The Dutch Labour party (PvdA) has often been criticized in the past for not speaking out about Islam. But now the party seems to have rediscovered its voice in the Dutch Islam debate. Last weekend, the Malaysian Muslim thinker Farish Noor delivered it from some of its most paralysing dilemmas. An interview with a 'prophet flown in by KLM.'
Parliamentarian Geert Wilders and other right-wing Islam critics in the Netherlands imply that 'pure' Islam contradicts democracy and human rights. A moderate or liberal Islam, does not exist in their view. The PvdA, the party with the largest Muslim following in the country, failed for a long time to counter this right-wing rhetoric with its own articulate view. But now the party seems to have found back its voice in the Dutch islam debate. It aligns itself with the liberal Islam that according to its right-wing opponents does not exist.
The model for this new approach is the Malaysian Muslim thinker Farish Noor, who flew in last weekend from Berlin to talk to prominent Labour party members such as Integration Minister Ella Vogelaar and Secretary of State Ahmed Aboutaleb of Social Affairs. Farish Noor believes that the moral principles of the Koran are valid for eternity, but that verses such as those calling for the discrimination of women and corporal punishment are no longer valid and have to be understood in their historical context. Noor is shocked by the state in which he finds the Netherlands.
What is wrong with the Netherlands?
"Five years ago I lived here for some time, but this country has changed so much that I hardly recognize it. There is no communication any more. Everybody is obsessed with his own pain and does not see the pain of the other anymore. I think it is because of the killing of Theo van Gogh [the filmmaker who was stabbed to death by a Muslim fundamentalist in 2004]. I think that has shocked the Dutch people very much."
What is it precisely that has changed?
"There is an enormous suspicion and fear of Muslims. The public perception of Muslims is entirely monopolized by the right wing. Muslims are pictured as one homogenous bloc. As some sort of robots who mechanically follow the Qur'an and are against anything that is plural, democratic and secular.
"What worries me is that progressive forces such as the Dutch Labour party (PvdA) do not counterbalance this. They are reluctant to speak out about Islam for fear of being labelled anti-Muslim or because they think it goes against the separation of state and religion. That way they have allowed the right to monopolize the whole debate about Islam."
What can you do for the Dutch Labour party?
"I hope that what I have said will contribute to curing the Labour party of the idea that any criticism of Islam immediately puts them on the side of the secular right. Muslims are not a homogeneous group. There are progressive, conservative, fundamentalist and even fascist currents in Islam. The Labour party should ally itself with the progressive currents. And it should stop being afraid of criticizing conservative Islam. The Dutch Labour party is a progressive party and it is only natural if it allies itself with the progressive forces within the religious traditions of its followers.
"Right-wing politicians and Islam critics imply that Muslims have to choose between fundamentalist Islam on the one hand and democracy and human rights on the other. Progressive Muslims like myself offer an alternative: We try to show Muslims and the rest of the world that you can be a Muslim and a democrat at the same time. By supporting us the Labour party can break down the right-wing monopoly in the Islam debate and create space for young Muslims to participate in modern life while maintaining their Muslim identity. Are you Muslim and gay? Then the Labour party should support your right to be both at the same time.
"This does not mean that the party should turn its back on traditional Muslims. The party should protect the right of traditional Muslims to be themselves as long as they abide by the ground rules of secular democracy. Religious schools are not a problem but we cannot tolerate imams who tell their audience to beat up gays. Hate speech should be the limit."
Labour party member Ehsan Jami established a committee of ex-Muslims in order to support the right of Muslims to leave Islam. What do you think of his initiative?
"If someone decides to leave his religion, then this is his fundamental freedom of choice and the Labour party should support it of course. But the party has to be careful not to give the impression that it only supports apostates.
I wanted to meet Ehsan Jami, but unfortunately he could not make it. If there is one thing I would like to tell him it is that he should be very careful not to be used by the right wing by implying that the only good Muslim is an ex-Muslim. He should not forget that progressive Muslims like myself and many others have been fighting since a long time for the freedom of Muslims to leave Islam. And we paid the price for it. A friend of mine had his house bombed. I have lived with death threats for 10 years. People have come to my house to kill me. When people like Jami start to distort the debate in this manner, it may put back our effort 30 years."
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Pat in Belgium,
28-03-2008
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Farish Noor is a very courageous person in his decision to live openly as a Muslim and a democrat. That this has put his life in jeopardy speaks volumes about how any religious belief can be hijacked by a handful of hate-filled hardliners. Islam is not the problem. The twisted interpretation(s) of the holy writings and the arrogance of individuals who try to impose their narrow-minded dogma on anyone through violence and/or threats of violence are what is really at issue. But how do you protect yourself and society from fanatics?
2Badou,
26-03-2008
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2Badou: have u forgotten how Islam was begun? Prophet Mo executed between 600 to 900 prisoners himself, and enslaved their wives and children. Islam has spread by the sword, terror from Islam has always been there. It is just recently that we read the history (including Qur'an & hadith) books and realize this. There is a big issue about freedom of religion which is not present in Islam. Christians and Jews may stay like that but have to pay extra taxes and other discriminations, other religions may not stay like that. This is the undemocratic and 'racist' part of Islam. Is there truely a liberal Islam? Just read the bottom of this young man's statements were he is facing bombing and killers because he has a different opinion.
