Confront Islam in the Netherlands on Religious Tolerance Test
Netherlands, synonymous with windmills. Therefore, whoever will not have trouble finding the building windmills in the country. And windmills, it became a symbol of the country ever colonized Indonesia for 350 years.
Even so, as with building a mosque. Although in the Netherlands the majority of the population are Christian, but look for building the mosque is not difficult. The reason, more than 200 mosques scattered throughout the country.
In fact, looking for Muslims was also not too difficult. Because, there are more than one million Muslims living in the Netherlands. Starting from Amsterdam, Den Haag, Einhoven, and a number of other areas. They have a bersurban, hooded, or an ordinary dress, a common thing encountered. Islam and religious activities were, very stretched in this country.
Stretching is not separated from the presence of Muslims who number about one million people. They are citizens and immigrants. This number includes four to five percent of the population reached 16 million inhabitants.
From the figures above, the Dutch also have a privileged position in the eyes of European Muslims. The Netherlands became the second largest European country populous Muslim nation in terms of percentage of population, after France.Islam is a religion with the most rapid development. It seems inseparable from the relationship between Islam and the Netherlands who has had a long span of history ever since the 17th century.
Therefore, the contribution of Muslims to the progress made Holland, sangatlah.besar. And the contribution of Muslims, it could color the state policy in respect of religious freedom and tolerance.
Religious sentiment
At first, the Dutch Muslim community interaction with local communities work well. Residents also respect the beliefs of Muslims. And, Muslims started to build a number of places of worship. Repercussion azan also allowed, though with loudspeakers though only once a week.
Dutch Muslims also established a number of slaughterhouses (RPH), and they also practice ways of slaughter as the teachings of Sharia (Islamic). Some offices provide prayer facilities to employees who are Muslims, fasting Ramadan and ljbur holidays.
However, times full of intimacy is starting to face severe test, especially since the beginning of the 21st century. Anti-Islamic sentiment increasingly widespread due to provocation and negative accusations against religion and race
Islam. Therefore, Muslims must berjibaku to ward off negative accusations launched by the anti-Islamic.
The Orientalists and anti-Islamic circles, endlessly instill fear and hatred against Muslims and Islam in society. They worry that Islam will be growing rapidly in Europe including the Netherlands. They think, if it happens, it will threaten the culture and values that they profess. An excuse and phobias are highly exaggerated.
Fear has even reached the level of hatred. Most people now no longer reluctant to support groups that often discredit Islam. The voices to take the rights of Muslims, to close the mosque, forcing Muslims to follow
Western lifestyle, continue echoed. So also with the banning of the hijab (headscarf) and terrorism. Now, Muslims in the Netherlands, is really entering a period of trials and testing.
The climax, when the murder of a famous columnist and filmmaker, Theo van Gogh, in Amsterdam in 2004. Theo is a controversial filmmaker who tells of the persecution Submission that allegedly often experienced by Muslim women by their husbands.
This assassination jerking Dutch society, especially after the perpetrator is known to Muslim immigrants from Morocco. The motive for the murder of alleged Van Gogh's opinions during this very insulting Muslims and often provoke.
Sociologist Dick Pels, quoted by Radio Netherlands wereldomroep.nl site, said the Dutch face seemed changed after the killing of Van Gogh. The moment that utilized a number of circles, one of the famous is Geert Wilders, Dutch MP.
"Since the murder occurred, many people think that Islam is a threat. And that Wilders used properly," said Dick Pels.Menurutnya, there are similarities between Van Gogh and Wilders. Both have a fear of the Islamization of culture. That's what made him continue to speak out anti-Islamic.
Several years ago, ignited anger Wilders Dutch Muslim community with plans playback * abusive Islam film Fitna. As if not satisfied, Wilders initiated the draft law on limitation of the hijab (burqa).
He suggested that every Muslim who wants to wear the hijab have to ask permission, and pay 1000 euros per year for that privilege.
"We've been saturated with a headscarf. We do everything to reduce the use of the hijab. We've been drafting legislation to ban the burka," she said on the site rnw.nl.
The most common argument from the statement some observers linked this series of events, explained opendemocracy.net article on the site, marking yet strong foundation of tolerance and multiculturalism in society.
"As a consequence, the Dutch fear it would face an identity crisis. This requires a review again the essential principles in society, in order to promote tolerance in a stronger position," wrote the article.
Minimal Knowledge Is anti-Islamic sentiment became a common sight in today's society? An Islamic activist, Idries De Vries, see, in recent years, the Dutch public attitudes toward Islam does tend to be negative.
"That, among others, triggered the global Islamic revival that began to affect the dynamics in many countries, including Holland," he explained in situsatauaie. Cause so easily arise hatred can be traced from historical background. Idries suggests, although the relationship between Islam and the Netherlands has lasted longer and produce a variety of knowledge about Islam, many Dutch people in general who do not understand Islam correctly.
Crucial point is the variety of information of knowledge about Islam that was not less than 300 years, seems like the slanting ta difficult to access by ordinary citizens. Only certain circles who can get it.He gave an example, the library at leading universities, actually save a lot of information about Islam. "But, valuable manuscripts should therefore not be studied by ordinary people."
On the other hand, he added, among which have less access to information also use it to understand Islam correctly.
"So, the rise of anti-Islamic opinions due to a combination of public ignorance about Islam and the mentality of the academics who do not study Islam to seek the truth or to foster good relations with Muslims."
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