السبت، 24 يناير 2015

Islam Not A Threat To Secularism: French Orientalist

Islam Not A Threat To Secularism: French Orientalist



Islam Not A Threat To Secularism: French Orientalist

By Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent

PARIS, September 30 (IslamOnline.net) - Islam does not pose a threat to 
secularism and French Muslims are taking initiatives in coping with the 
country's secular laws, French orientalist Bruno Etienne maintained.

Speaking to IslamOnline.net, he said that France's five million Muslims, a 
recognized minority, are expected to comply with the country's secularism, 
which is rather a positive challenge for them.

Etienne praised moderate Muslim youths and activists, like Tareq Ramadan, 
"for their earnest efforts in understanding and explaining true Islam, which 
will definitely play a key role in drawing up the future picture of Islam in 
Europe."

Ramadan is professor of philosophy and Islamic studies in Geneva College and 
one of the leading writers on the future of Islam and Muslims in the West, 
particularly Europe.

"These youths do realize that they are living in Europe and have to get by 
in a way that does not run counter to their religion," Etienne said.

The French orientalist cited polygamy as a case in point.

"Muslims in Europe have tackled the controversial issue of polygamy in 
accordance with the Qur'an and relevant French laws prohibiting it.

"They said a man can marry up to four women if he can treat them all 
equally. And we, as Muslims living in Europe, are expected to respect French 
laws as we do with our religion, so let's be committed to one wife," Etienne 
quoted Muslims as saying based on the belief they could not treat more that 
one wife on equal footing.

No Radicalism

Etienne also denied that French Muslim youths were adopting radical views 
and that after the 9-11 attacks the French people developed poor opinion of 
Muslims.

"A public opinion survey I made showed that the French people did not change 
their views about Islam after the September attacks. They got bored with 
extremist views but not with Islam," he asserted.

The French orientalist further voiced his opposition to a law banning hijab 
in state schools.

"We have to admit that there are some problems that emerged due to 
misunderstandings of religion. For instance, Muslim girls refuse to attend 
certain classes because they consider them against their religious beliefs. 
In a nutshell, Hijab is not the problem," he said.

The issue of hijab has recently sparked much controversy in France, with 
French Social Affairs Minister Francois Fillon voicing support for a bill 
forbidding "the ostentatious wearing of any religious sings in schools."

French Premier Jean-Pierre Raffarin, himself, did not rule out passing a law 
to ban Muslim girls from wearing hijab in schools.

French President Jacques Chirac set up a commission in July to rule on 
whether new legislation was needed to handle a growing debate over religion 
in schools, particularly Muslim schoolgirls wearing hijab.

It is expected to submit its report to Chirac by the end of this year after 
questioning other ministers and representatives of French non-governmental 
organizations (NGOs) and various syndicates.

http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2003-09/30/article08.shtml


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