The session has just started. You are invited to join us with your questions.
After the session, you could view the whole dialogue in the recent sessions.
Yours,
Islamonline Live Dialogue Editing Desk
Answer
-
Name
Sally
-
Profession
Question
Does the EU constitution vote mirror the divisions among the European Muslims?
Answer
There is no Muslim vote, but there is a vote of Muslims. We can't make a comparison between Muslim institutions and vote of Muslims.
The division between Muslim institutions didn't help to build a strategic vision of a Muslim vote.
The bulletins in France concerning the nature of Muslim vote, in comparison with Catholics and protestants, mirrored that Muslims who voted "no" were about 50 % just like the other communities and for the same reasons : home policy contest.
Name
Mahmoud
- Austria
Profession
Question
Do you think that the political background of Muslims - as they did not use to participate in their original countries - is effecting their political contribution to their Euro societies?
Answer
Sure. Muslims in Europe weren't enough educated with some political principles just like vote and democratic transition in their original countries.
This is obvious when we see weakness in the management of Islamic institutions in Europe.
Also, it's clear with the absence of Muslims in the political action, through the political parties or through Human rights institutions.
But we have to keep faith because the young generations are aware on the field of the political debate.
They feel involved in the European building and in the Muslim world.
Name
Essam
-
Profession
Question
Are the Muslims leaning towards opposition, claiming that the constitution would play into the hands of multinational companies to the detriment of citizens?
Answer
Generally speaking, Muslims in Europe belong to labor classes. The EU constitution has been condemned by these classes. Because, it seems just like a document liberalizes the market rather than a constitution protecting social rights.
The labor classes are afraid of new employees from other countries mostly from Eastern Europe for low fees.
Also, the constitution is base on competition principle to the detriment of social rights just like retirement and joblessness in order to overcome the monopoly of the American market which is representing a real danger for employees from Muslim countries.
Socially speaking, the constitution is emphasizing on immigration within Europe. And, it isolates social advantages of immigrants coming from other regions, just like Muslim world.
These advantages will be offered to European immigrants.
Name
Tariq
- United Kingdom
Profession
Editor
Question
Should Muslims have a uniform view on the EU Constitution? Are the current referenda simply an expression of protest against the European elite, or are there more sinister motives? Is it an expression of the unease, perhaps xenophobia, of European citizens towards Muslims: hence its rejection of Turkish entry?
Answer
There are many motives that are strangely adopted by votes in order to make a vote of contest and phobic of foreigner in general.
The vote of contest is condemning the ultra-liberal elite who are behind the constitution.
It reflects a fear of losing one's social advantages and of joblessness. This fear is justified by the difference of economic and social levels between EU countries.
The problem of the Turkish entry reinforces this economic fear but it opened the gate for the "souverainistes" and ultra-nationalists, known for their Islamphobia.
The public opinion had a mixture of fears, rather than convictions and a deep comprehension of the constitution.That is why in the French polls, more than 40 % declared being hesitating once voting.
Name
Hj Embes
- Singapore
Profession
Legal executive
Question
What are the general advantages and disadvantages for the Muslims in EU countries if it is formed?
Answer
If you mean the constitution - your question lacks one word, I think - the constitution consists of 3 parts:
- an Economic policy part
- fundamental rights Charter
- general policy
The second part which is ensuring minorities rights especially expression freedom and of the manifestation of religious and non-religious convictions (Article II – 70)
In France, we observed, before the referenda, a great fear of secular fanatics, comparing to march 2004 law concerning Hijab.
In general, this part of fundamental rights can contribute in unifying and reinforcing religious rights in Europe.
In spite of the liberal aspect of the economic part, this part is offering a liberal circulation of capitals, in general, including minorities capitals. And this may reinforce financial autonomy of Islam in Europe, mostly concerning the trainee of religious staff and building mosques and schools.
On the contrary, in the political part of the constitution, the whole of the executive power is handled by the 25 ministers representing Europe and the role of the European parliament becomes consolatory.
The political position of Muslims must be expressed at the EU Parliament. And, then, they need to defend the sovereignty and the legitimacy of the parliament.
Name
Monir
-
Profession
Question
How can the EU constitution vote help the European Muslims to overcome their underachievement?
