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Last update - 10:27 11/07/2008 Who speaks for Europe's Muslims? By H. A. Hellyer Tags: Europe, Islam Who speaks for European Muslims? The question is a pressing one as far as policy-makers in Europe are concerned. Even prior to 9/11, they were interested. After the 7/7 London bombings, finding an answer to the question has become imperative. Before the 2001 attacks, I had decided to map out the Muslim communities in Europe; as an academic, I was interested in their organization. What I found was that whereas most of the Christian churches in Europe have single bodies representing them, Muslims do not. But does it really matter who speaks for Muslims? The simple answer is, yes. When Al-Qaida decided to attack the United States, supposedly in the name of Islam ?(but more accurately, in the name of its own frustrations and heretical ideology?), European nations realized the necessity of engaging with their Muslim communities. Being able to do so allowed their governments to send a positive message to mainstream society that not all Muslims were a threat to Western civilization. Advertisement Unfortunately, the process was not quite as simple as some had imagined. Muslim communities are not particularly well organized in terms of representation in most parts of Europe. There are some noted exceptions: The Official Islamic Community in Austria is a recognized institution that represents all Muslims in that country, by law. It was formed in the 1970s before the Iranian revolution, the massive growth of migrant populations, the worsening of Western-Muslim relations and the "war on terror." Most Muslim community lobby groups were formed later on, and representative bodies, in particular, only began to be established in the last two decades. So when European governments wanted to reach out to their Muslim communities, there were some rather peculiar attempts made at "designing" those communities before they could deal with them. Take Italy, for example. The largest affiliate body there ?(at least until recently?) has been Unione delle Comunita ed Organizzazioni Islamiche in Italia ?(UCOII?), an organization ideologically linked to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. When the Italian interior minister decided to convene an advisory council made up of Muslim representatives, it was included. However, owing to UCOII's vocal opposition to Western foreign policy, Rome has made it clear it does not necessarily need to deal with it any longer. Instead, the government has supported efforts of other Muslim communities to organize themselves into a representative council, which it hopes can become the face of Italian Islam. Considering that one of the original members of the council was an atheist Albanian, one might gather that the Italian state has some work to do before it selectively engages with Muslim communities. In Germany, another option altogether is being considered: Rather than a single council, the government has promulgated the Islam Conference, in which both Muslims and non-Muslims engage in discussions and workshops on issues pertaining to Muslims in Germany. It, too, has a deep problem in that, again, it is not clear who is represented at the conference. The last time it convened, it seemed that there were quite a few delegates who were actively critical of Islam, rather than speaking for it. And most peculiar of all, there were no Muslim women wearing head scarves. So who speaks for them? Belgium had, theoretically, the most successful model: direct elections to a Muslim Assembly, with quota systems to ensure that no one ethnic group dominated it. Unfortunately, the assembly became virtually inoperative after accusations of corruption brought much of its work to a halt. Which brings us to the interesting case of the United Kingdom. Britain had no intention of creating a representative assembly a la Belgium, and was well past the point of introducing some sort of German-style Islamic Conference. Existing Muslim community groups would have probably balked at the idea anyway. The Italian model, however, probably appeals greatly to many in British policy circles at the moment. Dealing with people who agree with us? Yes, please, especially if they will also attack those people who do not agree with us − a perfect package. Except it is not. There are some two million Muslims in Britain now, many of whom have lived there for three generations. They are not about to accept such a brazen attempt at social engineering. British policy-makers have to accept ?(and many do?) that engagement requires admitting two things: first, that sometimes the people with whom they need to talk are not particularly nice. And second, that they should never assume that they are talking to representatives of the larger masses they want to reach. There are no short cuts in this sort of work. On the contrary, it seems to be very clear that there is no single "face" to Islam in any European country, but rather a mosaic of "faces." That makes government policy work in terms of engagement very difficult. But then, isn't it the government's job to sort out difficult problems? Dr. H.A. Hellyer is director of the Visionary Consultants Group, and a fellow of the University of Warwick. This article appeared originally in The National ?