Reflections on Being Muslim and French: Ive had the distinct pleasure of spending the past few days with members of the Paris Muslim Community, especially young people and women. While of course i dont claim a representative sample :), the sisters and brothers Ive met have been amazing. They are sincere, engaged, aware of the injustice they live, and despite everything, hopeful. They are also incredibly courageous. This experience taught me a number of things: 1. We need way more trans-Atlantic Muslim cooperation. cc: Hind Makki 2. Frances idea of secularism is primarily concerned with protecting the State from Religion. Americas separation of Church and State is primarily concerned with protecting Religion from the State. Frances democracy began with a war against religious influence over the state. Americas democracy began with a war against the states influence over free religious practice. The resulting interpretations of democratic norms are as different as night and day. 3. As a result of the French Republics insistence on everyone checking their soul at the door before entering the public sphere, religious people have instead checked their French identity at the door of their houses of worship. The State has created an antagonistic dynamic where Muslims must choose between being faithful and being French. Several have told me how they marveled at the sight of an American flag flying in front of a mosque in America and how this would be unthinkable in France. At the same time some said they wish to be patriotic and proud of their country like American Muslims but its their country that rejects them. Forced conformity kills social cohesion, not the opposite. 4. American Muslims are much more of a symbol of hope and even role models in some ways than I imagined. Now Im the first to say that I also heard criticism of our consumerism, our America centric concerns as we ignore the suffering of the Ummah, etc. But I also many more times was told that French Muslims look to us as inspiration. They were literally blown away when I explained that most US public schools ban hats, but if a sister wishes to wear hijab she just needs to explain it is a religious practice and then she is protected to practice. Two brave French hijabis told me that it is the opposite in France. If it is a religious practice then this is the reason for it to be banned. They also said that praying at work was forbidden...not uncomfortable, but literally illegal (!). I told them the Department of Justice just issued guidelines for accommodating religious practice at work which included guaranteeing people time and space for prayer. Their reaction was like I told them the U.S. government hands out unicorns. 5. Tariq Ramadan is a rockstar :). I cant count how many young French Muslims told me it was him who helped them reconcile being French and being Muslim. He helped them reconcile that it was OK to vote (!) in French elections and this was not selling out. Yet despite his positive influence on French Muslims as a force for real healthy integration, the State regards him as an extremists and has banned him. Lets hear it for French (and American) freedom of expression. Thank you Dr. Ramadan for your contribution. May Allah bless you and our family. Ameen. 6. Other than Dr. Ramadan, all the scholars young people in France look to are American...literally without exception. We have a real treasure trove of talent alhamdulillah, and not only the English speaking Muslims, but even French Muslims tap into it.
Posted on: Sun, 25 May 2014 11:22:15 +0000
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