THE
HAGUE, April 9, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – A second round of the
government-sponsored “Islam and Integration” dialogue has wrapped
up with a massive support for a citizenship pact that regards all
Dutch, including Muslims, as part and parcel of society irrespective
of their ethnicities.
The
agreement has been given the thumbs-up by an overwhelming majority of
some 1,500 participants representing all the colors of the Dutch
political and religious rainbow.
It
provides for combating racism, particularly at workplace, and
encouraging dialogue as the best way to reach common grounds.
The
document further urges the Dutch to report any cases of racial
discrimination.
The
dialogue closing session, hosted by the World Trade Center in
Rotterdam, brought together dignitaries led by Prime Minister Jan
Peter Balkenende.
It
wound up two months of marathon talks in nine debates, which grouped
up to 5,500 people.
Anti-Racism
Measures
As
Rotterdam took the initiative and sponsored the dialogue, the
participants called on the second largest city in the Netherlands to
bear in mind the multi-cultural nature of the local community in
drafting curricula.
They
further urged Rotterdam municipality to match words with deeds and
help Muslim integration into society.
The
participants encouraged the authorities to reach an agreement with the
city’s businessmen to open up their businesses to Muslims.
They
also pressed for a clear-cut anti-racism plan to be adopted and
inter-faith dialogues to be held regularly.
The
participants further called for opening mosques and Islamic
institutions in Rotterdam to non-Muslims to bridge the gulf.
They
pledged to champion a letter campaign to collect support signatures
for the nascent covenant.
The
first round of the “Islam and Integration” dialogue kicked off in
September, touching basically on obstacles to the integration of the
Muslim minority in the Netherlands.
Rotterdam
has a Muslim population of 80,000 people, almost one eighth of its
population, according to official estimates.
There
are also 30 mosques in the city, five Islamic schools and two Islamic
universities.
Islam
Not to Blame
Premier
Balkenende seized the opportunity to make clear that there was no
problem with Islam.
“If
Muslims always have to defend themselves, we will never come to a
solution for the problems … because what is the problem here? Not
Islam! But the disrespectful behavior of certain individuals and
groups — both Muslims and non-Muslims,” he told participants in
statements carried by the Expatica magazine.
Balkenende
said the acceptance of newcomers into the Netherlands was of great
importance.
“This
is a task for us all: in our local districts, at work, in the street
and in the club, everywhere.”
Prominent
Muslim thinker Tariq Ramadan, who took part in the closing session,
concurred.
“Any
talk about the Netherlands can’t ignore Muslims, who came to the
country as immigrants and became an integral part of its history and
present time,” he told the audience.
Ramadan
urged the Muslim minority in the Netherlands to play an active role in
society and work on enhancing co-existence.
Preserving
Identity
Balkenende
further said integration does not mean that a person should forget all
about his/her background and identity.
“Integration
is blending in the greater whole, without denying your identity,” he
said, adding that integration was more than a course of study.
“A
person who talks with others about his identity, beliefs and place in
society makes himself vulnerable. That is courageous. You dared to do
this,” the prime minister told the audience.
The
Netherlands already makes integration classes mandatory for newcomers
as laws have been changed to oblige all immigrants and accepted asylum
seekers to take classes in Dutch language and culture.
Balkenende
called for dealing resolutely with people who incite hatred,
intimidate and use violence against others, schools or mosques,
referring to young right-wingers, the magazine said.
“This
poison must not be allowed to spread,” the Christian Democrat leader
said.
