The Populist notion of "Islamification"

Mr Geert Wilders

I've been reading in the news about the Dutch politician Geert Wilders and how he has been taking the lead in political polls with the general election drawing near. Mr Wilders has built a reputation with some amazingly subtle comments. Here is a selection :

- "Islam is not a religion, it's an ideology, the ideology of a retarded culture. I have a problem with Islamic tradition, culture, ideology. Not with Muslim people."

- "The Koran is a fascist book which incites violence. That is why this book, just like Mein Kampf, must be banned."

- "It is not acceptable for people to completely cover themselves on the street. It threatens public order and security. Plus it is a terrifying sight. Get rid of that woman-humiliating Islamic symbol."

- "The Moroccan scum in Holland … once again not all are scum … but there is a lot of Moroccan scum in Holland who make the streets unsafe, mostly young people ... and that should change"

Sounds like a nice guy right? As you can see a major policy of his campaign is to push back islamification and immigration in the Netherlands. This populist notion has leaped to the forefront of global politics, particularly in right wing political parties



Take UKIP's Mr Robert Frost for example:

"We don't want you in our civilised country. Tell this to all the innocent people you and your type have murdered."

"Shame on you and the bastard scum who kill in the name of Islam."

"Thank you for your reply, I did not accuse you of anything and I know that all Muslims are not terrorists but all the terrorists ARE Muslims.

"The vast majority of the 'real' British public don't trust your 'sort' and we don't want you in our civilised country.

Saying all terrorists are Muslims is a disgusting ignorance of world events. I'm pretty certain Anders Breivik isn't sitting in his cell praying to Allah and reading the Koran. But still, these comments are becoming far more prevalent in society , because of a fear of Islamification. Let's see what this is all about!

What is Islamification?

Definition : The action or process of making something or someone Islamic, or more strictly Islamic, in faith, culture, or character; Islamization.

Population Statistics

According to 2011 census statistics, there are about 2.7 million Muslims in the UK.  The population of the United Kingdom in 2011 was estimated to be 63.26 million . So Muslims accounted for 4.27% of the population, using these out of date estimates. Since these are the most recent estimates that can be used together, I will use these as facts, but it is very likely that these statistics will be different now.

In 2001, there were an estimated 1.55 million Muslims in the UK, part of a total population of 59.12 million. Muslims therefore accounted for 2.62% of the population. From these statistics, it can be seen that the Muslim population has increased not just in number, but as a percentage of the entire population. This is a significant growth, but can be explained by further statistics highlighting a higher proportion of children and a lower ratio of elderly people. Furthermore, 100'000 of the Muslim population are converts in later life.

It is supported by evidence that Muslims are becoming a greater percentage of the population and by 2050 , are expected to rise to 11% of the total population. However, in the 2011 census, there are other areas of interest to this analysis.

Between 2001 and 2011 there has been a an increase in those reporting no religion from 14.8% to 25.1%. This amounts to the population increasing from 8,749,760 to 15,878,260. This is a far higher number than the increases seen in those practicing Islam. Moreover, it has been found in surveys by Ipsos Mori that Britons overstate the proportion of Muslims in their country by a factor of four.

Considering population and Islam practice increases, yes there is a greater proportion of people turning to this religion, but there are far greater increases in less "media-friendly" areas such as people not believing at all.

History

A factor in Islamification that seems to be synonymous with those who protest against it, is the opening and number of Mosques in the country.

In the UK as of 2015, there were 1695 active mosques across the nation. Contrast this with the 57'000 churches and it seems a tiny figure.

Additionally,  in February 2016, more than 90 mosques across the UK opened to visitors to allow Muslims to "explain their faith beyond the hostile headlines". This shows an intent to integrate with society, not to divide.

Looking back into history, Islam has existed in Europe for years. For instance, the UK’s first mosque was built in 1889, Germany had an Islamic cemetery from 1798, and mosques were recorded in Poland from the sixteenth century.

Another stigma that seems to be attached with Islam in the western world is that it is a backward religion. However in the past, when Mesopatamia still existed as a whole, Islamic scholars and academics were some of the most advanced thinkers on the planet. For example:

• In Baghdad they established the “House of Wisdom“, where scholars, both Muslim and non-Muslim, sought to gather and translate the world’s knowledge into Arabic in the Translation Movement.

• Many medieval Muslim thinkers pursued humanistic, rational and scientific discourses in their search for knowledge, meaning and values.  Islamic writings on love, poetry, history and philosophical theology show that Islamic thought was open to the humanistic ideas of individualism, occasional secularism, skepticism and liberalism.

• Religious freedom, though society was still controlled under Islamic values, helped create cross-cultural networks by attracting Muslim, Christian and Jewish intellectuals and thereby helped spawn the greatest period of philosophical creativity in the Middle Ages from the 8th to 13th centuries.

