CAIRO – Danish Muslims cautiously welcomed Monday, December 7, plans to establish an Islamic party to speak in the name of the sizable minority and vulnerable groups in the Scandinavian country.
“I find it a good step for Danish Muslims,” Muslim politician Asmaa Abdol-Hamid told IslamOnline.net over the phone from Copenhagen.
“But we have to wait to see the party program first before we conclude a position about it.
“We still don’t know whether it would include Danish Muslims, Danish citizens or social minorities. So, we have to be patient until we see the program first.”
The Interior and Social Affairs Ministry has given permission to establish an Islamic party in Denmark.
“Danish society is characterized by the fact that Muslims must not turn out as a group to vote,” Ras Anbessa, founder of the Danmarks Muslimer party, said.
“But we are continually identified as a separate group, so we might as well stand together and work on creating some positive initiatives.”
Anbessa said the new party would speak in the name of Danish Muslims and vulnerable groups such as the homeless, disabled, young people and elders.
“We have to go in and identify the people we believe are in the worst situations and come up with some serious and effective means to solve their problems.”
The new party must obtain 20,000 signatures to be eligible to run for elections.
Anbessa said his party’s prime objective for now is to clarify positions about government parties, such as the Danish People’s Party, which is known for anti-Muslim attitudes.
“One thing we’ll do is knock on the doors of opposition party members and ask them to more strongly publicise the differences between them and the government parties, because I don’t think people can really see that right now.”
Denmark has a Muslim minority of nearly 250,000 out of its 5.4 million-strong population.
Islam is the country's second largest religion after the state-run Lutheran Protestant Church.
* Scepticism
Danish Muslims, however, were sceptical that the new party would make inroads in the society.
“It gives you optimism to have a permission to establish an Islamic party,” Danish Muslim imam Abdul-Wahid Pederson told IOL.
“(But) it’s hard to believe that this party will come strong in parliament.”
The Danish imam lamented that Denmark’s Muslims don’t have a body to speak in their voice, despite the presence of four Danish Muslim MPs in the parliament.
“We have Muslims MPs who could speak in the voice of Danish Muslims, but they don’t,” he said. “They are acting for party affiliations.”
Abdul-Wahid, however, remained optimistic that the new party would succeed to represent the Muslim minority.
“If we could have a party to speak in the voice of the minority, we have to give it a try.”
But some Danish Muslims were downbeat about the new party.
“It’s hard for Danish Muslims to become a political force in Denmark,” Muslim journalist Nidal Abul-Arif told IOL.
He said it is necessary for any party to have two percent of eligible voters to run for the elections.
“And this is very difficult for Muslims.”
Abu-Arif is also worried that the name of the new party could turn non-Muslim Danes from it.
“The party name gives a religious nature to the party, which would make it difficult for the party to get votes from non-Muslims.”
“The party founder is also an unknown figure, who has not coordinated with other Muslim groups in the country before taking the step.”
The Danish journalist said that Danish parties are already fielding Muslim candidates in the elections.
“But establishing an Islamic party would draw votes from left-wing parties and consequently play into the hands of right-wing parties.”
Source: IslamOnline
“I find it a good step for Danish Muslims,” Muslim politician Asmaa Abdol-Hamid told IslamOnline.net over the phone from Copenhagen.
“But we have to wait to see the party program first before we conclude a position about it.
“We still don’t know whether it would include Danish Muslims, Danish citizens or social minorities. So, we have to be patient until we see the program first.”
The Interior and Social Affairs Ministry has given permission to establish an Islamic party in Denmark.
“Danish society is characterized by the fact that Muslims must not turn out as a group to vote,” Ras Anbessa, founder of the Danmarks Muslimer party, said.
“But we are continually identified as a separate group, so we might as well stand together and work on creating some positive initiatives.”
Anbessa said the new party would speak in the name of Danish Muslims and vulnerable groups such as the homeless, disabled, young people and elders.
“We have to go in and identify the people we believe are in the worst situations and come up with some serious and effective means to solve their problems.”
The new party must obtain 20,000 signatures to be eligible to run for elections.
Anbessa said his party’s prime objective for now is to clarify positions about government parties, such as the Danish People’s Party, which is known for anti-Muslim attitudes.
“One thing we’ll do is knock on the doors of opposition party members and ask them to more strongly publicise the differences between them and the government parties, because I don’t think people can really see that right now.”
Denmark has a Muslim minority of nearly 250,000 out of its 5.4 million-strong population.
Islam is the country's second largest religion after the state-run Lutheran Protestant Church.
* Scepticism
Danish Muslims, however, were sceptical that the new party would make inroads in the society.
“It gives you optimism to have a permission to establish an Islamic party,” Danish Muslim imam Abdul-Wahid Pederson told IOL.
“(But) it’s hard to believe that this party will come strong in parliament.”
The Danish imam lamented that Denmark’s Muslims don’t have a body to speak in their voice, despite the presence of four Danish Muslim MPs in the parliament.
“We have Muslims MPs who could speak in the voice of Danish Muslims, but they don’t,” he said. “They are acting for party affiliations.”
Abdul-Wahid, however, remained optimistic that the new party would succeed to represent the Muslim minority.
“If we could have a party to speak in the voice of the minority, we have to give it a try.”
But some Danish Muslims were downbeat about the new party.
“It’s hard for Danish Muslims to become a political force in Denmark,” Muslim journalist Nidal Abul-Arif told IOL.
He said it is necessary for any party to have two percent of eligible voters to run for the elections.
“And this is very difficult for Muslims.”
Abu-Arif is also worried that the name of the new party could turn non-Muslim Danes from it.
“The party name gives a religious nature to the party, which would make it difficult for the party to get votes from non-Muslims.”
“The party founder is also an unknown figure, who has not coordinated with other Muslim groups in the country before taking the step.”
The Danish journalist said that Danish parties are already fielding Muslim candidates in the elections.
“But establishing an Islamic party would draw votes from left-wing parties and consequently play into the hands of right-wing parties.”
Source: IslamOnline
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