten spoke with several immigrant pundits and politicians following the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh earlier this month.

Danish-Pakistani author and political adviser Mohammad Rafiq recently published a book in which he openly criticised the practice of forced marriages. Following the book's release, Rafiq was the target of threats from Muslim extremists. He has so far refused to withdraw from the public arena, but says he knows people who are deliberately keeping quiet out of fear of reprisals.

"I've nearly been assaulted, and I've gotten threats. Not many people dare to speak out - they're just keeping quiet," said Rafiq.

Iranian-born social worker and Socialist People's Party city council candidate for Svendborg, Masoun Moradi, recently received death threats for writings perceived as critical of Islam.

Moradi likewise says he has no plans to censor himself, but says the reactions to his criticism from fellow Muslims is proof that others have given up.

"I've gotten three calls so far from other Danes of foreign descent who've gotten involved in the debate. They say they've also received death threats, but they haven't gone public. It's horrible that this kind of thing is allowed to happen. People born in Denmark regard freedom of speech as something quite natural, but for me it's a gift that must be safeguarded," said Moradi.

Is this where all of us are headed? If moderate Muslims are afraid to speak out, what does that mean for non-Muslims. In Holland, even the politicians have their lives threatened. Now, even a Christian school in Florida is threatened.

I'm sure things have changed in Denmark since I was last there several years ago, but back then my biggest worry was the ridiculous cost of a cup of coffee (which was really two cups in a pot). I never even saw a Muslim in Copenhagen back in the late 80's, but Muslim influence seems to have been spreading in Europe until recently when a backlash of sorts began with the Van Gogh murder. Certainly there is more to come on this.   More....

Posted by Hyscience at November 18, 2004 9:32 AM

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