A tribute to those who dare. On the slippery and often highly sensitive ground of relations between Europe and Islam, news can be as good as it can be bad. Good news concerns the courage of Muslim intellectuals and journalists who call for freedom of expression and criticism, as well as the determination shown by women who fight for their rights and to put an end to their “eternal slavery”. They all take great risks and deserve our recognition and respect.
Alliance between religious authorities. The bad news concerns the “dialogue of civilisations” which, in my view, has gloomy prospects. This dialogue remains an exercise between the elite on both sides who reach agreement over a number of noble principles without any impact on public opinion. In general, fanaticism and intolerance are on the rise, nurtured by the support of a number of political and religious authorities. Responsibilities are divided. In the ruckus over the Danish cartoons, the reactions of Muslim fundamentalists were violent and freedom-destroying, and as such are totally unacceptable. The European side was often remiss, unable to defend its principles or civilisation, ready to apologise and almost to beg pardon. Some of the religious authorities, not just Muslim but also Catholic and even Jewish, seized this opportunity to call for a common accord to prohibit any offence to religions or believers not just in Europe but everywhere, with the risk that this could rapidly become a ban on all criticism and a death threat for freedom of expression. It is understandable that the religious authorities are seeking, even in Europe, to take advantage of this affair to restore their censure, but the political authorities and civil society should react in open objection - which most of them dare not do.
Assembly kicks off badly. It is in such a climate that the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly will meet in Brussels on Sunday and Monday. The birth of this Assembly had given rise to much hope, as those speaking for the people finally had the right to take the floor. I had expressed a degree of optimism myself. But developments are now worrying. Not everything will be negative: - there will be some pretty speeches and some useful and well balanced texts will be discussed and approved, and this may have a positive impact on cooperation and other economic aspects. But things are off to a bad start when it comes to the grand principles and political aspects. Preparatory meetings (political committee in Brussels, immigration and other human affairs committee in Rome: see our bulletin 9147) had already set the tone. There had been much talk of restricting freedom of expression, not only on the Arab side but also on the European side, and the Danish cartoons, which, I believe, deserved no more than a little echo in the press for a few days rather than becoming the essential factor of the so-called dialogue of civilisation, were still monopolising the talks. The draft resolution (developed by MEP Tokia Saïfi, elected in France) made too many concessions as it was, deploring any “offence of religious sentiment” and recommending “responsible use” of the freedom of expression. This was not, however, sufficient for some Muslim members of parliament. “Tonnes of amendments” mainly submitted by recently elected Egyptian representatives call for ad hoc laws “against Islamophobia”. And some European representatives seem willing to justify any old thing.
“Pause for reflection” in prospect? It is still possible that to some extent wisdom will win the day, that moderate Muslim parliamentarians (which do exist, mainly Moroccan and Tunisian) will obtain a compromise, and that Europeans will remain firm in asserting our values and principles. If this is not so, it would be preferable for the Assembly to give up the idea of voting on common texts that are resigned or insipid and that the components of the Assembly approve separate texts, as is legally possible. This would highlight the differences, by opening the road to reflection on how useful it is to pursue “dialogue” which, if current trends are confirmed, place fanatics of every colour on the winning side. Some observers are wondering how appropriate it would be to have a “pause for reflection” during which one would seek to make cooperation move forward as well as the economic aspect of Euro-Mediterranean relations, rather than reflecting on other aspects.
For the time being, it is Europe's duty to send a positive message to the many Muslims who, in their countries of origin and in ours, are fighting for their freedom and for women's rights.
(F.R.)