Voters in a nationwide referendum, in Switzerland have approved a ban on the construction of new minarets. Whist for many Muslims in the West this was not surprising considering the rising anti-foreigner attitude in Switzerland. For many Muslims in the Muslim world this may have come as a surprise. The nation in the Alps, known for its ski resorts and banking industry may even be unknown to many Muslims in the Islamic world.
The Swiss ban should not be viewed in isolation, it is part of a general campaign by the Capitalist nations and now Western populations who view Islam with disdain and threatening the very way of life the West has embraced.
The Swiss People's Party, which campaigned for the ban and has concentrated its recent political campaigns almost exclusively on xenophobic messages, has seen a considerable rise in popularity in the last 10 years. With foreigners comprising around 20% of the Swiss population of 7.7 million, the overall anti-foreigner message (which is not exclusively anti-Muslim) has resonated with the traditionally insulated Swiss, particularly in the less cosmopolitan cantons of central Switzerland. A mosque in Geneva was vandalized three times in the run up to the referendum. Switzerland is home to approximately 400,000 Muslims (about 5.1% of the Swiss population), most of whom are from Turkey or various republics of the former Yugoslavia.
The attacks on Islam after 9/11 have created an atmosphere of Nationalism, and right-wing parties have latched onto this opportunity and are on the rise in almost all parts of Western Europe. The rising number of immigrants in Europe has led many Europeans to regard them, most of who are Muslim, as a threat to their culture and jobs. According to a recent study, one in two Europeans believes there are too many immigrants in Europe. In line with this trend, right-wing parties that are openly anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim have now gained widespread popular support in Austria, France, Netherlands, Denmark, and in Britain as well.
The Rise of the Far Right in Mainland Europe Post 9/11, has accelerated vocalisation of anti-Muslim fervour that continues to plague Europe. From the publishing of the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم infuriating the Global Muslim population to the production of Geert Wilders abhorrent ‘Fitna' video; the subject of Islam has been a target for relentless attack. Further to this, policies in France and parts of Germany banning the Hijab in some public premises has resulted in Muslim women being denied the basic right to education, employment and healthcare facilities. Such a phenomena of hatred towards Muslims and ethnic minorities is in reality ingrained in the history of mainland Europe. History can testify to the lack of welcome of ‘foreigners' by the ‘host population' - many being unforgiving and unforgetful of past differences. Tolerance of the other has been overwritten by the overwhelming sentiment of bitterness and resentment. For instance the tensions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, the genocide of Muslims in Bosnia by Serbs, the Nazi slaughter of Jews and Gypsies have left bitter scars in peoples' attitudes and perceptions. Tolerance in plural societies is therefore a somewhat farfetched idea when the cause behind such wars have been lack of coexistence or acceptance of differences, and an attempt to forcefully assimilate those of other beliefs and values.
European nations face a catch 22 situation. On the one hand, they need more immigrants from the developing world to guarantee the sustainability of their economic systems due to their ageing populations. On the other hand, every additional immigrant in Europe is turning the average European into a more nationalist and less tolerant person. As noted in a 2004 report by the RAND corporation, "the sheer number of immigrants required to offset population aging in the EU and its member states would be unacceptable in Europe's current socio-political climate." Denmark has attempted to solve this problem. In November 2009 the Danish parliament increased tenfold the amount of money offered to immigrants who permanently return to their home countries. The Danish government is now paying every immigrant 100,000 Danish kroner ($20,000) if he or she chooses to leave Denmark.
However it needs to be understood that the Swiss decision on minarets and the general anti-Muslim sentiment, as well as some of the polices to tackle the Ummah in the West reflects a far deeper fear shared by thousands of people in Western Europe. Until the events of 9/11 integration of the Ummah followed two distinct policies. The first was that Muslims would show their loyalty to the host nation and in return their religious needs would be catered for, this was the case in continental Europe. Britain on the other hand viewed integration as a process of offering the Muslims everything in return for their loyalty. The subsequent invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan showed the West that the Ummah held on to Islam and stood shoulder to shoulder with the Ummah under attack.
