Qantara.de - Dialog mit der islamischen Welt

on Islam Needs to Evolve, by Tahir Alsam Gora

Gora is out of touch with the real issue. And it also seems that it is a fashion if one wants to make some easy money, he criticises Islam. Therefore by allowing this kind of pseudo-intellectualism to be published on this website, you are eroding automatically what this site is standing for.

I do not think that this is the way to promote dialogue between cultures. Islam needs to evolve from within but not necessarily as some money-maker preachers want it to be.

The more articles of the sort are published here, the more dubious the site and what it stands for becomes.

Regards,
Mohamed ElgjiniMore

on Emergency Relief in a Military State, by S. Akbar Zaidi

Certainly, the Pakistani armed forces should learn from this disasterous earthquake and develop capabilities which are more effective and adequate. This means also that both the federal and local civilian authorities must be better funded and qualified for such disaster relief missions. More and better spending on civilian and military disaster relief infrastructure is a necessity in Pakistan.

However, I think that critics of the Pakistani armed forces should remember that thousands of Pakistani soldiers also perished in the earthquake. Officially the military statistics say that approximately 2000 soldiers died, but nearly all relief groups, international experts, ...More

on New Rules for Muslims in German State Blasted , by Sonia Phalnikar

I think this rule is completely racial and unjust against the Muslims living in Germany needing naturalization. Filling up certain queries would never help to know someone's attitude towards understanding laws of nation, every foreigners' loyalty to the country's values and social system should be unbiased and irrespective of religious faith, instead of judging someone on her individual faith, it is better to make people more aware of someone's faith.

It makes no sense to create wall between Islam and state in country like Germany. Let's unite and respect faith irrespective of religion. Let people become more aware of the true teachings of Islam. As a Muslim ...More

on The Headscarf Debate à la Française, by Bernhard Schmid

The French government decision to ban hijab in public educational institutions have created both praise and criticism of President Chirac. The supporters of this ban believe that all religious symbols, in particular the hijab challenge the secular traditions of the French republic.

Hence, the secular order must be protected even at the cost of personal liberties. The opponents fear this will further marginalize the already pressurized Muslim minority interests and lead to a possible radicalisation of the French society.

Bernard Stasi, head of the commission evaluating the secular-religious relations praised the Turkish secularists for upholding the ban on hijab/ "turban ...More

on: The Arab World Has Its Own Models, by Sonja Hegassy

The choice given at the end of the article is a false dichotomy: internal means of remembrance or "should they rely on the experiences of the west?"

The first principle of law in "the west" is the right of the state to survive in order to defend the people. An example is the idea of martial law. Since post-medieval history in the world features European expansionism (despite its democratic and Christian protestations), the rest of the world is justified, by European standards, in putting all its efforts into self-defense, including sacrificing diversity for the sake of national ...More

Concerning Turkey's EU candidacy and the stance of Germany’s Christian Democrats.

Dear Qantara editorial staff,

I am offended by CDU/CSU political party stigmatization of Muslim citizens in Germany and consequent rejection of Turkey`s EU application. While CDU/CSU talk about responsibilities of the Muslim citizens they also forget that we demand an equality in society and not stigmatization. Unfortunately, too many CDU/CSU politicians have collectively stigmatized their Muslim citizens. Hence, before political parties in Germany teach Turkey about equality, freedom, human rights they should also remember that many Muslim citizens of Germany are daily stigmatized and racially abused for none other reason except being Muslims. This ...More

I found Ms Hamideh Mohagheghi’s article an excellent contribution to the debate raging in Europe today over the headscarf. The western world is lecturing others about rights of personal freedom, which includes the right to dress as one wishes. Why should a court decide how a woman should dress?
Why is wearing a headscarf by a Muslim woman considered a religious symbol and wearing a cross by a Christian not?

With kind regards,
Nawab Khan
JournalistMore