•  The Guinness Book of World Records recognizes the University of Al Karaouine in Fez, Morocco as the oldest degree-granting university in the world with its founding in 859 CE. Al-Azhar University, 

There are hundreds of achievements of the Islamic world and they should not be overlooked lightly. They had a history of multiculturalism and tolerance which is still continued today among the majority. (http://islamichistory.org/islamic-golden-age/    here's a very long list!)

The Koran

Islams' holy book the Koran, in my opinion, contains some of the most profound passages in relating to other peoples beliefs:

“There is no compulsion where the religion is concerned.” (Holy Quran: 2/ 256)

“You cannot guide those you would like to but God guides those He wills. He has best knowledge of the guided.” (Holy Quran/28: 56)

“God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you in the religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them. God loves those who are just.” (Surat al-Mumtahana, 8)

“O You who believe! Enter absolutely into peace (Islam). Do not follow in the footsteps of satan. He is an outright enemy to you.” (Holy Quran: 2, 208)

Essentially, key teachings of the Koran explicitly state that you should not force anyone to obey your beliefs, that is a choice to be made by them. The third passage, demonstrates that Islam teaches kindness to all, including those with opposing beliefs.

If a Muslim is considered someone who follows the teachings of the Koran, then why are these passages not made more publicly known to educate the general public? Why is it that the most common depiction we have of Islam is one of bloodshed in the name of Allah and of people determined to make us follow their rules? The western world don't associate Catholicism with the IRA , Hinduism with the Saffron Terror or Buddhism with Bodu Bala Sena, yet we easily enough group Muslims together with Islamic State, the Mujahideen and Al Qaeda.These people are not Muslims yet we are propagandized into believing they are. 

As stated by Mehri Niknam "Humans fear what they don't know, and will invent myths filled with terrifying characters" adding that the "bestialities" of Islamic State and other groups serve to sate this fear.

"Jihad"

Jihad is the term used in Islam to describe "struggle". However in the modern world, it has been interpreted in a far more extreme manner of a holy war. however war and Jihad are separate things. The arabic word for war is: "al-harb", just so you know.

Muslims use the word Jihad to describe three different kinds of struggle:

• A believer's internal struggle to live out the Muslim faith as well as possible
• The struggle to build a good Muslim society
• The struggle to defend Islam, with force if necessary

The prophet Muhammad even stated that the first was the most important. It is a term that has been highjacked by those wishing to impose a barbaric ideology and tarnish the name of a peaceful religion.

Even with force, therer are several conditions and rules set out that limit what a Muslims is allowed to do. For example, Innocents, such as women, children, or invalids - must never be harmed, and any offer of peace from the enemy must be accepted. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/beliefs/jihad_1.shtml    some more!)

Conclusion

Overall, I believe "Islamification" to be a word that does not stand up to interrogation. The global Muslim population is increasing, but the vast majoriy want to live in peace and are not intent on "taking over". Moreover, the Koran forbids the use of Jihad to force people to convert to Islam.

Given Mr Wilders comments on the Koran , I actually wonder if he's ever read a single word of it. He claims to be a well traveled man, particularly of the middle east, yet is highly dismissive of it's culture and historical significance.

Islamification is a label to veil the ignorance of those too lazy to seek out facts and answers about the religion of Islam and its followers.

Amazons fantastic advert showing a true Muslim, demonstrating kindness, tolerance and that we are all equal

References

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/world/europe/geert-wilders-reclusive-provocateur-rises-before-dutch-vote.html?_r=0

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-election-wilders-idUSKBN1671JB

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/754516/Dutch-election-2017-will-Geert-Wilders-win-latest-polls-Netherlands-election

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/feb/17/netherlands.islam

https://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/srp/co15224-the-islamisation-of-europe-myth-or-reality/#.WLXiFW_yjIU

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/18/geert-wilders-netherlands-describes-immigrants-scum-holland

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11469579

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/islamification

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-islamification-of-britain-record-numbers-embrace-muslim-faith-2175178.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/12/muslim-scare-stories-media-halal-sharia-niqab

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/bristol-ukip-politician-tells-muslim-we-we-don-t-want-you-in-our-civilised-country/story-29428387-detail/story.html

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religioninenglandandwales2011/2012-12-11

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/11/muslim-population-england-wales-nearly-doubles-10-years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-35514840

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32722155

http://www.muslimsinbritain.org/resources/masjid_report.pdf

http://islamichistory.org/islamic-golden-age/

http://islamicsupremecouncil.org/understanding-islam/legal-rulings/5-jihad-a-misunderstood-concept-from-islam.html?start=9

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/beliefs/jihad_1.shtml

The Koran