The List of Musulman Demands to Swedish Political Parties...

[Abraham]

Hmmm, I guess this will get me some Flak...

First of all, I find it a very positive thing that the Sveriges Muslimska Förbund (Swedish Muslims) are adressing their demands to the Swedish political parties on the eve of elections. The optimist in me could even call it a sign of changing times.

As far as the content of the letter, I notice that it seems very honest. For instance:

The problems that exist in regards to the Swedish religious freedom is that it is a Pietistic coloured understanding of individualised religion, that lie behind the Swedish laws regarding religious freedom, whereas for the Muslim minority it is the collective expressions of the religion that are central. One considers the religion more like a way of life than a belief system. It is also a part of ordinary life, with its social rules and judgements, through which religious allegiance is displayed, and the religion practised, not primarily through prayer and sermons and the common religious language that is Arabic. This is why certain Islamic religious practises come outside what is covered by religious freedom.

It clearly states that Islam is a way of live that goes much further than individualistic piety and even supersedes the law of the land. This shows that Islam lacks the concept of the Nation state as we know it. It needs its own Caliphate to thrive'. Therefor Islam is unable to play a valid political role in the modern world.

Some of the demands seem reasonable, like a Swedish Iman education, most however show that Islam - in its current form - have not yet found a modus to accept its role of a religious, cultural or political minority in the West. As such, I would consider most demands confrontational.

Now, are these demands a reason to get upset or angry at Islam and cry "wolf!"?
Of course, at least as long as we get upset about any demonstrative open letter or any confronting demands by political minorities.
Labour unions are almost by definition confrontational and are demanding far more then they themselves expect to get. So are student protest movements. And now there is the Sveriges Muslimska Förbund.
Big deal.

I hope that Swedish politicians study these demands carefully and come up with sensible counterdemands. I hope that the Sveriges Muslimska Förbund learns that collectivism has no place in Europe and that the collective rights it demands for Muslims by definition infringe on individual rights of fellow Swedes.
And finally I hope that there are a lot of Muslims in Sweden that have a more modern and progressive outlook at society than the Sveriges Muslimska Förbund!