News & Comment
Hitting Two Birds With One Stone – Or Killing the Bird that Lays the Eggs?

News

Last week started with a political roar about gender segregated swimming for girls in a Copenhagen sports club, followed by this week’s expulsion of young girls wearing niqab, from a Danish high school. In both cases the mayor argument was that it contradicts good integration and the concepts of “freedom”. The expulsion from the high school was also explained with the argument, that niqab hinders “free communication”.

Comment

Both issues have been reasons of ongoing heated debates both in political circles, in the media and generally among thinkers and opinion leaders in Denmark. Some argue, that the “freedoms” have boundaries and have to be protected, and that bans and expulsion basically is for the sake of the girl, so they can be freed, integrated and saved from a “patriarchal medieval lifestyle”, while others claim that everyone should be free to dress or do what they like.

As always the most interesting and practically relevant reactions come from the political scene, where even ministers have interfered in what are otherwise local issues on municipal level, such as public swimming facilities and high schools. The aware observer will notice that there are mainly two reasons for this high level political out roar and interference.

Firstly, as always, Danish politicians use every given occasion to attack Islam and tightening the grip on Muslims. From almost force feeding Muslims children with pork, to attempts on banning Islamic opinions and statements, every single stone is being turned. This has sincerely become a number one political issue, and it is also where the votes lie, and where elections can be won.

Secondly, these issues get remarkable awareness in periods, where other political issues could give rise to a much more relevant political debate among the Danish population. In this case, such as Denmark entering a new war in Syria and Iraq, for no apparent reason, while still not knowing why they entered Iraq and Afghanistan the first time, because of political blackout drapes over the so-called “Iraq and Afghanistan Commission”. Another hot issue is the purchase of new fighter jets for the sum of 30 billion Dkk, which the majority of Danes resist in a time of crisis and savings, and the list goes on.

Politically it might be seen as hitting two birds with one stone, but the bird they are hitting is the hen that lays the eggs of their own society, namely their own vague concepts of freedoms, political accountancy, openness and tolerance.

The constant political pressure on local Muslims, and ongoing wars in Muslims countries, will be the reason for their own destruction. They are undermining their own values, and creating distrust from their own populations, while pushing Muslims to practically see an Islamic Khilafah "Caliphate" (Caliphate) on the method of the Prophethood, as only viable solution and protection of their honor and safety.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by
Junes Kock
Media Representative of Hizb ut Tahrir in Scandinavia