A woman wearing a niqab in the centre of Roubaix, northern France. Philippe Huguen / AFP
A woman wearing a niqab in the centre of Roubaix, northern France. Philippe Huguen / AFP

The rise of Islamophobia in Europe is being normalised by intellectuals – but they are pushing at an already open door



We live in an age of identity politics. Throughout Europe and North America, there is a new and vehement insistence that how the individual identifies him or herself – on whatever basis – is something that must be accepted and respected by all. Never mind that all too often this has, as the Columbia University professor Mark Lilla has put it, given "an intellectual patina to the narcissism that almost everything else in our society encourages".

There is one identity, however, that is not currently being granted the same liberty of expression in Europe and that is being Muslim. In Denmark, a country frequently praised for its progressiveness, the parliament has just passed a law banning the wearing of the burqa or niqab – even though it is estimated that there are only 150 women in the country who do so.

In France – which, along with Belgium and Austria, has already passed a similar ban – there has been consternation after Maryam Pougetoux, a student union leader, gave a television interview while wearing a hijab. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said it was "shocking" and a "provocation" while the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo put her on the front cover, horribly caricatured as a monkey.

Meanwhile, Britain's Conservative Party has been accused by the Muslim Council of Britain as being so poisoned by Islamophobia that the MCB has called for an independent inquiry after what it calls "more than weekly occurrences" of the problem. And Italy's new deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini wasted no time after being appointed last week. He went straight to Sicily, an island with a sizeable Arab Muslim population and heritage, to tell immigrants to get ready to "pack their bags".

Anti-immigration and anti-Islam policies are two separate issues but all too often they are symptoms of the same sentiment. Some are quite blatant about it. The former head of Bavaria’s Christian Social Union, Horst Seehofer, declared that “Islam doesn’t belong in Germany” just after being appointed his country’s interior minister in March.

To deny Islam’s long presence in Europe is, of course, a historical nonsense. One could point to the great Muslim civilisation in Spain, established in the eighth century, which became a beacon of tolerance and learning when most of the continent was stuck in the ignorance, squalor and barbarity of the Dark Ages. A large percentage of the populations of many Balkan countries are Muslim. And if in 1954 the former French president Francois Mitterrand, then interior minister, could say: “Algeria is France”, that was surely a declaration that the millions of Muslims who lived there were part of Europe.

_______________________

Read more from Sholto Byrnes:

_______________________

It is strange to have to make these points yet again. Given all the efforts to promote interfaith understanding and to provide non-Muslims with a more truthful and nuanced picture of Islam, one might have hoped for a little less irrational fear, less misrepresentation of the moderate majority as extremists and less outright rejection. Instead, the opposite appears to be happening.

Peter Oborne, a highly respected UK conservative commentator, recently wrote that “it is impossible for a practising Muslim to make his or her way to the senior ranks of the Tory party”. True, the Home Secretary Sajid Javid comes from a Muslim background but is not practising. “By contrast,” wrote Mr Oborne, the former Conservative chairman Sayeeda Warsi, “who spoke out courageously on issues of concern to ordinary Muslims, was sidelined and eventually resigned in disgust over Tory policy on Gaza. She has since become the object of a truly vicious whispering campaign.”

The rise of the far right, economic inequality, a failure to work out and co-ordinate how to deal with waves of refugees and immigrants and the inflammatory travel bans and rhetoric of Donald Trump: these may all have contributed to the rise in Islamophobia. But it has also been normalised and lent legitimacy by a string of – alas – brilliant and highly articulate intellectuals, such as the Harvard historian Niall Ferguson and the writer and commentator Douglas Murray. They see something irredeemably dark at the heart of Islam and regard all who insist that it is a religion of peace and justice as deluded apologists.