Answer
Europe needs obvious partners and this will stimulate and will oblige Muslims to react institutionally. That's means that the EU Constitution will help to make more obvious Muslim representation, as citizens and minority.
This representative citizens within the economic system and as minority within countries may give them more cultural and financial autonomy.
And there are in Europe today some representative councils of Muslims. The constitution would help in generalizing the representation and may be in unifying in an EU council of Muslims for coordination.
Name
Suha
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
I think that only the pro-government Muslim Organizations will vote for the constitution, what do you think?
Answer
It's not necessary. In France, for example, the majority of opponents' forces, especially the socialist party and the Green one - ecological - , said "yes" for the constitution, even though they are against the home government policy.
Muslim "Yes" is on the left and on the right. So, it can be pro-government or within opposition. But, it is a vote for Europe.
Name
bassam
- Cyprus
Profession
Question
Do Muslims have the needed information about the EU constitution? Why if they don't?
Answer
Europeans, in general, haven't an idea of the constitution, a clear one.
The State Information wasn't dynamic. More, Muslim institutions in Europe weren't really involved in the debate on Europe, mostly who are representing Muslims.
The debate within those institutions kept a position towards fundamental rights, in a national framework.
However, the practical aspect of Islam must consider challenges, common challenges which exist in Europe.
The image of Islam is facing Islamphobia and misunderstanding of Islam and terrorism, discrimination...
Name
bahaa
- Azerbaijan
Profession
Question
If the Euro constitution didn't mention the religious issue so why the Muslims worry? Do think that it is better for them to ask for their rights in the new constitution in cooperation with other minorities or they have to do that independently?
Answer
It is true that EU Constitution didn't have any religious identity, but it mentioned it. Religion is mentioned everywhere in the second part, which is concerning the fundamental rights.
This second part is utterly positive, but it put conditions, two sorts of conditions:
- no contradictory between those rights and the liberal aspect of the market
- the respect of specificities of the national policies, for example, the right of religious expression in the public sphere, mentioned by the constitution, has to be limited in practice in France by the banning of the Hijab.
So, in this sense, Muslims must to quit minority's strategies and adopting full citizenship strategy in order to defend the whole religious freedom in theory and in practice with all other religions.
Name
sister in isalm
- Denmark
Profession
STUDENT
Question
Can one say that the results of the EU constitution are the beginning of the downfall of the European Union?
Answer
No, the rejection of EU constitution means to continue to respect the existing treaties - Maastricht and Roma -Until now we have an economic EU through its existing treaties.
The last Gulf war was of proof that Europe lacks policy and social union.
More than 90% of European syndicates and of civil society representatives are for this social and political EU.
Sure, they voted "No" in France but they remain European and for the union. So, a constitution of liberal economy project failed and not the idea of EU.
The majority of public opinion in Europe is deeply convinced that EU is essential, but more with stronger social policy and solidarity.
Name
Marco
- Spain
Profession
Question
Muslims are tolerated in Europe, but when they start affecting policy all hell breaks loose in the media and with the masses. People are afraid of the Muslim massive immigration and the expected culture changes. I think at this time only the appearance exists that Muslims can have major influence in Europe. What is your feeling?
Answer
It is true that the image of Islam is highly superior to their real weights and to their ambitions.
Muslim influence can just be positive, if it is really citizen. More we reject citizenship Muslim contribution, more we oblige them to a fragile status and clandestine.
Muslims are handling professional skills but also their own ethic values which Europe needs, mostly family values, spirituality and social solidarity.
It's for Muslims to change their speech and their manner of being towards more citizenship responsibility and more inter-cultural and inter-religious dialogue and less communautarism.
Name
Muhammad from United States
- Bangladesh
Profession
Utility Officer
Question
Do you think Muslims can go forward without getting their own rights? The point is Muslims' role is less than remarkable, isn't it?
Answer
The own right of Muslims depend on the global human rights and the specific religious rights.Specific Muslim rights are limited in worship.
That's why; we must work in order to obtain recognition of the autonomy of worship through claiming the right of religious education for children and imams and the right for worship place and may be the right for some advantages like celebrating "Eid"
Banning of Hijab in France showed that it was supported by other religious groups.This means the lack of dialogue, of coordination and connection between different religions authorities which is strategic for the future of the recognition of religious rights and Muslim rights as a part.