Muslims in the West have since the events of 9/11 held onto Islam and have in fact become more political, this development is the West's biggest problem. This is because any people who engage in political struggle will lead the call for their own state with their own system of governance. Whilst the Ummah is not looking to establish Islam in the West, the rising Muslim population, with Islamic politics at its centre along with a more aware Ummah becoming more and more in tune with Islam and with many in the West embracing Islam for the West the Ummah is challenging the West's way of life - Capitalism.
The direct attacks on Islam and attempts by the West to ban parts of Islam are in fact Capitalism attempting to defend itself. The direct attacks on Islam shows the Ummah in the West to her credit never integrated or abandoned the deen but actually held onto it. The attacks on Islam and Muslims in Europe are because Muslims refuse to abandon political Islam and support Western policies around the world. European governments understand very well as the Qur'aysh did at the time of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم that political ideas always end with government. This is why the Khilafah is continually branded as totalitarian and dictatorial.
The stage is set for the return of the Khilafah. The Muslims in the Muslim world need to make this happen, and the Ummah in the West stand must stand shoulder to shoulder with the Ummah globally for the return of Allah's سبحانه وتعالى deen.
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BADREDDINE
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We need to show that capitalist is not the solution as you mentioned earlier.They refuse the debate? What about renting the O2 arena? Inviting economist and the like to have the debate about: "Which system will serve best society? Capitalism (its rapes,murders,breakdowns.debt?gaps between rich &poor) Vs Khalifah. |
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Dr Q A
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Zeital: AoA... There is a problem with the solution that you are discussing... No doubt we as Muslims should present our case to the people of Europe and America and do our best to remove this rediculous fear of Islam from their minds... The problem that we face is that there is a concerted effort on parts of the Governments in Europe to present Islam as the enemy... I can confidently state that this is the case because despite presenting ourselves and offering debate and discussion there has never been a sincere effort from the ruling machines to engage in such a debate... Our best efforts and requests are turned down and we are generally left with a mob crowd of ill mannered and uncivilized people who resort to insulting our person and deen... they insult our master Muhammad and even Allah Himself... I personally have been trying to arrange a debate at a world famous college here for the past two years on the subject of Economics (they hold regular debates on various issues)... considering we are going through times of economic hardship that affects everyone be it Muslim or Non Muslim... My plan was to request the Hizb then to send a delegate or even just Sheikh Jamal Harwood to such a debate which would have been fantastic from an intellectual point of view for both Muslims and non Muslims... They took my ideas and held a debate between Capitalism vs Socialism once... then one day I was absolutely shocked when the debating society came back to me asking if I would be interested in a debate on Gay Rights!!! and when I refused stating that there was nt much to debate about since Homosexuality can only be discussed in a secular context as all religions be it Islam, Christianity, Judaism and even other religions condemn this practice as a big sin, the secretary of the debating society stopped corresponding with me!!!! Similarly whenever an issue of Islam comes up the Governments despite knowing that a certain quarter of the Muslim population speaks with ignorance about Islam approach that very same quarter to reinforce stereotypes about Islam as a stupid Bogey Man that needs to be chained... I strongly believe that the European Governments now realize that the Caliphate is going to be a reality soon... I think they know about this more than our general Muslim population does... and it is such a shame that they are not preparing their societies for peaceful coexistance with Muslims rather doing the opposite and preparing their people for war against the Caliphate right from day one... The west has such a huge potential for doing good in the world... yet it is a scandal how the western governments are taking their people on the path of fascism and creating hate for Muslims and ultimately humiliation both in this life and the next... Tell me one western politician who has approached the media and told his/her people that Muslims are hard working, law abiding, good natured members of the wider western community... Name one politician who would stand up and ask the question why is it that for hundreds of years Muslims led the world in all walks of life yet today they have become the wretched of the earth? and then go on to state that they would want the potential good to come from Muslims again so that they could contribute to the global human heritage and civilization like they did in the past... They wont do it and they dont do it because they know that this would mean the Caliphate... If it had nt been for the pens of historians they would be twisting history today claiming that if Muslims did anything good in the past it was because they were democratic and