(Abu Dhabi?), and is distributed by the Common Ground News Service. Bookmark to del.icio.us   History undersea Israeli lifeguard stumbles upon ancient relic during morning swim. Elections, Hebrew style U.S. presidential hopefuls use Hebrew to woo the Jewish community.   1.   NO "POPE" IS NEEDED AMONGST MUSLIMS 10:42  |  indrajaya 11/07/08   2.   "the people with whom they need to talk are not particularly nice 10:44  |  Freethinker 11/07/08   3.   Who speaks for Europe`s Muslims? They need to work on that. 10:59  |  Natallie Durson 11/07/08   4.   I Think I Make A Pretty Good Leader 11:10  |  Yosemite 11/07/08   5.   1# An answer to Indrajaja "No Pope is need amongst Muslims". 11:45  |  Akram Zekaria 11/07/08   6.   Until they show that Al-Queda does not speak for them ... 11:47  |  Binyamin Dissen 11/07/08   7.   # 5, AKRAM ZEKARIA 12:28  |  indrajaya 11/07/08   8.   Bat Ye`or: Euro-Arab coalition already there 12:50  |  Tulip 11/07/08   9.   Natallie Durson, completely misinformed 12:57  |  Tulip 11/07/08   10.   Indrajaya, the living spirit of Mohammed represents you 13:00  |  Tulip 11/07/08   11.   Our Muslims are the new `Jew` 13:13  |  Edith 11/07/08   12.   #3 Natallie Durson, I endorse your thinking 13:26  |  Edith 11/07/08   13.   Edith, this is what it is 13:42  |  Tulip 11/07/08   14.   #5 A really well adapted Muslim 13:44  |  Edith 11/07/08   15.   Islam and the Reformation 14:15  |  Nick Ferriman 11/07/08   16.   Rantings of a Belgian: Muslim are not new Jews, they are revival 14:20  |  Genuine Tosefta 11/07/08   17.   # 5 Akram Zekaria 14:29  |  Nick Ferriman 11/07/08   18.   # 8 Tulip 14:34  |  Nick Ferriman 11/07/08   19.   Edith, your posts make it obvious that Bat Ye`or is right: 14:36  |  Freethinker 11/07/08   20.   #11 Edith`s simplistic views 14:45  |  Hastaroth 11/07/08   21.   #14 Edith,again 14:51  |  Hastaroth 11/07/08   22.   5# indrajaya. Democracy above everything is living by the rules 15:00  |  Akram Zekaria 11/07/08   23.   #13 Tulip, thank you, but no thanks 15:19  |  Edith 11/07/08   24.   Tulip loves people who bow down to Jews 15:49  |  Mark B. 11/07/08   25.   # 18, AKRAM ZEKARIA 15:56  |  indrajaya 11/07/08   26.   14# Edith. We are not discussing human qualities here. 16:05  |  Akram Zekaria 11/07/08   27.   Nick Ferriman, Thailand is another reality 16:14  |  Tulip 11/07/08   28.   Edith, muslims mostly did this themselves 16:20  |  Tulip 11/07/08   29.   Mark B. Pavlov from Amsterdam 16:22  |  Tulip 11/07/08   30.   No reformation in islam needed, Nick Ferriman? 16:41  |  Tulip 11/07/08   31.   # 24 Mark B. " bow down to Jews" Quite unexpected. Means what? 17:05  |  17 11/07/08   32.   Fastest growing religion 17:12  |  Cyasher 11/07/08   33.   Muslims and multiculturalism 17:23  |  arik 11/07/08   34.   #1 INDY....yes, indeed that is exactly the way 18:08  |  Lynn 11/07/08   35.   Bin laden? 18:11  |  trumpeldor 11/07/08   36.   Nick the fairy and the illusions of islam 18:23  |  victor hardman 11/07/08   37.   Akram Zekaria and democarcy 18:41  |  Said 11/07/08   38.   Prof. Indrajaya #1, you failed one again to convince us 18:51  |  MR 11/07/08   39.   Muslims should live in muslim countries 19:29  |  Rationalist 11/07/08   40.   ASPCA, WWF, PETA speaks for muslims 20:36  |  Avram 11/07/08   41.   Democracy is offensive to Islam 20:44  |  Scharker Yid 11/07/08   42.   To Hastaroth # 20 21:10  |  Adam 11/07/08   43.   To Rationalist # 31 21:24  |  Adam 11/07/08   44.   To Scharker Yid #35 00:07  |  Adam 12/07/08   45.   # 14 Edith, Holland and democracy 00:18  |  Dik 12/07/08   46.   # 36 Adam 00:36  |  THE TEACHER/INSTRUCT 12/07/08   47.   25# indrajaja.You can`t be right in anything on your Post. 00:52  |  Akram Zekaria 12/07/08   48.   To Tulip 01:00  |  Lebanese in Canada 12/07/08   49.   31# Said: Please read "The Changing Faces of Jesus" 01:25  |  Akram Zekaria 12/07/08   50.   @28 Lynn 03:47  |  Mark B. 12/07/08   51.   # 41, AKRAM ZEKARIA 05:26  |  indrajaya 12/07/08   52.   #31 Response to 17 05:45  |  Mark B. 12/07/08   53.   #29 Tulip, at least I am glad you don´t sound annoyed 05:51  |  Mark B. 12/07/08   54.   ONCE MORE THING TO MY JEW FRIEND AKRAM 06:15  |  indrajaya 12/07/08   55.   No. 39 Racist..I mean "Rationalist" 09:16  |  Super Rationalist 12/07/08   56.   #54 indrajaya 13:01  |  joki 12/07/08   57.   #28 Tulip I don`t agree 14:13  |  Edith 12/07/08   58.   WHY IS ISLAM DIFFERENT? IS IT COMPATIBLE W/ WESTERN CIVILIZATION? 16:27  |  G Marcus 12/07/08   59.   Actually This Author Makes A Good Point 16:49  |  Yosemite 12/07/08   60.   Al Jazeera, Al queda and Mecca are Muslims Mouth pieces 17:49  |  Baruch Gold 12/07/08   61.   # 52 Mark B - "I think submit and feel inferior." 17:58  |  17 12/07/08   62.   Edith 20:21  |  Charles 12/07/08   63.   # 30 Tulip 21:25  |  Nick Ferriman 12/07/08   64.   # 36 Victor Hardman 21:42  |  Nick Ferriman 12/07/08   65.   Well lets hope its not Qaddafii" Inshallah 50 million Muslims 21:52  |  PETER SM 12/07/08   66.   LETS hope its not the likes of the Finsbury Mosque types 22:36  |  PETER SM 12/07/08   67.   Nick Ferriman (number 1) 22:52  |  Tulip 12/07/08   68.   For once I agree with you PETER SM 22:55  |  Mark B. 12/07/08   69.   Nick Ferriman (number 2) 22:55  |  Tulip 12/07/08   70.