Stoking the fire

  Zubair Butt Hussain

Since September 30, the debate in Denmark over 12 published drawings of the Prophet Muhammad has yet to abate. These caricatures, as they are better described, caused anger among Muslims and non-Muslims both in and out of Denmark, where the news has slowly spread.

The project behind the drawings was, ostensibly, inspired by the intimidation some artists felt vis-a-vis Islam, and the feeling that, as a result, freedom of expression was under threat. In the subsequent controversy, many opinion-shapers have spoken of their bemusement over the reaction of Muslims and why they should be so sensitive over something that poked fun at religious figures. There was even a not-so-hidden wonderment that Muslims didn't find the derision and laughter directed at their religion somehow edifying.

But long before these drawings came into the public domain, there was widespread apprehension among Danish Muslims over the way they and their religious affiliation were presented in the media. The image projected in the Danish media of Islam has been one of a faith that did not undergo a reformation and renaissance similar to Christianity and is thus stuck in the middle ages. The drawings are simply a culmination of several years of media persecution of the Muslim minority in Denmark.

Even worse is the role elected politicians have played in stoking this fire. It is not unusual for certain politicians to make the ill-willed and mistaken but common equation that Muslims are immigrants, and immigrants are badly integrated and therefore the root of all evil in Danish society. Beyond the prejudice against immigrants in general this belies, it also contradicts the fact that most Muslims in Denmark have been here for 30-40 years and many are born here. But if that is pointed out, they are simply called second or third generation immigrants. Even ethnic Danish Muslim converts are described by the derogatory "ersatz-immigrants"; one politician has gone so far as to compare these converts to Nazis, and, in all seriousness, advocate that they be placed under surveillance as they constitute a threat to society. A politician from the same party described Muslims as a spreading cancer, while others have suggested criminals of non-Danish ethnic background should be interned or exiled with their closest family.

The fact that elected politicians can make such statements and at the same time claim to be standard bearers for democracy, freedom of expression and human rights is a serious indictment of the degeneration of public morals.

Just as in any other community, Danish Muslims have their share of bad apples. But only for the Muslim community is it seen fit to mention a religious affiliation when someone is suspected or convicted of any criminal or unseemly behavior. This amounts to blaming the community as a whole and demonizing Islam. The stigmatization and general lack of acceptance of Muslims in Denmark as equals has as a consequence led especially the younger generation to create an identity in opposition to their surroundings.

The persecution of Muslims in public fora serves only to dig trenches in society and lessens the chance of conducting any constructive dialogue. I personally predict that Danish Muslims will eventually emigrate to other European countries where attitudes are less harsh--some well-educated members of the community have already left and others are ready to follow if presented with the opportunity. Of course, those who leave will be those with the qualifications and necessary economic ballast, and Denmark will be left with those from the lower socio-economic strata. That in turn will reinforce the perception of Muslims as simply constituting a drain on the welfare system.

Just as it is now so in the future our responsibility is to make this multi-ethnic society function. In this context, a lack of sensitivity in the way we Danes express ourselves in public constitutes a threat to peaceful co-existence. I hope that in the future we will be able to frame our public debate on this issue in a less divisive manner to avoid further polarization.

The right of freedom of expression comes with a burden of responsibility.- Published 22/12/2005 © bitterlemons-international.org

Zubair Butt Hussain is a regular commentator in Danish media.