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Tariq Ramadan, the controversial Swiss-born Islamicist, was a featured panelist during this morning’s introductory panel at the International Center. Entitled “Islam in Europe,” the panel was moderated by Kamran Safiarian, journalist from 2DF and included Dr. Albert Schmid, an attorney who works with German immigrant groups.
“Islam is a European religion: There are Muslims who have been living in Europe for many generations and are completely European by culture”, said Ramadan. There are millions of people like this, like me. They are loyal to the country and have a sense of freedom.”
Ramadan was very direct in what he felt was required of Muslims to live in Europe: Respect for the rule of law. Over the hour, he made it very clear that the discussion of Islam in Europe tends to confuse religious matters with what are actually socio-economic or, worse, political problem.
The issues, he said, are bigger than religion. “It’s because we don’t have answers to things, we reduce it to religion. Take identity for example. I’m Muslim by religion, Swiss by nationality, European by culture, Egyptian by memory, universalist by principal and Moroccan by adoption.”
Ramadan emphasized the need for what he called a “post-integration” discourse.
“To stop talking about integration is the real success of integration,” he said. “This is a fast process: Millions of Muslims are getting it. Celebrate it! It’s a silent revolution.”
He added that if the state and Muslims can ultimately say to each other, “We respect your religion, you respect our rule,” then “it’s a win-win situation”.
Tags: discussion, integration, religion
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