And they are pushing at an open door, for I have long believed that the extent of anti-Muslim feeling in Europe has been vastly underestimated. I think of the old friend who said to me over lunch in London 10 years ago: “I’m worried about the Muslims.” “Which ones?” I replied. “All of them,” he said. My friend is well-educated, well-travelled, liberal and open-minded. Yet that fear of “the other” at the gates was deep-rooted even within him.

There is much work to be done and it cannot be left to the theologians, important though their contributions are. The common humanity that Muslims and non-Muslims share must be overwhelmingly emphasised, as must the fact that the freedoms Europeans treasure are small and mean-minded if they are withheld from those with other beliefs and customs.

Governments must take the lead and be fearless in confronting Islamophobes. For a Europe that lacks tolerance would be a continent that has lost a cornerstone of its claim to greatness. The vast majority of Europe’s Muslims are European. For them to suffer hatred and discrimination by their fellow citizens would echo some of the darkest chapters in its history. “Never again” is a watchword that applies today just as much as it has in the past.

Sholto Byrnes is a senior fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Eyasses squad

Charlie Preston (captain) – goal shooter/ goalkeeper (Dubai College)

Arushi Holt (vice-captain) – wing defence / centre (Jumeriah English Speaking School)  

Olivia Petricola (vice-captain) – centre / wing attack (Dubai English Speaking College)

Isabel Affley – goalkeeper / goal defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Jemma Eley – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Alana Farrell-Morton – centre / wing / defence / wing attack (Nord Anglia International School)

Molly Fuller – goal attack / wing attack (Dubai College)

Caitlin Gowdy – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai English Speaking College)

Noorulain Hussain – goal defence / wing defence (Dubai College)

Zahra Hussain-Gillani – goal defence / goalkeeper (British School Al Khubairat)

Claire Janssen – goal shooter / goal attack (Jumeriah English Speaking School)         

Eliza Petricola – wing attack / centre (Dubai English Speaking College)

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE LIGHT

Director: Tom Tykwer

Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger

Rating: 3/5

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

box

COMPANY PROFILE

Company name: Letstango.com

Started: June 2013

Founder: Alex Tchablakian

Based: Dubai

Industry: e-commerce

Initial investment: Dh10 million

Investors: Self-funded

Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month

The Brutalist

Director: Brady Corbet

Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn

Rating: 3.5/5

Profile of Tamatem

Date started: March 2013

Founder: Hussam Hammo

Based: Amman, Jordan

Employees: 55

Funding: $6m

Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EElmawkaa%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hub71%2C%20Abu%20Dhabi%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ebrahem%20Anwar%2C%20Mahmoud%20Habib%20and%20Mohamed%20Thabet%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PropTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETotal%20funding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%24400%2C000%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E500%20Startups%2C%20Flat6Labs%20and%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier

Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August

 

Group A

Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar

 

Group B

UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia

Surianah's top five jazz artists

Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.  

Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.

Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.

Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.

Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.

The 15 players selected

Muzzamil Afridi, Rahman Gul, Rizwan Haider (Dezo Devils); Shahbaz Ahmed, Suneth Sampath (Glory Gladiators); Waqas Gohar, Jamshaid Butt, Shadab Ahamed (Ganga Fighters); Ali Abid, Ayaz Butt, Ghulam Farid, JD Mahesh Kumara (Hiranni Heros); Inam Faried, Mausif Khan, Ashok Kumar (Texas Titans

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HyperPay%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhannad%20Ebwini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2455m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AB%20Ventures%2C%20Amwal%20Capital%2C%20INet%2C%20Mada%20VC%2C%20Mastercard%2C%20SVC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
​​​​​​​Penguin 

SRI LANKS ODI SQUAD

Perera (capt), Mendis, Gunathilaka, de Silva, Nissanka, Shanaka, Bandara, Hasaranga, Udana, Dananjaya, Dickwella, Chameera, Mendis, Fernando, Sandakan, Karunaratne, Fernando, Fernando.

Ticket prices

General admission Dh295 (under-three free)

Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free

Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets