A response to Geert Wilders: Unravelling 'Islamic myths'

19 Feb 2013, 1:08 pm   -   Source: Rhiannon Elston, SBS
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Right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders has told SBS he is 'happy' to be in Australia despite getting a frosty local reception. (Getty Images)

Right-wing Dutch MP Geert Wilders has told SBS he is 'happy' to be in Australia despite getting a frosty local reception. (Getty Images)

Islamic studies expert Dr Jan Ali of the University of Western Sydney responds to comments made by Geert Wilders after the controversial Dutch MP spoke to SBS about his anti-Islamic agenda.

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Islamic studies expert Dr Jan Ali of the University of Western Sydney responds to comments made by Geert Wilders after the controversial Dutch MP spoke to SBS about his anti-Islamic agenda.

Wilders stated in his interview with SBS yesterday that there is no such thing as a moderate Muslim, claiming that “according to the Koran, they are not Muslims anymore”. Is it possible to be a moderate Muslim?

The Koran doesn’t talk about moderate or extreme Muslims; it talks about Muslims full-stop.  It is the practice that can be described as extreme or moderate, and it is always from the outside that people can be perceived to be moderate or extreme. But from within Islam it may be not the case. For example, in the west we might see women for instance wearing a niqab in 40 degree heat walking along the street in Lakemba or, for that matter, in the city.  And outsiders who actually don’t understand this think this is extreme, but the person wearing the niqab might not see it as extreme but as part and parcel of her religion.

Wilders also claims there can only be one kind of Muslim, and that is what most would consider a very extreme interpretation of Islam.

He says: “Islam has no room for anything but Islam… that is the nature of the religion.”

I believe that Wilder’s conceptualisation of Islam and Muslims is basically pregnant with expedient rhetoric and pure falsity. In other words, he has a very poor conceptualisation of Islam. He essentially fails to recognise that Islam is a complete way of life. It is definitely not a monolithic system. Muslims practice their Islam in a variety of ways that is very much dictated by their cultural context, and ethnic and parochial tradition. Therefore sociologically these are important factors in contributing to heterogenisation of Islam.

Wilders basically ignores the fact that Islam has a rich philosophical, intellectual and rational tradition.  He fails to register that. He fails to recognise its principle tenets and its centres on justice on humanitarianism.

How do you respond to Wilders’ comments about the apparent suppression of women in Islam?

I think he fails to acknowledge in his rhetoric that Islam gave women rights, equal rights [that] abolished some evil practices in pre-Islamic Arabian culture such as infanticide. Islam established very sophisticated social justice system, bureaucracy and contributed to civilisation in a variety of ways. These contributions cannot be ignored.

Another key Wilders argument is that Muslims live in fear of their own religion; that they are not allowed to criticise or abandon Islam.

To quote: “It is the core business of the totalitarian ideology that if you want to leave the ideology you are not allowed to do so.”

That is Wilders’ own interpretation, his own conceptualisation of Islam. The totalitarian ideology he talks about, probably he is referring to some totalitarian regime such as Gaddafi’s regime or maybe in the past, Saddam Hussein. To some extent, that is true, but it has nothing to do with Islam. The Islamic political system is totally different from the system Muslims actually have acquired particularly after colonialism which is in the guise of a western democratic system or something very similar.

Among the more extreme comments are insinuations that Islam actively encourages violence. Wilders mentions several cases of terrorism including threats against Scandinavian cartoonists who negatively depicted the Prophet Muhammad and those involved in 9/11.

I think Wilders is infusing fear in Muslims as well as those outside the Muslim world that are trying to demonise the Muslim world. That is essentially my calculation, because of his very poor understanding of Islam.

To understand the Koran you simply don’t just read it and engage in some kind of interpretation or translation and you’ve got a perfect picture. The science of Koran goes through a very vigorous process in terms of appreciating the teaching of Koran. It’s a very long process. Even people who speak Arabic have to engage in a very long study to really appreciate the Koran. That’s why the sheikhs who go to study Islamic scripture, particularly the Koran, spend six to 10 years studying the science. Wilders reading a couple of verses here and there and expressing himself to be a kind of expert on Koranic science is a bit arrogant to say the least.

Yes, the Koran can be understood by reading it, but I would say that to engage in a public discourse about the nature and content of the Koranic teaching one should be very careful, because it’s not a simple process.

Wilders warns that Australia could experience what he calls “the problems of Europe” if our immigration policies don’t change.

“I believe the mistakes we made in Europe, or in the Netherlands where we have an enormous influx of mass immigration from Islamic countries together with the concept of multicultural society or even worse, the cultural relativism – the misconception that all cultures are equal – I believe the mistakes we made, you can learn from that.”

First and foremost, our Muslim population is a very small population. At the moment there are about 400,000 Muslim people living in Australia. And the vast majority are moderate Muslims. I don’t like the term, but for description we have the majority of Muslims who have Islam as a kind of nominal identity. There is no real fear of Islam becoming a supreme political force that will overtake the current Australian political system.

Within Islam or within Muslims in Australia we have got people coming from 70 different ethnic and national backgrounds, so our Muslim population is very heterogeneous, and heterogeneity doesn’t necessarily translate to a collective force. Therefore, if let’s say for instance Muslims want to engage in a political challenge to our current system, you will have a very small number of people engaged in that.

