 |
"Unite, Don’t Divide; Accept, Don’t Reject; Understand, Don’t Condemn." |
Being a European country embracing approximately four million Muslims as the latest estimations reveal [1], Germany’s demographic shift is accompanied by transformations in the shape of its political parties[2]. The potentiality of German Muslims (around 500,000) taking part in 2009 local elections is increasing in spite of the restrictive naturalization and the increasingly stern citizenship laws[3] imposed by the government.
A set of phenomena seem to be behind the growing political participation of Muslims in Germany starting with the latent daily discrimination and ending with publically accepting hostility towards Islam[4]. After a long history of prejudice against them, Muslims of Germany have realized that only through active involvement in the society it would be possible to resist discrimination against Islam.
A Muslim Petition to Merkel
Many Muslim entities and activists have correlated the murder of Marwa El-Sherbini and the booming social pressure on Muslims in Germany[5].This became very clear when the Muslim community addressed a nationwide petition to Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of the Federal Republic, as a first step.
After that, a political action was awaited and more than simple discourses and commitments were expected. But, in the context of the current municipal elections, followed by the coming federal elections, an official reaction of the Chancellor was not to be predicted at that sensitive timing.
On the other hand, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the political parties to ignore Muslim voters and their needs. Merkel certainly wants to be the Chancellor of the German Muslims also. In a recent mass-addressed video, available online[6], Merkel called for showing respect toward the Islamic dress code of Muslim girls in German schools and spoke against discrimination in society in general.
Attacking Muslims: Unwise?
|
The Pro-NRW is organizing a march on the 20th of September, Muslim `Eid day, inCologne, under the slogans “No to Islamification” and “No to the Cologne Mega-Mosque.”
|
The reactions of the German parties and politicians to the transformation of the society and the new challenges it faces vary significantly. Following the criticism technique against immigrants or Muslims to win some votes has proved to be unwise for many politicians (e.g. the Prime Minister of Hesse state, Roland Koch). However, other politicians use the attack strategies and yet proved quite successful (i.e. Wolfgang Bosbach).
Traditionally, most Muslims entitled to vote do so by voting for the Green party or the Social Democrats.
The reason behind such tendency is the juxtaposition of national and international interests within a single party; one party may be against any war, but at the same time, it supports a pilitic which is not good for german muslims, or germans in general, internaly or there may be a party which supports Muslims' integration in Germany, but is for a certain war. So there is always a dilemma in which one have to choose.
The War on Terror
Although the foreign policy affairs are still under spotlight, observers notice a shift in the voters’ interest towards national affairs. For example, the ongoing acts of discrimination are now the main area of concern. The different approaches to national and international affairs at party-level make Muslims question their voting for any particular. In fact, this remains a dilemma since it is almost impossible to find a party to fulfill Muslims’ interests.
Besides, when it comes to politics, the Muslim community is divided and unable to speak up with a single voice. Political tendencies appear to be relatively unaffected by religiosity; only 16% of the respondents report that their faith has a significant effect on their political views, and 65% reject the idea of an Islamic party, according to the data of the Religion Monitor 2008 Muslim Religiousness in Germany.
| On August 30, BFF gained two seats in the city council of Bonn; one for Haluk Yildiz, BFF president, and the other for Hülya Dogan a veiled Muslim lady. |
Lack of Muslim representatives is the same problem facing the entire population of Muslim immigrants in Germany. There are 18 million immigrants in Germany while there are only 11 Members of Parliament of immigrant origins[8]. So it ends up with accepting the minor evil option when voting in the elections, which definitely cannot ensure a satisfactory fulfillment of Muslim interests.
Local Hopes
At the local level, there are hopes for a better representation for Muslims with veritable alternatives ―such as Bonner Bündnis für Frieden und Fairness (Alliance for Peace and Fairness in Bonn- BFF)[9], starting to show up.On August 30, BFF gained two seats in the city council of Bonn; one for Haluk Yildiz, BFF president, and the other for Hülya Dogan a veiled lady who works as an audiology assistant.
BFF’s success in that election represents a novelty in the German history: for the first time, in North Rhine-Westphalia, an alliance composed exclusively of people with migrant background runs for elections. "We were even twice as good as
expected" Yildiz, BFF Chairman, declared after the elections[10]. The two Muslim seats in Bonn Council clearly indicate that there is a strong demand for Muslim political participation.
Pro-NRW Hostility
As usual, the toughest statements against the BFF ―and against Muslims in general ― come from hostile websites and extreme rightist associations. In Bonn, oppositions against BFF stemmed from the local branch of Pro-NRW, an association watched by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution. Pro-NRW became known to Muslims for its two failed anti-Islamization campaign[11]. This party also uses terrifying tactics and campaign posters with mosque-prohibition signs to promote for his hostile ideas.
In many cities, extreme rightists have gained access to the city council[12]. In Bonn, they won one seat and are thus in a weaker position than the newly formed BFF. Ironically, these enemies of Islam were helped by some unfaithful Muslims. Such Muslims ignore the real context (fiqh al-waqi'), do not consider nor understand what minority means (fiqh al-aqaliyyat) and spread fear amongst Muslims.
Muslim Council in Bonn
A long-awaited hope to be true was a council uniting all Muslims in Bonn, a place that always witnesses Muslim-related issues. In 2006 and after the release of the detrimental cartoons of Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), all the Muslim entities in Bonn finally congregated to form the Muslim Council in Bonn[13], to officially represent all Muslims of the city outwardly and create a feeling of unity inwardly. In the same context, Yildiz once described the city of Bonn, with its two separate entities the Muslim Council of Bonn and BFF, as " a model city in terms of integration."[14]
The Muslim Council in Bonn gathers all mosques of the city with all their imams and scholars. Originating from the Council the idea of an electoral committee oriented towards the whole of society was born. The Council, founded 3 years ago, has successfully established an association for voters (on June 30, 2009) and later on an open alliance for the whole society (BFF).
BFF gives a good example to follow for an alliance that rejects the policies of all extreme parties as it welcomes both Muslims and non-Muslims. As stated in their agenda, the BFF is oriented towards all the various categories of the society, regardless of the nationality or religious affiliation, particularly supporting socially disadvantaged groups. "BFF is not an extension of the Muslim Council in Bonn, nor is it an Islamist party," Yildiz explains [10]. The BFF's election poster is designed to address everyone who feels at home in Bonn and who loves the city the way it is: cosmopolitan, multicultural, peaceful, and harmoniously united. Bonn: A home for all.
"Unite, Don’t Divide
Accept, Don’t Reject
Understand, Don’t Condemn"
(Haluk Yildiz)
|