secular... This is our problem in the western world... The heart of the west is an evil and dark force and I am very sad to state that engagement with these people by discussing will not bring much good... We can always try and we should try but like the systems in our own countries we will have to replace their evil and oppressive systems with a system of justice and enlightenment... this can only happen once we have our own state to back us up in this task... they only care about money... they are prepared to hug scumbags like the Saudi Monarchy just because it will get them lucrative contracts... so let us offer them good trade once the Khilafah is back... and hopefully they will change their attitude... if not and they persist in their stupidity we always have Jihad as a means to teach them a lesson in humility... we have taught such lessons to the Persians and the Romans before them... |
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Zeital
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The states of Central Europe still retain strong cultural links to traditional conservative background. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have large domestic populations concerned about immigration from Eastern European countries, but their main concerns are over non-European immigration from the Southern Hemisphere. Islam is a large monolithic phenomenon does evoke concern from Europeans (especially those in Central Europe). Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Poland were the scene of bitter religious and secular divisions when Europe as a continent was redefining its actual identity. The Treaty of Westphalia and concept of ‘International Law’ was established during this period. The naval states, like Portugal and Spain set out on Voyages of Discovery, encountering non-European peoples globally. This included encountering Muslims in South East Asia. More pertinent, was the ongoing Habsburg-Ottoman clashes in South East and Central Europe. The Ottomans and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth fought over North East Europe. In the mind of the European, the outside ‘non-European’ world was something very strange and alien. Hence a large powerful entity surrounding Europe contributed to the ‘siege mentality’. Since Ancient times when Greeks fought Persians and Carthage besieged Rome; this European fear of the ‘outsider’ has remained rooted deep within the psyche. Islam as a polity and organised culture became the new challenger. Yet Europe in a large part derives its very identity to the complex interaction between the Islamic Civilisation and European peoples. In the present era, images of conflict and global uncertainty play on the minds of so many people. Europeans see escalation in Afghanistan-Pakistan and the Near East partly due to Anglo-American designs. Yet the negative events taking place daily and identification of Muslim or non-Muslim immigrants from unstable countries have reinforced stereotypes against non-Europeans in general. Right wing, Populist, and Liberal political parties all see the ‘immigration issue’ as a platform to argue for mass support from a fearful domestic population. In light of this present climate, some intelligent and thoughtful discourse, an awareness of how Europeans view the wider world during unpredictable times, may allay tensions or dispel misconceptions people have. |
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mohammad al thinnabi
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Fear not Islam , rather fear ignorance about Islam . The world is Dull , meaningless without The shinje of Quran , The Khilafah is going to make sure that no stone or angle in this earth , that is prevented from the Call Of Allahu kabra to permeate it's dimensions . May allah bless You Hizb Ut Tahrir and it's Siters and Borothers . may allah Give Nurah to AbuYaseen and His Youth men and women . Ameen |
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Dr Q A
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AA... I have been convinced the day I heard about efforts to re establish Khilafah... I mean how could we have overlooked it... Everyone of us knows the names Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali RA... we know the names Umar bin Abdul Aziz, Haroon Rasheed and Motassim... we know the names Salahuddin, Mahmood and Beybar... We know Fatih Sultant Mehmet, Sulayman the magnificent and Abdul Hameed Thani... may Allahs mercy be upon them all... Muslims need to realize that just being a Muslim is not a ticket to Jannah... We are not Jews thats how they think about their lives thinking of themselves as a chosen race!!!... or Christians who think that all their sins have been forgiven for God sacrificed His son for them... It is unfortunate when Muslims dont stand up for Khilafah... Allah is merciful dear Muslims... Dont be in doubt about yourself... There was a man who had killed Muslims yet became the raised sword of Allah (Khalid Bin Waleed)... How long will we wait O dear Ummah... How long will you wait... Your lips should have the word Khilafah on it all the time... If God spares our lives we will see it happening... Now either you jump on the train and be part of the effort... or stand at the station and watch the train go by missing your real destination!!!! |
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Mohamed Ali
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Capitalists are using all types of machinary to supress Islam.Wake up o muslims to liberate this wold. KHILAFAH,KHILAFAH,KHILAFAH is the only way out. |
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