Posted on 05/02/2007 7:22:09 AM PDT by WesternCulture
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A Muslim woman denounced and ridiculed by nationalists for wearing an Islamic head scarf announced Friday she was running for Parliament — a move bound to rekindle heated debate about Islam in Denmark.
The next election is not expected until 2009, but the mere thought of Asama Abdol-Hamid entering the legislature has revived fears of clashing cultures that emerged last year when Danish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad sparked riots in Muslim countries.
Even mainstream politicians and party colleagues in the left-wing Red-Green Alliance have questioned whether Abdol-Hamid, who moved to Denmark at age 6 with her Palestinian family, shares the fundamental values of Danish society.
Besides covering her hair, the 25-year-old refuses to shake hands with men. Instead, she greets them by laying her right hand on her heart in Muslim tradition.
"I want another Denmark where we talk about the difference between groups," she said at a news conference announcing her candidacy. "When we talk about values, (we need) to be open to whatever people are, Muslim or non-Muslim."
Abdol-Hamid has repeatedly been questioned about her views on the death penalty, gender equality and gay rights — issues on which many Danes believe Islam conflicts with their values.
Abdol-Hamid said she does not support the death penalty, which is outlawed in Denmark, and is "unconcerned with whatever sexual or ethnic background people have."
"We have a constitution in Denmark and it will be upheld," she added, smiling broadly under a shimmering, turquoise head scarf.
A social worker from the central city of Odense, Abdol-Hamid made headlines in 2006 when she became the first woman to host a Danish TV show wearing a head scarf. The program sought to promote dialogue between Muslims and non-Muslims in Denmark in the wake of the prophet cartoon crisis.
Danes were shocked last year when massive protests erupted in Muslim countries against the 12 drawings first published in a Danish newspaper and reprinted in several Western media.
While Danish embassies were set on fire in some countries, Muslims in Denmark demonstrated peacefully, denouncing violence and calling for more respect for their religion.
Still, many Danes feel Muslim immigrants, who number some 200,000, have brought with them conservative views on women and sexuality that clash with traditionally liberal values in this country of 5.4 million.
After her plans to run for Parliament became known last week, members of the anti-immigration Danish People's Party, a partner of the center-right government, took turns explaining why she was not fit for the assembly.
One said the Islamic head scarf was a totalitarian symbol and compared it to a swastika. Another suggested Abdol-Hamid had been brainwashed and needed psychiatric help.
Most other parties dismissed such comments, while Muslim leaders said they underscored a lack of respect for Islam in Denmark.
"I thought we had learned something from the cartoon crisis but we haven't," said Zubair Butt Hussain, spokesman for Muslims in Dialogue. "We are still engaging in monologues, blaming each other and making generalizations about Islam."
But even among those who rejected the People's Party's comments, there were some who felt Abdol-Hamid's religious views could be problematic.
"If you don't shake hands with men, you can't be a part of the Danish Parliament," said Hamid El Mousti, a member of Copenhagen's city council. "I'm from Morocco and we shake hands with women. If you do not salute people, communication between you and others will be very bad."
Thanks for clearing that up, let's shake on it.
If elected, her biggest risk is being killed by Islamicist for not keeping to a woman’s place.
- It must be like a nightmare for her living in a country where people eat pigs, women wear make up and the media are allowed to ridicule prophets of Islam.
Without a doubt, the most humanitarian thing to do is to said her back to the kind of ‘civilization’ she prefers to live in.
Damn, that is definitely one of the scariest pictures I have ever seen. They look like some satanic cult... oh wait, they ARE.
On February 20, 2007 a female Pakistani minister, Zilla Huma Usman was shot dead by a Muslim man Mohammad Sarwar who stated "I have no regrets. I just obeyed Allah’s commandment," adding that Islam did "not allow women to hold positions of leadership."
From the article:
**** have brought with them conservative views on women and sexuality that clash with traditionally liberal values in this country *****
Ahem - since when are Islam’s views on women and sexuality “conservative” views?
The Republican party hasn’t yet sent me a notice that to attend a meeting I need to put on a veil, be in danger of an “honor” killing, or avoid men....can’t drive a car, ...can’t travel....etc.
Its little slippings of words like this that the liberals are great at.
Equating conservative values in ANY way with Islam is a lie.
Yes, indeedy. Please see my tagline.
“...definitely one of the scariest pictures...”
You are absolutely right. The first time I ever saw that photo, I thought of nightmares I used to have as a child, you know, the kind that make you wake up in a cold sweat but in which the terror has no form or face? Satanic cult, indeed.
AlGore in Denmark?
So, don’t vote for her already.
“Unfortunately we are at the point where the west considers any Muslim a murdering animal.”
I’d say it has more to do with the 99% of Muslims who are not murdering animals, but who nevertheless will not raise any dissent against the ways of the 1% who are murdering animals. Their silence is tantamount to tacit agreement with the ways of the murdering animals.
- You hit the nail!
If you flee from a country of oppression to one characterized by freedom and liberty, why on earth would you wish to make the latter country more like the hellhole you originally fled from?
Something is very wrong here.
A large portion of Muslim immigrants to Europe, I’m not saying the majority, but a large share, have no wish whatsoever to conform to traditional Western values OR to Liberal/Socialist PC Multiculturalism.
Instead, they wish the Western World to become like their home countries.
PC politicians of Western origin throughout Western Civilization close their eyes to this reality and hope their fairytale concept of ‘multicultural tolerance’ to one day become more ‘sellable’.
In reality, opposition from BOTH native Westerners AS WELL AS ‘devout’ Muslims against the irresponsible and futile idea of ‘multiculturalism’ is increasing day by day.
Political leaders who cause widespread division in society are no leaders at all.
Multiculturalism belongs on the ideological scrapheap of human history along with Nazism, Fascism and Communism.
I’m not an opponent of other cultures, I’m an opponent of cultural decay.
Why would I be voting for someone who’s running for office in Denmark?
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