Die Freiheit has some balanced ideas about islam and islamism in Germany

Submitted by myth (Germany), Nov 6, 2010 at 07:03

Aymenn, I also find this an interesting because I need to have an opinion for Germany is my own country. Let me quote three statements from their website:

1. www.diefreiheit.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Kernforderungen-Die-Freiheit.pdf lists basic demands. Item 23 translates into: "for a zero-tolerance strategy towards islamist tendencies, no creeping introduction of sharia."
2. In the same document I find "26. für eine konsequente Beteiligung der Bürger bei Moscheenbauvorhaben" meaning "26. for a rigid participation of citizens in projects to build mosques."
3. www.diefreiheit.org/grundsatzprogramm/migration-und-integration/ is a longer section about migration and integration in the basic programme. In there I find "Zahlreiche aus dem Ausland gesteuerte islamische Verbände verhindern hierzulande die Integration. Die politische Umgestaltung unserer Gesellschaft nach islamischen Recht wird offen angestrebt" meaning: "Numerous islamic organisations directed by foreign countries prevent integration. The political transformation of our society according to islamic law is obivously intended."

My interpretation is this;

1. The use of the words "tendency" and "islamist" indicates that they see islamism as distinct from islam and regards is a marginal movement with respect to the millions of muslims in germany.
2. Clearly this is not against building mosques as a general statement, not even opposed to building mosques at all. However they do make the point that building a mosque is a matter of wider public attention not restricted to muslims alone.
3. Die Freiheit does not hold the majority of local muslims responbsible for the introduciton of sharia. law. It does connect islamic organisations in germany with islamist goals. The islamist goals come in by foreign direction (and funding). Such a statement implicitly denies the claim that the islamic organisations in germany are representative for the muslim population. They see those organisations as hostile political, not religious, actors.

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