Re: Muslims "Key Atom" in Brussels Atomium
- From: "Torpedo" <guest@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Feb 2006 07:32:36 +1100
....of Islamic terrorism.
"Islam Will Replace Collapsing Amerikan Empire"
<islam_to_replace_amerikan_empire@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:t6HLf.25497$%14.636176@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Muslims "Key Atom" in Brussels Atomiumproved
By Hadi Yahmid, IOL Correspondent
BRUSSELS, February 24, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) - Striking a balance between
positive integration and their Islamic identity, Belgian Muslims have
their mettle and melted into Brussels' historical Atomium iron cubic,which
metaphorically symbolizes multi-cultural Belgium with its ninebreathtaking
crystal atoms and their interconnecting metal spheres.irrespective
"Muslims are well-represented in the country," Bengalon Qaisi, deputy head
of the Executive Council of Belgian Muslims, the official umbrella of
Muslims in the country, told IslamOnline.net Friday, February 24.
"We are present at the country's different municipalities and local
parliaments; we have two ministers of Moroccan origin in the federal
government as well as a Turk in a local parliament, who all champion the
pressing issues of the Muslim minority."
Qaisi said Belgium has placed all citizens on an equal footing
of race or religion.10-million-population -
"We don't feel injustice; hence, deadly French-style riots are out of the
question," he said.
Weeks of rioting in French high-immigration suburbs last October and
November has left more than 6,000 cars burned, public and private property
destroyed, tens of policemen injured and one civilian death.
Many voiced anger at racial discrimination, lack of educational and
employment prospects, and police harassment despite being born in France.
Naziha Bin Turab, a Muslim activist, said Belgian Muslims do not live in
ghettos.
"Second and third Muslim generations enjoy equal opportunities," she said.
"We don't expect an uprising similar to that of France since younger
generations live in posh Brussels and are not locked in ghettos or
marginalized in remote suburbs like their peers in the French capital
Paris."
Belgian Muslims are estimated at 450,000 - out of a
about half of them are from Moroccan origin, while 120,000 are fromTurkish
origin.for
Electoral Weight
Political parties increasingly enlist large number of Muslim candidates
elections due to the make-or-break Muslim vote.teach
In the last local elections in 2004, 22 Muslims were fielded on the
88-candidate ticket of the Socialist Party.
A recent study conducted by the Brussels University showed that of the
491,000 people granted citizenship between 1984 and 2001, some 260,000
people were of Moroccan and Turkish origin, which raised Muslim stakes in
recent elections.
Belgium immigration laws are more "integrationist" compared to other
European countries.
Since the first immigration waves in the 1960s, Belgium laws have given
equal opportunity in jobs opportunities.
Furthermore, Belgium was the first European country in 1974 to recognize
Islam among other state religions in the country.
Since 1975, Muslim teachers have been working in government schools to
Islam for Muslim children.laws
Hijab Controversy
But the issue of hijab remains controversial in Belgium, though
discrimination cases against hijab-clad women at workplace and educational
institutions are relatively less compared to other European neighbors,
according to Qaisi.
"Muslim members in local parliaments are expected to put forward draft
that protect Muslim women's right to hijab," he said.2004
He added: "We live in a democratic country that respects all faiths unlike
other [European] countries."
Turab, however, blamed some of the Belgian intelligentsia for forming an
antagonistic attitude towards hijab-clad women.
"Islamophobia does exist, but we consider ourselves as part and parcel of
this country and we have equal opportunity to get jobs regardless of our
attire," she added.
France triggered the hijab controversy in Europe by adopting a bill in
banning hijab in state schools, a move blasted as "discriminatory" bythe
several international and French rights groups.
Shortly afterwards, other European countries, chiefly Germany, followed
French lead.Mayor
International figures stood behind the Muslim right, including London
Ken Livingstone, who described the French move as an "anti-Muslimmeasure."
http://islamonline.net/English/News/2006-02/24/article04.shtml
.
- References:
- Muslims "Key Atom" in Brussels Atomium
- From: Islam Will Replace Collapsing Amerikan Empire
- Muslims "Key Atom" in Brussels Atomium
- Prev by Date: Re: US Dollars for Islamic Goodwill
- Next by Date: karachi
- Previous by thread: Muslims "Key Atom" in Brussels Atomium
- Next by thread: karachi
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
