The Art of Integration – Muslims Case in Denmark
When Muslims outside in the West are asked what comes to their mind when hearing of Denmark, there is a big chance that they will refer to ”the Cartoon Crisis”. An incident that sparked outrage and political turmoil, finally putting Denmark on the world map and into globalization; ahead of famed Danish products like Hans Christian Andersen, Lurpak, and the giant philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard. (Oddly enough, his works are read only in small circles within Denmark, compared to other countries).
After the crisis, after the foreign media forgot all about us and we disappeared to our little andedam, many questions remained unanswered, and many of us were left soul-searching. Maybe it was best they left us alone and let the opportunity for the future PhDs to do all the analysis. However, it’s a shame and a mistake that the world left us alone; because if there is something we can export and be proud of, that would be how to integrate a large Muslim group (2 % of the population out of 5.4 millions) in a Western country.
During the crisis, it became clear that the Muslim population lacked the strong resources and organizations necessary to stand up to the media. Typically, those with strong resources are in the minority, and most of them leave the country as soon they get higher education, eventually settling down in England, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. Despite that, the Muslims still managed to find spokespersons for their cause, with a few Imams taking the responsibility to speak on behalf of the community. Unfortunately, most of them lacked the understanding of the culture and social structure of their host country, and it did not help matters that the primary spokesperson had not yet mastered the Danish language.
One study showed that 80% of the Danish population has no daily contact with ethnic groups. In face of these challenges of integration, two Muslims sought to prove that you can be a Muslim, be integrated, and still be Danish. Both of these Muslims used different approaches, but ended with the same disappointing results.
First, a little introduction of the two main characters.
Asmaa Abdol-Hamid, a 27 years old Danish-Palestinian caseworker and a debater. She came to Denmark as refugee with her family, and was one of the first who filed suit against the newspaper that brought the cartoons, instantly becoming a familiar face in the media; she was the first Muslim talk show presenter with a headscarf. The programme was taken off the air after one season due to poor ratings, but her career as politician went full steam ahead.
Before joining the left wing (communist) party, she tried to get into the leading opposition party, the Social Democrats, but was rejected. After all, the Social Democrats lost two consecutive elections for being soft on immigration.
So her party enjoyed all the publicity they could get, and they profiled for being the only party who fights for the weakest in the society. However, when the election neared, the party got cold feet and opinion polls showed that the party would lose all six of their members in parliament. Most observers agreed that she was “forced” to stridently emphasize that she believed in separation of religion and politics, and that she supported homosexual rights; here, we have a picture where she reluctantly attended a party at a gay bar in Copenhagen.
All the hard work did not bring success to Asmaa Abdol-Hamid. Her party lost two members and came in with very narrow votes to parliament. On the evening of the election, the party leader accused Asmaa for the bad results.
And as much as Asmaa does not want to admit, her only trademarks were her headscarf and her refusing to shake hands with non-related men. In a column, her former employer asked after where the real Asmaa was, the Asmaa he knew who had no problem giving hand to men when she worked for the commune before entering the political arena.
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Naser Khader, a Danish-Syrian politician. He also came to Denmark as a refugee, and like Asmaa Abdol-Hamid, his career took off during the crisis. In 2006, he received the freedom of speech prize from the same newspaper that published the cartoons. His trademark was “the Saviour of Denmark”. Saving us from mad Mullahs, who gave bad publicity about Denmark; he even called the American ambassador in Denmark a “useful idiot” for inviting two imams for iftar.
Before the crisis, his reputation in the Muslim community was very low. He was not one of them. Like the Godfather chronicle where there is a battle between “Nativist” and “Immigrant”, the immigrant community saw him not as one of them, but one who is willing to do everything to assimilate into “Whiteness”.
Never mind, Naser Khader became the most popular politician for the rest of the population during the crisis; in fact, he became even more popular than the Prime Minister in Denmark, and this popularity led him to leave his old party (a centre left) in protest for being soft on radical Islamists, thereupon forming his own party, the New Alliance.
The prospect of his new party looked very promising, and the opinion polls gave him 24 seats in the parliament. An unheard event in the history of Denmark, that a Syrian born immigrant would lead the third largest party in the parliament; not only that, but he would also have the power to decide who the next Prime Minister would be by forming a coalition, either with the Social Democrats or with the Liberals.
Then came election day. Despite support from famous figures in business and media, even from ultra neo-conservative (Ayn Rand) adherents from America, he managed only to win five seats. In fact, there was uncertainty if his party would ever get any seats on election night.
Most political analysts agree that when it came to the moment of truth, his supporters abandoned him. One good example is an editor-in-chief of a local paper; they used to be close friends and fitness partners. One week before the election, he came with a revealing article, alleging that Naser Khader used illegal workers in his villa.
Naser Khader became the biggest loser in the election. When their hype came down to reality, Naser Khader and Asmaa Abdol-Hamid were not different.
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So how is integration in Denmark successful? A new study shows that 25% of young second generation immigrants want to leave the country once they get an education, and there is no doubt, that many people want to increase this figure and continue the trend.
5 comments
Very interesting. Two divergent paths leading to the same result.
I don’t think absolute assimilation is possible simply because Islam has its own culture that at many points is simply at odds with non-Muslim culture.
The best that Muslims can and should do is be law abiding citizens. If you choose to stay in a non-Muslim country, then don’t violate their laws. Being contemptuous of a country you’re living in and not leaving is plain idiocy.
Masha’Allah, great entry gess… From what you have written, I do feel that the lack of success of these two individuals may be rooted in the fact that they both “sold out” in their own way, in order to gain public support.
It is very easy to “spin” the voting masses into believing whatever you wish for them to believe, but i think that only applies to politicians who “look the part” - meaning members of the indigenous population, who the people will trust more. Immigrants, even naturalised ones, will always have to work harder to gain the same level of trust. If they lose grip of any firm principles of morality, or go down the route of extremism (even extremism against extremists), they will be revealed for the one-trick ponies that they really are, and will eventually lose public support, no matter how popular they were to begin with.
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Hi, Salam Alaikum (peace be upon u) all.Islam blog is right in his/her comments.Also we need law abiding citizens. If the laws are against islam or make life difficult for muslims, we can convince the authorities how it benefits all to follow Islamic law because it is from God of all-Allah Almighty. In america, when some converted (new muslim) women were removed from their jobs for wearing Hijab (the dress code of Islam for women), they fight back in the court and the court ordered that if the laws were not formulated as early as 200 years back (when there were almost no muslims or to say no muslims in america practising this???)it is time now to include (write) their rights in the law book or constitution.
Obviously it takes time and patient campaigning. You can’t depend on our traditional Moulavis (or traditional madrasa trained scholars who live in a world not knowing what is happening today) but you have to take their opinion too and consult with modern muslim scholars (who think for Islam and try not to satisfy the people of Jahiliyya who do not follow Qur’an and Sunnah). Let us proceed peacefully with these issues, campaign for the rights of Islam and all will get their rights irrespective of their religion and beliefs (example: read surah kafiroon). There will be no oppression, because you are afraid if you become an oppressor, you are going to meet the fate of Phiraoun (pharaoh of Egypt) as an example. You can’t outwit Allah.That is for sure.Read Surah hadid or iron and see how Allah gave you stronger things for your benefits. Then do not complain or have second thoughts about the Shariah laws. It is not discriminatory. It is what is the Wish of Allah almighty who knows better regarding what He created (men and women, their psycology, pathology,history,chemistry,physics,physiology,bloodgroup, every science, what ever you call man…!!!).
The socialist or communist ideology is concerned with issues related to one class at the expense of others but still not even the class they say they represent could flourish and prosper (that is why china changed and russia changed to free market killer economy which is another jahiliyyah system harming all people and what Allah has cursed can not give prosperity,peace and salvation in truth. You may have enough money. but on the day of judgement, the man will be shown Hell and heaven and his abode (that is hell for a disbeliver of Allah and islam)even though He was rich in the world, he did not give for Allah’s sake nor believe Him and he will beg Allah to send back to earth once more..but Allah will reject this offer. Then he will say, I will give all my wealth, as huge as earth or even twice that, but Allah says your chance is gone, you had only one chance, I gave you wisdom and right thinking capacity and my book and my messengers (prophets) came to you, but you did not benefit from this nor your wealth which I gave you. Now Allah will command the Angels to throw him into Hell and exactly that will be done. So this is a lesson for all of us that what kind of state we are going to build, what kind of promises or social programs we are going to have for the welfare of the citizens of our country if we are an organisation, political party,leaders and the governments..Hope all will formulate the future programs for the people as per Allah’s wish so that Allah will guide us aright and we will be secure in this world and in the hereafter from Hell fire.
Note: from the above argument it is very clear that we muslims are not here or Islam does not command us to do injustice to anyone, instead we are here to do good, prevent bad (as per Allah’s guidance or Islam) and help all people to live securely and peacefully.
aamin-amen
Thank you Ma Salam.
So your two case examples got it wrong and we are supposed to throw up our hands, say ‘forget about it’ and head back to our fortress madrassahs and mosques?
Check out what’s been happening in the London Mayoral election at the moment. Its the non-muslim candidates who are bending over backwards to show their muslim credentials! The right wing (Conservative) candidate has just discovered his Turkish, Qur’aan memorising great grandfather and has spent the last 3 weeks telling the many thousands of Muslim voters in the capital who proud he is of this ancestory! Why? Because @ 20% of the residents of London are Muslim.
So, if you want the politicians to bend over backwards towards you (and not the other way round) increase your birthrate and concentrate yourselves in key constituencies. You’ll be amazed at how many non-muslim candidates suddenly start revealing they had muslim blood in their veins all along! Assimilation like you’ve never seen it before! When a true blue Tory boy educated at Eton (top UK private school) suddently starts shoouting from the roof tops that he’s proud of his Muslim ancestory then you know there has been a seismic shift in the tectonic plates of electioneering in London. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7354227.stm
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