Do you think Australian multiculturalism has been more successful than the European experience?

Our multiculturalism in Australia has been quite a successful story. We have this appreciation of other cultures and there is reasonable cohesion and harmony. We also have social inclusion programs, activities, both within Muslim and non-Muslim [communities] and within Muslim communities as well, we have Muslims becoming politicians at all levels, local council level, state level, local council level, we have Muslims running large corporations as CEOs, so they have [become] quite well integrated and I’m sure that’s also the case in Europe.

Wilders’ articulation that Islam and Muslims are going to take over multiculturalism is nothing but a scare-mongering exercise. There is nothing wrong with European multiculturalism or Australian multiculturalism. What is wrong is politicians’ attitudes towards different groups of people, including Muslims.

 

Geert Wilders , Rhiannon Elston SBS

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crappy argument

lakshmi - from bangalore, 1 month

the justification given by "expert" is hollow and useless beating the bush. what does pre-islamic infanticide have connection with present day treatment of muslim women??? crappy answers beating the bush

Australian Against Sharia Law

colonial boy - from europe, 2 months ago

Extract from SBS story They had objected to references to abortion rights and language suggesting that rape includes forcible behavior by a woman's husband or partner. Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood called the proposed UN document un-Islamic and warned it would lead to the "complete degradation of society." The Muslim Brotherhood in Australia needs to be carefully monitored. Sharia is practiced in some Australian Muslim enclaves, no amputations yet, but genital mutilation has occurred in some.

Typical

Brad - from Brisbane, 2 months ago

@Linda - I've got Muslim mates who volunteer for the SES and regularly help out during fires, floods and missing person cases. I guess I'll go let them know that they don't qualify as Australian though. @abc - Christianity as a whole if fairly unwelcoming of homosexuality. Catholics can only marry baptized Christians unless they can get special dispensation. Women are routinely treated on a lower level than men. There is also a strong stance against condom use within Catholicism. Breeding? ;)

Australian Muslims Against Sharia Law A.M.A.S.L.

colonial boy - from europe, 2 months ago

I know many Muslims. I get a reluctant smile from some and go to watch our sons play soccer with others. I pass by the Iman and young devotees proudly wearing the clothes that identify them to their culture, they look curiously at my blue singlet and heavy tattoo`s. A woman in a hijab walks with her daughter wearing jeans and t-shirt. Ancient Islam is the problem. Australian Muslims Against Sharia should be founded. The Muslim Brotherhood should be banned. Jan Ali does not represent Aussie Islam

Be Tolerant

colonial boy - from europe, 2 months ago

Australians should show friendship to friendly, Muslims. Australian Muslims (¨Muslims in Australia¨) should show contempt for Sharia atrocities. Mainstream Muslims are peaceful, yet subject to intimidation from their own minority . They are also intimidated by yobbo´s which helps to increase their violent minority. The Muslim Brotherhood is the dangerous manifestation of Islam and should be banned from Australia. A Priest in a frock in 40 degree heat probably feels like a woman wearing a hijab

stealth

acb - from Melbourne, 3 months ago

How can we be tolerant of people who are so completely intolerant? If you are a muslim you cannot: 1/ be homosexual 2/ join another religion 3/ marry someone who is not a muslim or not prepared to become one 3/ freedom of choice in what you wear... the list goes on. Women only just got the right recently in Saudi Arabia to drive for goodness sakes. They won't say it but their goal is to take over by stealth by out breeding anyne else and then instituting Sharia Law.

re: Muslims in the true nature

Chris - from @Faaiz, 3 months ago

"Islam means peace" Yes it does. 'Islam' is derived from the Arabic root 'Salema' : peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the religious sense however, Islam means submission to the will of God and obedience to His law. You see, it is the submission part of things that makes Australians get their backs up. Given the chance, Islam would make the rest submit.

Our values

Linda - from Sydney, 3 months ago

Most australians are not accepting the islamic way of life here., because its not the way we live or want to live . We are very protective of our values so why our governments are not listening to the will of australian people.We want to see australian spirit to be encouraged at school and stay alive,To celebrate Christmas and when the natural disasrers strike its the aussies, who fight fires, floods, protect our borders. God bless them.

Changes brought about by muslims

Ace - from Darwin, 3 months ago

Not so long ago my children were allowed to sing Christmas Carols at school during Christmas time ... But ever since Muslims complained of this , my children are not permitted to sing Christmas Carols at school, punishment ranges from Notes sent home with my child to threats of my child being expelled for daring to sing Christmas Carols. May God bless the saint Geert Wilders now and forever.

This Dr Jan Ali doesn't answer any of the questions ?

Jino - from Sydney, 3 months ago

Why doesn't this Dr Jan Ali answer any of the questions ? He evades EVERY single question. If I didn't trust Islam before, I wouldn't trust Islam now, based on this dude. To be fair, I know lots of great muslims. But they don't care that much about Islam, like our Christians. But this Dr Jan Ali is an idiot. He just evades and adulates Islam, whilst ignoring both the question and evidence. Why did muslims riot over a stupid minor film ? That wasn't even released in a cinema or telly ?

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