Solberg wants Islam 'modernized' (Norway)

Aftenposten ^ | 11/04/03 | Carsten Bleness & Nina Berglund

[veronica]

Muslims living in Norway must accept that they're a minority in a progressive, egalitarian-oriented society, claims Cabinet Minister Erna Solberg. Islam must be modernized, she says, but local Muslims claim they don't understand her criticism.

Cabinet Minister Erna Solberg is calling on Muslims to better integrate into Norwegian society. Solberg, the government minister who's charge of immigration and integration issues among other things, is making some controversial demands of Muslims who have moved to Norway or grown up in the country as first- or second-generation immigrants.

In doing so, she's taking a brave stand. Solberg earlier this year was the target of death threats by a disgruntled Muslim asylum-seeker, and she also has been at the center of the storm around Mullah Krekar, the suspected terrorist who remains in Norway despite a deportation order.

She suggests nonetheless that the burden of integration into Norwegian society lies as much with Muslims as it does with ethnic Norwegians who are part of the state church. After meeting with her British counterpart Beverly Hughes in London on Monday, Solberg is on the offensive.

"The Norwegian Islamic community must make more progress, and see what's happening in other European countries," Solberg told newspaper Aftenposten. "Islam in Europe must function differently than it does in Islamic countries." In this regard, she claims, the Muslim community in Norway lags far behind.

She's especially critical of the role that Imams play in Norway. "These religious leaders can't just be brought up from Islamic countries where Muslims are in the majority," Solberg said. "They have no understanding of what it's like to be a Muslim in a country where they're a minority.

"They have to get more education, which they should get here in Europe," she continued. "It's especially important that immigrants learn what it means to live in a feminist society."

Solberg is clearly intrigued by proposals in Great Britain that would require immigrants to take an oath of citizenship and pass an exam dealing with local society.

The World Islamic Mission in Norway, claiming it doesn't understand Solberg's criticism, asked Solberg to explain what she means by "modernization," which she did on national radio on Tuesday.

Divorce, for example, must be more easily available for Muslim women and follow the laws of the land, she said. Pro-forma and forced marriages must be banned and women in general must be accorded equal rights under the law.

Amber Khan of the World Islamic Mission in Norway claimed Imams brought to Norway are required to learn Norwegian and adapt to new cultural codes.

[Steve_Seattle]

In saying we should severely limit immigration from Islamic countries, I'm simply saying we can't use a religious test, per se, to keep them out. As you point out, as a practical matter rigorous screening would have to be applied. But I think small quotas should be allowed in from those countries. The "breeding like rabbits" comment wasn't mine, and it was my belief that you can't control breeding once they're here that leads me to believe you must control immigration.

[cyborg]

Small quotas yes...

I was thinking out loud about that breeding like rabbits thing. but all the more reason why conservatives should have their own breeding programs to breed out stupid people.

In discussing this issue with you and other on FR, I think what is needed is a total overhaul of the INS... I don't know much about him, but there's some congressman by the name of Tancredo that has a good plan.

[Savage Beast]

"Cabinet Minister Erna Solberg is calling on Muslims to better integrate into Norwegian society."

And what if they don't, Erna???

"Islam in Europe must function differently than it does in Islamic countries."

Says who???

And anyway, in a few years the European countries will be Islamic countries! Thought about that???

"The Norwegian Islamic community must make more progress, and see what's happening in other European countries"

Uh...Erna...in other European countries, the Muslims are taking over--and they have no intention of "functioning differently".

"Solberg earlier this year was the target of death threats by a disgruntled Muslim"

Wake up and face reality, Erna. It's later--and worse--than you think.

[rogue yam]

Solberg is beating around the bush here. What she wants is for the muslim scum to stop raping the white women and then using the "I thought it was ok because they were out walking around" excuse. I figure the m.s. are going to continue to rape at will until the Norwegian men find the stones to apply the traditional methods to the problem. But in the meantime it couldn't hurt to call a spade a spade. But that is just what I don't expect to see from Scandinavian commies. Too bad. It's their problem. Let them stew in it.

[dagnabbit]

The only Muslim immigrants we should allow into the West should be very young children being adopted by non-muslims. Anything else imports Islam, a clear and present danger to our lives and liberties.