Thomas,
29-11-2007
- Hungary
To the chagrin of the left the proletariat failed to rise up and destroy the evil capitalist and the satanic Jews and as corollary the Koran now is the new Das Kapital, and the Jihadis the new proletariat. Commie-Islamofascist alliance of convenience á la Molotov-Ribbentrop pact.
Kali Politeis,
11-09-2007
- USA
Good for people like this! We need many more to speak out. Contrary to the remarks above, Islam itself is STEEPED in blood and gore, slavery and oppression. See this site: http://islamwatchers.blogspot.com.
Badou,
09-09-2007
- USA
Hi Montedoro,
What do you know about Islam and the Koran. Everything can be twisted around and turned into something bad. Just because these killer al-Qaeda thugs and their cohorts quote the Koran and carry out their despicable acts in the name of Islam doesn't mean Islam condones them. It's far from being the case. The Koran was revealed in context. That’s important to remember. And if we are really following the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, we should know that they are all based on common sense and righteousness, as is the Word of Allah in the Koran. As a matter of fact, the Koran says: “Unto you, your moral law, and unto me, mine!" (109:6). Nobody can be forced to become Muslim. People can use their free will as they fit.
This whole Islamic terrorism thing is very recent. So scapegoating an entire religion (at least 1500 years old) because of the horrible acts of a few is preposterous. Were we talking about Islamic terrorist 20 years ago? No! It was communism then and the USSR!
The media feeds into this frenzy that contributes to demonizing Islam.
There is nothing archaic and totalitarian about Islam. If you haven't practiced it, then you cannot judge. There are over a billion Muslims in this world. If Islam was really a violent religion, there would have been millions and millions of people committing acts of violence all the time, and the world would have been a total mess by now. So avoid throwing stuff around and give it a good thought.
Salaam.
Rick,
08-09-2007
- The Netherlands
Mr Farish Noor is to be commended for speaking out so frankly about the need to "modernize" Islam. In this context it is difficult to understand how, what Mr Noor calls, traditional Muslims who practice Sharia law can function in a secular and democratic society such as the European Union, without becoming frustrated and eventually rebellious. Tolerance in that case by the Government would not be the solution.
Montedoro,
ideologyofislam@cox.net,
08-09-2007
- USA
If the "right wing" says that the only good Muslim is an ex-Muslim it is because traditional Islamic theology is both totalitarian and violently imperialist. There is a reason why all Muslim terrorists quote the Koran. The reason is that the Koran contains so many passages justifying dehumanization of and making war against non-Muslims. As for a "progressive Muslim" advocating the freedom for a Muslim to leave Islam, that directly contradicts Muhammad who said: "If anyone (Muslim) changes his religion, then kill him." Muhammad said many other hateful and violent things, too. He also had poets killed because he did not like their verses. So, a "progressive Muslim" is going to have to renounce Muhammad and many passages in the Koran. Yet, it is impossible to do this and to remain a Muslim.
jasmin,
07-09-2007
- India
Life is not a game of cards. It is very complex and full of surprises: good and bad. Every person is a universe in himself, he inadvertantly colours the society in which he dwells and no man worth his salt can severe his roots from his parent country and that is no reason to deny him the right to live in the country of his choice under any circumstances. Diversity only brings variety. When you take a rose to a garden of lilies, you don't expect the rose to stop emanating its fragrance nor the lilies stop giving theirs! There is lovely fragrance of both. As OSHO says :'' A world full of only Hindus or Christains or Muslims would be so monotonous. Only temples or churches or mosques would be as boring as a garden having only one kind of flowers or only one species of animals or clones of people, all looking alike..(words are mine)...'' Our World our planet is beautiful because of its diversity not because of similarities or as OSHO says, ''God does not believe in photocopies''. Wonder what has overtaken us, why we want to colour the world in grey? Come to India and you will find a rich tapestry of diversity, intermingling of religions and cultures. Don't believe what the fanatics and politicians put forward about India. See and feel the common man, our society is like a beautiful garland of different flowers and it is lovely. I wish the same loveliness to the Netherlands and all countries. Live and let live. Life is too short for this.
Marc,
07-09-2007
- South Africa
Farish Noor makes some sensible points. It's a complex problem compounded by the fact that it is made out to be more complex than necessary by many social commentators. Islamic folk who successfully and legitimately immigrate into Holland are perfectly entitled to observe their religious beliefs provided overt aspects of the lifestyle and its various strictures do not impede on their new, dominant and chosen identity: that of new Netherlanders.
When you move to a new country, you have consciously made a choice in advance to move from "disagreeable" to "more agreeable". By definition, you have chosen and are obliged to adopt the ways of your new country over those of the old. If any immigrant is not prepared to do that, then stay where you are. But do not impose on the culture and values of your adopted country those of the country you chose to leave. The term “global village” is an economic term that sociologists have done their best to make off with as their own. The word “country” well predates “xenophobia”, and for good reason. It’s a simple rule: if you ask to join a game of cards, you don’t sit down and announce the new rules. If you do, expect a rough ride.
