German Muslims Fear Backlash after Paris Attacks

[Surya Gayatri]

Source: Spiegel On-Line International

The vast majority of Muslims in Germany condemn the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris. But they are concerned that a new wave of Islamophobia may wash over the country anyway.

It had been a busy few days for Aiman Mazyek. Radio interviews, television shows, phone calls -- he hadn't had a moment of quiet. Until midday last Tuesday. It came suddenly, as he was driving his Mercedes station wagon through Berlin, his iPhone switched off, its battery empty.


Aiman Mazyek, head of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, at a vigil last week for the victims of the attacks in Paris.

The timing couldn't have been worse. Mazyek, head of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, was to speak that evening at a vigil in the heart of Berlin for the victims of the attacks in Paris together with German President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel. Moreover, the mayor of Berlin was waiting for him to return his call as was the US ambassador. Mazyek cursed. On such a day, he didn't want anything to go wrong.

The son of a Syrian father and a German mother, Mazyek, 45, has been head of the Central Council of Muslims, one of several Muslim associations in Germany, for the last four years. In the past, critics have accused him of trivializing religious fundamentalism and he has occasionally found it difficult to decisively condemn the actions of reactionary fellow Muslims. But after the attacks in Paris, he quickly realized that a strong response was necessary. Which is why he was taking part in the vigil that evening at the Brandenburg Gate.


Read more: http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-muslims-fear-backlash-after-charlie-hebdo-attacks-a-1013478.html

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Sadly, Muslims all over Europe are bracing themselves for the inevitable blowback.

[leftynyc]

1. The leaders

of all the countries concerned really need to step up and say that violence against Muslims is unacceptable and makes them no better than the terrorists and anyone found guilty of that violence will face stern justice. That said, all mosques and/or community centers need cameras and extra security to make sure everyone stays as safe as they possibly can.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Responsible European leaders have been "speechifying"

night and day--unfortunately, the R/W nutjobs are impervious to their entreaties.

[leftynyc]

3. Have they managed to catch

any of the thugs responsible?

[Surya Gayatri]

4. Yes, the police (at least here in France) really are stepping up their game...

3,000 police to be added shortly--surveillance of hot spots to be reinforced.

[leftynyc]

9. Sounds like a good start

They really need to watch these prosecutions - make sure they happen and that the punishment is heavy enough to discourage others.

[razorman]

16. I think a couple of the hostage-takers were killed.

[FLPanhandle]

5. "has occasionally found it difficult to decisively condemn the actions of reactionary fellow Muslims

That's an example of why people think all Muslims condone such attacks.

What's so fucking difficult about condemning terrorists attacks?

Asshole.

[Surya Gayatri]

6. Scared for his own skin--most likely. Remember

the Salman Rushdie fatwa...

But, the misunderstanding and cross-cultural conflict only goes on.

[FLPanhandle]

7. If the head of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany is afraid of his own people

That doesn't say much for them or him.

Of course, I despise all religions especially violent ones, so I'm biased here.

[Surya Gayatri]

13. Sadly, moderate Muslims have just as much to fear from their

radical fringe as we do.

[razorman]

17. That's probably why they do not speak out after these atrocities.

Thus, many in the West do not believe they exist.

[reorg]

8. please explain why you misinterpret this sentence

as an accusation of not 'condemning terrorists (sic) attacks' and even call him an 'asshole' although you obviously never even heard of that man before.

Here is what he said on various occasions, in articles available in English:

The chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany Aiman Mazyek (pictured) said on Friday that Germany's estimated 4.5 million Muslims should not stay silent when persons misused the Islamic faith to enact crimes.

http://www.dw.de/muslim-protest-in-germany-against-jihadists/a-17934581

Combat Islamism with Islam

The "PR gag by a group of young hooligans" has blurred the "clear definition between extremism and religion," warned Aiman Mazyek, the head of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany (ZMD). The activists are doing all Muslims in Germany a disservice, he said, adding that many young extremists had long bowed out of Muslim society.

"They say, this is a mollycoddled Islam, we want to go the hard way," Mazyek said - and suggested fighting Islamism with Islam.

http://www.dw.de/salafist-patrol-sparks-new-debate-on-islam-in-germany/a-17909944

There are around 4,000 Salafists in Germany, a number of them converts to the religion. For those radical Islamists, some of whom don't hesitate to use violence, insulting the prophet Muhammad crosses the line. For right-wing populists, it's a welcome chance for intentional provocation. DW spoke with Aiman Mazyek, chairman of Germany's Central Council of Muslims, about how Muslims in Germany see the controversy.

DW: How should Muslims and non-Muslims in Germany react to the activities of Salafists?

Aiman Mazyek: We should be much more relaxed. We must be careful that we don't provide a forum for extremists from both sides of society by granting them more attention in the public sphere than necessary. Salafists are clearly in the minority. And we simply have to live our faith in a true and authentic way. That's the best way to counter extremism in religion. There's a nice saying by the prophet, where he warns of religious extremism. And he said that with a clear idea that extremism can eventually lead to fanaticism, which will destroy the religion.

http://www.dw.de/we-must-not-provide-a-forum-for-extremists/a-16256697

Attacks against Muslims in Germany

Last August, there were five attacks on mosques in Germany, more than ever before. During their action day on Friday, Muslims were also protesting against such acts - just as much as anti-Semitism and acts of hatred against Jews. "When a synagogue is attacked, I am a Jew, when Christians are persecuted, I am a Christian, and when mosques are torched, I am a Muslim," said Secretary General of the Central Council of Muslims Aiman Mazyek this week. His are strong words that we should all make our own.

http://www.dw.de/opinion-a-strong-signal-from-german-muslims/a-17936024

Mazyek said the government needed to work harder on making Muslims feel at home in Germany and to campaign against Islamophobia. He said lack of integration into society was the main cause for radicalization of Muslim youths.

Mazyek added that Muslim groups had already been cooperative in the government's bid to prevent terrorism. He said that the effort should not be a "one-way street."

http://www.dw.de/german-interior-minister-urges-muslims-to-combat-militancy/a-15188733

[FLPanhandle]

10. So explain the quote in the article

"he has occasionally found it difficult to decisively condemn the actions of reactionary fellow Muslims"

[reorg]

11. read the cited excerpts n/t

[Surya Gayatri]

15. Thanks for the interesting list of links...

Much source material to be delved into here...

[dawn frenzy adams]

12. AND YET...

The West with its self-exhalation. cognitive dissonance, and racism never sees the millions of Muslims that have been deprived of their lives and nations. They been invading and occupying the Middle East for over a 100 years. As a matter of fact, western imperialism with it's history of slavery, genocide, and pillaging of other nations has never blinked. They are still at it. Iraq, a 3000 year-old nation, destroyed. The French with all of its wailing and gnashing of teeth over Charlie Hebdo killed about 1.5 million Algerians, and our now in Syria with the U.S.killing Syrians.

[Surya Gayatri]

14. And then, there's "American Sniper", almost surely to be interpreted

by the great movie-going masses as one more "Amurca, fuck yeah!" pean to blood lust for those savages.

As for France's shameful dealings with Algeria? Those Kaouachi brothers weren't the sons of Algerian immigrants for nothing.

50+ years later, and France has still not looked its checkered history full in the face.