 |
|
Islamic
Center in Stockholm
|
By
Yahya Abu Zakaryya, IOL Correspondent
STOCKHOLM,
Sept 5 (IslamOnline) – Swedish Muslims recall the September 11 attacks
on New York and Washington, almost a year later, while in better
conditions than these face by other Muslim minorities in other European
states. Sweden refused any assaults on its Muslims, whether officially
or on publicly. Swedish themselves increasingly studied and embraced
Islam.
After
a period of confusion, following the tragic attacks, when Muslims in
Sweden feared for their future and existence, Swedish officials were
quick to assure them through political and media messages.
Minister
of Integrity, Mona Salien, visited the Central Mosque of Stockholm, met
its supervisors, and asked Muslims to observe their religious duties
fearlessly, adding that “religious freedom is on top of the list of
priorities of Swedish Central Laws”.
For
her part, Swedish Foreign Minister, Anna Lindh, decided that “the
Ministry would print a book about Islam and distribute it among Swedish
students.
“Swedish
students should know that many of their classmates are Muslims, and that
Islam is a religion of tolerance and a great civilization,” Lindh
said.
On
April, 2002, the Foreign Minister, belonging to the ruling Social
Democratic Party, swore she “would never buy Israeli goods in Swedish
markets”, calling on Swedish citizens to boycott Israeli products as
long as “massacres against the Palestinians continued”.
|
|
Mehdi Ghezali, whose son is detained in Guantanamo U.S. base in Cuba, starts a sit-in protest in Stockholm |
Even
those suspected of belonging to al-Qaeda network, allegedly responsible
for the 9/11 attacks, estimated by the Swedish Intelligence at 15, were
not detained. “They did not violate any Swedish laws, they will not be
detained,” Patrick Jotun, an intelligence official said.
Some
Swedish parties went even further when they called for calling home the
Swedish Ambassador to the United States, because the U.S. refused to
free a Swedish national, of Algerian origins, detained in Guantanamo,
Cuba.
On
the popular level, thousands of Swedish citizens started studying Islam.
Institutes of Eastern and Islamic Studies have become over-crowded, to
the degree that those who want to enroll must apply almost a year
earlier.
Hundreds
of Swedish citizens also embraced Islam during 2001.
Sources
of the Islamic minority in Sweden said, “Islamic awareness among the
minority members has been greatly increasing recently. More interest has
been given to news of the Arab and Muslim worlds, mosques and Arabic
schools have been receiving more visitors, as well as effective
participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations”.
All
these factors encouraged Muslims to actively participate in the coming
Legislative elections, slated for September 15, not just as voters, but
as candidates as well. This will enable them to defend and demonstrate
Arabic and Islamic causes under the dome of the Swedish Parliament.
|
|
-
Groups Declare
National March on Washington Protesting Invasion of Iraq
-
Hate Speech Against Indian Muslims
Goes Unpunished
-
Carter Says Iraq Poses No Threat,
Conservatives on the Rise
-
Tribes Force Pak
Army To Release 6 Alleged Al-Qaeda Suspects
-
Karzai Survives
Second Assassination Attempt, Blast Kills 30
-
An Israeli Merkava Tank Destroyed in Gaza, Six Soldiers Wounded
-
After 9/11, Swedish Muslim Minority Better
-
UN Envoy Warns of Humanitarian Crisis among Palestinians, Israel Tightens Blockade
-
You Cannot Name Your Baby ‘Osama’ in Germany
-
Reporters Get Weapons Past U.S. Airport Security
-
Academic Set to Become Bangladesh's New President
-
Man Detained on Fears He Planned to Target Bush
A
Year after Sept 11
-
9/11
Brought Muslims, Non-Muslims Closer: Analysts
-
Bush
to Make National Address on Sept 11, Will Lay Wreath At “Ground Zero”
-
Anti-Terror
War Cover Rights Abuses in U.S. & Worldwide
-
Ridge:
No Credible Threats for 9/11, Confident of Homeland Approval
-
ISNA
Convention Calls for Self-Reflection, Activism Among Muslims
-
American
Teaching Unions Argue Over What Children Should Be Told About 9/11
-
Post
9-11 U.S. Foreign Policies Aggressive, Unilateral: U.S. Report
-
Palestine
… Three Massacres in 5 days 
-
Homeless in Minutes
-
War on Iraq.. World Reaction
|
|
|
|
|
|
