Ambitions for the establishment of Islam

Islam in retreat in its own kingdom

In Saudi Arabia, by 2017, half of all men up to the age of 35 were not attending the mosque on a weekly basis. And among women, a critical attitude towards Islam is spreading like wildfire. This whole process is mainly a consequence of the internet, which cannot be cut off by the public authorities. This medium provides a diametrically different way of life and thinking, where one can still see the respect for women, the atmosphere of freedom in society and so many other values that constitute a discovery for women and men who for centuries have had no other choice but Islam.

Islam as a hegemonic project

Perhaps as a reaction to this process of rarefying the Qur’an, the Wahhabi regime in Saudi Arabia and Katar have been working to spread an extremely conservative interpretation of the Qur’an within Islam, establishing themselves as the supreme doctrinal authority on the teaching and application of the Qur’an. This attitude is based on the assertion that Islam is not only above all other faiths, but also takes precedence over all democratic constitutional regimes, which it considers a sacrilege against Allah. 

This view of Islam is intended to prevail not only as a religion, but also as a rule of social and political coexistence in European states. These demands clash with an understanding of Islam that admits a certain pluralism in Europe. These pretensions of cultural colonialism of a Mohammedan sign are financed by great Arab, Turkish and Katar patrons. In Germany, in particular, the public authorities are required to give special treatment to Mohammedan men in their relations with women, in the workplace, in military service, in hospitals, schools, etc. It even goes to the extreme of applying the Sharia in Islamic neighbourhoods and ghettos. In England, Islamic councils have been accepted to exercise their authority and apply this law in family matters, touching on very sensitive issues for women, such as equal rights, forced marriages and children’s rights.

The battle symbol of this claim to Islamic hegemony is the woman’s veil, which leads to unacceptable pressure against girls who do not wear it, which can go as far as humiliation or accusing them of being prostitutes. And people who publicly distance themselves from Islam risk their very lives. Thus, Islamist ‘high priest’ Hani Ramadan recently said in a press interview that killing a convert to another faith is just and legitimate. Other Imams, however, condemn this attitude, presenting an Islam that is condescending towards other religious faiths, without pretending to submit everything to Islam.

Believe or die

It is therefore understandable that hundreds of people have already been killed in Europe and that many critics of Islam have to live under constant police protection, such as Seyran Ates, Lars Vilks, Ahmad Mansour and many more, and the first of these, Salman Rushdie. Artists and journalists have also been killed, because they have satirically criticised Allah and Islam. But in the latter case it must be said that, in spite of everything, the followers of Islam must be respected because it is a religion in which millions and millions were educated, and therefore it is a teaching that shapes their consciences, and man and his choices in conscience must always be respected. 

Unfortunately, in the West it is not often that one knows how to combine the right of expression with the obligation to respect the person who in good faith professes a religious conviction that one does not share. In this sense, ‘Charlie Hebdo’ was an unacceptable provocation on the part of the publishers.

Logically, the Wahhabis in combat hate the Jews to death, just as they hate the ‘Crusaders’ or Christians, although both creeds are mentioned in the ‘Book’ – the Old Testament – as people who deserve more respect than other ‘ungodly dogs´.

Political reactions to Islamic challenge

¿Por qué el perfil bajo de los políticos?

At first, the left – for example, in Switzerland – has advocated understanding and concessions. They were not prepared for this problem and have therefore lost political ground to right-wing radicals, who seem to have good prospects of political victory in the forthcoming elections in Germany and the other leading European countries. It is not only the million Islamists who have been welcomed by Angela Merkel that are of concern, but also the growing Islamic radicalisation in Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries and the continuing warlike adventures of the Islamic state in Syria and Iraq. Because the problem cannot be solved by government measures alone, but has a cultural aspect of prime importance, which is reflected in what a Swiss businessman once wrongly said: ‘I don’t care whether the Arabs or the communists send me, as long as I can continue to make money from my products’. Suddenly the Christian cultural identity, which gave rise to our great progress since the year zero, is awakening in Europe.

This paraphrase of the previous title sums up the struggle that is going on. Without a deep and strong cultural identity, equal or even stronger than the followers of Islam, this battle would be very difficult. It is precisely the cultural elements that trigger deep and sacrificial attitudes and decisions in people. This does not mean that the Mohammedans have to be thrown out, but rather that they have to face the sacrifice of helping them to move forward, because, deep down, the great majority have come – especially families and their children – fleeing from war.

But at the same time, we cannot allow them to disrespect our own religious faith or to try to publicly impose their own law. They should receive the help that Europe offers them with deep gratitude, with simplicity of heart, without becoming parasites of society. It would be intolerable for them not to accept manual work that does not require knowledge of the language of their hosts.