Liberal and progressive Islam in Europe

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This is a list of individual

Euroislam
.

Denmark

Democratic Muslims

Naser Khader, one of the founders of Democratic Muslims

Muslims in February 2006 after the escalation of the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy. Its goal is a peaceful co-existence of Islam and democracy.[1] Naser Khader left his position as leader in 2007. In 2009 and 2011, it was reported that the organization had few members and little activity.[2][3]

Germany

In June 2017, female human attorney, author and

Ibn Ruschd-Goethe mosque in Berlin in which worshippers of all Islamic sects and homosexuals were welcome to worship. Men and women pray together unlike in other mosques while face-covering veils such as burqas and niqab were banned on the premises[4] as such garments are by Ateş considered political statements rather than religious clothing.[5] This caused outrage in the Muslim world and the founder of the mosque received hundreds of death threats from Muslims across the world.[6] The legal department of Al-Azhar University in Egypt issued a fatwa[clarification needed] against the mosque along with all other liberal mosques.[7][8]

Netherlands

Main article: Ahmed Aboutaleb

Russia

Ittifaq al-Muslimin

Main article:
Ittifaq al-Muslimin

Jadid

The

Ismail Gasprinski who lived from 1851–1914. Intellectuals such as Mahmud Khoja (author of the famous play "The Patricide" and founder of one of Turkestan's first Jadid schools) carried Gaspirali's ideas back to Central Asia.[11]

Sweden

Young People Against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia

I wanted to build bridges between Jews and Muslims in Malmö because antisemitism is a problem in the city. After that I realised how great the need was to talk about this. Now I work to combat all kinds of xenophobia. — Siavosh Derakhti[12]
See also: Siavosh Derakhti

Young People Against Anti-Semitism and Xenophobia. In recognition of his activism to reduce antisemitism and xenophobia, the government of Sweden presented him in 2013 with the Raoul Wallenberg Award. The selection committee said Derakhti set a "positive example" in his hometown of Malmö and throughout Sweden. "He is a role model for others," the Wallenberg Award committee wrote, "showing through his actions and determination that one person can make a difference."[13][14][15]

United Kingdom

Progressive British Muslims

British Muslims that formed following the London terrorist attacks of July 7, 2005. The organisation was founded and is chaired by Farmida Bi, an expert in Islamic Finance to provide a voice for progressive
Muslims who she felt were unrepresented by existing faith organisations. [16]

British Muslims for Secular Democracy

Founded in 2006,

British Muslims is not adequately represented to wider British society and that their image is distorted.[20][21] The organization is one of the growing number of feminist and progressive Muslim organizations.[22]

Quilliam

Main article: Quilliam (think tank)

Quilliam was a London-based left-of-center[23] think tank founded in 2008, focusing on counter-extremism, specifically against Islamism, which it argued represents a desire to impose a given interpretation of Islam on society. Founded as The Quilliam Foundation, it lobbies government and public institutions for more nuanced policies regarding Islam and on the need for greater democracy in the Muslim world whilst empowering moderate Muslim voices. The organisation was named after Englishman Abdullah Quilliam, a 19th-century convert to Islam. It dissolved in 2021.[24]

According to one of its co-founders,

radicalisation by taking on their arguments and countering them."[26]

The organisation opposed any

Islamist ideology and championed freedom of expression. The critique of Islamist ideology by its founders, Maajid Usman Nawaz, Rashad Zaman Ali and Ed Husain, is based, in part, on their personal experiences.[27]

Maajid Nawaz at West Hampstead, London hustings 2015

Co-founder Maajid Nawaz is a British activist, author, columnist, radio host and politician.

inquiries on the roots of radical extremism.[32][33][34] His writings have been published in various international newspapers and has delivered lectures at LSE and University of Liverpool, and has given talks at UK Defence Academy and Marshall Center for Security Studies.[35][36][37][38][39][40]

Nawaz argues that society must build a competing brand by adhering to its own values and visibly distinguishing its actions from those of the extremists. He warned against the illiberal approach of seeking new powers to intercept communications, or banning non-violent groups, and asserted that

behaviour is shaped by transnational ideas, narratives and allegiances.[42]

Nawaz notes how all transnational social movements of today, whether European Neo-fascism or Islamism, are extremist in nature, and democracy aspirants all over the world are left behind.[42] He criticises the idea of political correctness, and the hesitation of democrats in asserting the universality of democratic norms.[42] He also points to the political failure of many states in the Muslim world as a contributing factor. According to him, there is absence of democratic choice in many Muslim-majority countries, which means that their democratic parties often find themselves competing with non-democratic parties, including theocratic and military-backed ones. The political failure of democratic parties is taken as a failure of democracy itself in the Muslim world.[42]

According to Nawaz, all social movements are made up of some basic elements, and to challenge any movement, its elements have to be replaced with better alternatives.[42] The four elements are:

  • Ideas: Idea is the cause in which one believes e.g. the establishment of a global caliphate.
  • Narratives: Narrative is the propaganda technique employed to sell that idea e.g. the narrative of West being at war with Islam.
  • Symbols: Symbols denote
    attires
    , congregations etc.
  • Leaders: Leaders are the people that come to symbolise what the struggle means.

As a solution, Nawaz suggests building of global youth-led democratic movements that are above politics, and that build demand for democracy at the civilisational level.[42] He notes that while Islamists offer a full package to the Muslim youth, the democrats of the Muslim world offer nothing: there is nothing to dream, no democratic leaders to follow and no democratic symbolism to admire.[43] He cites Malala Yousafzai as a successful symbol of democracy and women's rights, but stresses the need for more such symbols which young Muslims can look up to.[44]

In his essay On Blasphemy, Nawaz notes that all

free speech and deployed as a shield against genuine criticism.[45]

Inclusive Mosque Initiative

The Inclusive Mosque Initiative (commonly known as IMI) was founded in 2012, in London, UK. It is a grassroots activist organization which works toward "Establishing a place of worship for the promotion and practice of an inclusive Islam."[46] Since its inception the organisation has spread rapidly, with chapters across the UK and IMI internationally (Malaysia, Kashmir, Pakistan and Zurich). The London group remains the most active of IMI sites, and is structured around a majlis or committee of volunteers who share the everyday running of the organisation.[47] The beginning of IMI came out of their frustrations with the situation for women in many British mosques, where often women's sections do not exist and "[s]ometimes the facilities for women are very inferior, cramped, and not at all conducive to the attitude of worship."[48]

Relatedly, and thematically linking both the above channels of influence is the work of progressive, feminist and liberationist scholars rereading primarily Islamic sources in practice-based ways, such as Wadud's canonical work and activist endeavours on gender equality, and Asra Nomani's "Islamic Bill of Rights for Women".

madhab of salah or who's leading, there is no compulsion for attendants to join in salah.[51][52]

Inclusive Mosque Initiative is intentionally inclusive and welcomes everyone who is interested in its activities. Whilst IMI is not a specifically queer organisation, amongst its social justice campaigns, IMI is openly concerned with the rights and safety of the LGBT community,[53] Imi also works with, and follows, guidance of progressive, liberationist readings of Islam, and welcomes everyone regardless of gender or sexual identities.[54]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ritzau: Ny formand for Demokratiske Muslimer Kristeligt Dagblad, (in Danish) 26 February 2007
  2. Berlingske Tidende
    , 16 February 2009
  3. ^ De demokratiske muslimer – hvor blev de af? Archived 2011-01-24 at the Wayback Machine (in Danish), Sappho.dk, 13 January 2011
  4. ^ "Ibn-Rushd-Goethe-Mosque Facts: First LGBT 'Liberal' Mosque Of Germany Opens Inside Protestant Church". Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  5. ^ (www.dw.com), Deutsche Welle. "Germany's first liberal mosque opens in Berlin | Culture | DW | 16.06.2017". DW.COM. Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  6. ^ "Berlin woman risks life for liberal mosque". Deutsche Welle.
  7. ^ "Liberal Berlin mosque to stay open despite fatwa from Egypt". The Guardian. 25 June 2017.
  8. ^ ""Death threats every day" for woman behind new liberal mosque". Retrieved 2017-07-16.
  9. ^ Khalid (1998), p. 93.
  10. ISBN 978-0-85771-091-8
    .
  11. ^ Khalid (1998), p. 80.
  12. ^ Siavosh Derakhti from Malmö collected first Raoul Wallenberg Award Archived 2014-03-03 at the Wayback Machine The Government of Sweden, 28 August 2013
  13. ^ Siavosh Derakhti, a young Muslim, defends Jews and others targeted by hate crimes The Christian Science Monitor, 15 November 2013
  14. ^ Machzorim for Lund: A Ray of Hope The Baltimore Jewish Times, 14 July 2013
  15. ^ Siavosh brings young people together against racism European Youth Portal, 24 March 2015
  16. ^ "Farmida Bi: IBA profile". International Bar Association. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  17. ^ "What I now have in common with Jemima". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  18. ^ "Muslims launch new organisation to challenge perceptions". Asians in Media Magxine. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  19. ^ Ahmad, Imran (2008-05-01). "Representing ourselves better". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  20. PR Week
    . Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  21. ^ Whitaker, Brian (2008-05-01). "Scratching secularism's surface". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  22. Huffington Post
    .
  23. ^ "Can a Former Islamist Make It Cool to Be Moderate?". New York Times.
  24. ^ "THE QUILLIAM FOUNDATION LTD". Companies House. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  25. ^ Gardham, Duncan (2010-08-05). "Mainstream Islamic organisations 'share al-Qaeda ideology'". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  26. ^ "How I'll fight against Islamic extremism". Echo News. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  27. ^ Nawaz, Maajid. Radical. W.H. Allen, London: 2012
  28. ^ "The Quilliam Foundation Ltd. - Annual Return" (PDF).
  29. ^ "UK vote could create cross-border dynasty". Al Jazeera. 15 January 2014.
  30. Independent.co.uk. 2013-07-19. Archived
    from the original on 2022-06-14.
  31. ^ "Lib Dem Profile of Maajid Nawaz".(subscription required)
  32. ^ "UK Home Affairs Select Committee".
  33. ^ "US Senate Testimony".
  34. ^ "The Roots of Violent Extremism – Maajid Nawaz (US Senate Committee)". YouTube.
  35. ^ "Maajid Nawaz". LBC.
  36. ^ "LSE Lecture: Radicalisation and Counterradicalisation".
  37. ^ "Maajid Nawaz at University of Liverpool". Archived from the original on 2015-11-20.
  38. ^ "Quilliam on Marshall Center".
  39. ^ "Maajid Nawaz speaks on Islamist radicalization to the next generation of leaders in the British Armed Forces". Quilliam.
  40. ^ "Marshall Center [PDF]" (PDF).
  41. ^ a b "To defeat terror we must destroy the jihadist brand". Financial Times. 29 May 2013.
  42. ^ a b c d e f "A Global Culture to Fight Radicalization". TED.com.
  43. ^ "Talk: From Islamism to Secular Liberalism: Socrateslezing". YouTube.
  44. ^ "Debate – From Islamism to Secular Liberalism: Socrateslezing 2015 Maajid Nawaz". Humanistisch Verbond.
  45. ^ a b "On Blasphemy". 2015-01-28.
  46. ^ Inclusive Mosque Initiative. "Statement of Intent". Retrieved 2014-10-27.
  47. ^ IMI FAQS. "FAQs". Retrieved 2014-10-28.
  48. ^ Maqsood, R (2005). The Role of the Mosque in Britain. London: The Muslim Parliament of Great Britain. pp. 7–8.
  49. ^ Kalmbach (2012). p. 1. {{cite book}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  50. ^ A History of Women in Islam, By Jamal Khawaja
  51. ^ *Men and women praying together in mosques
  52. ^ *Women promote mosques ‘for all’ in Britain
  53. ^ "juma circle". Archived from the original on 20 June 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  54. ^ Bano, Rahila (14 June 2013). "Alternative mosques for all genders and sexualities". BBC News. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
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