Denmark's first mosque opens as Social Democrats look for "new ideas" and an Islam that accepts homosexuality

[mota bhai 2,675]

Denmark's first mosque opens amid controversy

A slender minaret topped with a small crescent marks the site of Denmark's first purpose-built mosque.

Denmark is home to approximately 226,000 Muslims, many of them the children of migrants who have been arriving since the 1960s. Many of them hope the mosque and the adjoined Islamic cultural centre finally means acceptance after decades of marginalisation.

But senior politicians and members of the Danish royal family invited to Thursday's opening ceremony stayed away amid concerns that the organisation behind the mosque, the Danish Islamic Council (DIR), promotes a conservative interpretation of Islam.

Funded by a donation of $27.4m from Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, the former emir of Qatar, critics cite alleged ideological links between the DIR and the Muslim Brotherhood.

...

The buildings marry common elements of traditional Scandinavian and Islamic architecture such as clean lines and simplicity of form, while the mosque's Moorish-inspired interior stonework references Islam's European heritage.

"We always said that we had to have a Danish mosque, and not an Egyptian mosque, or a Qatari mosque, or a Moroccan mosque," said al-Maimouni. "All of the furniture is Danish design."

...

[Many] supportive of Danish Muslims' right to build mosques said there were serious concerns about the project's links to Qatar and the ideology it would promote.

"I voted for the mosque, but I am concerned about the money and the point of view they have on homosexuality and other things," Lars Aslan Rasmussen, [a] local Social Democrat, told Al Jazeera.

...

"But what is more important is that there should be new ideas in Islam [and] you will have imams who accept homosexuals. It will come, but this mosque is not representing something new and that is a shame."

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2014/06/denmark-first-mosque-opens-amid-controversy-2014620122224383831.html

[MyLittlePony 340]

Maybe Obama knows of this he part of Muslim Brotherhood.

[mota bhai 2,675]

Maybe Obama knows of this he part of Muslim Brotherhood.

???

[Fan_Dancer 171]

Another sad moment for Europe.

O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself.

Edited June 21, 2014 by Fan_Dancer

[mota bhai 2,675]

Another sad moment for Europe.

Why sad?

[Darnell 8,478]

Denmark's first mosque opens as Social Democrats look for "new ideas" and an Islam that accepts homosexuality

Now that's change I can believe in - Thanks, Barry !!!

[yes, I blame The Kenyan for causing this to happen. All Danes should be in uproar that it was Barry's idea]

[Fan_Dancer 171]

Why sad?

Because European culture is Judeo-Christians. And because I don't care much for Muslms in Europe. And because of those little girls that were genitally mutilated in Sweden. Because ...

Btw, why do we read about churches being opened in muslim countries? Iran, Saudi etc?

[mota bhai 2,675]

... because I don't care much for Muslms in Europe.

So you're openly coming out on a forum as multicultural and diverse as VisaJourney as nothing more than a sad little bigot.

[Fan_Dancer 171]

So you're openly coming out on a forum as multicultural and diverse as VisaJourney as nothing more than a sad little bigot.

I am not going to apologize for liking my Europe the way it is (was?). Civilized, white and Christian. So yeah, I am a bigot/racist/whatever. I know what I like.

[Fan_Dancer 171]

Oh, Japan keeps immigration at under 3% because they want to conserve their culture. Are they bigoted as well?

[Peikko 1,575]

I am not going to apologize for liking my Europe the way it is (was?). Civilized, white and Christian. So yeah, I am a bigot/racist/whatever. I know what I like.

What's your personal link to Europe? Whatever it is, you don't seem to be very knowledgeable on Europe as an entity by your description. Where exactly is 'your' version of Europe that is white and christian? Could you identify the countries you believe fulfill(historically fulfilled) these criteria? The civilised bit we'll leave alone, for now

[Fan_Dancer 171]

What's your personal link to Europe? Whatever it is, you don't seem to be very knowledgeable on Europe as an entity by your description. Where exactly is 'your' version of Europe that is white and christian? Could you identify the countries you believe fulfill(historically fulfilled) these criteria? The civilised bit we'll leave alone, for now

Umm, all? What county of Europe is not overwhelmingly white and Christian? Even the Scandinavian countries, which are nowadays migrating towards atheism, have a serious Protestant background.

Edited June 21, 2014 by Fan_Dancer

[Peikko 1,575]

Umm, all? What county of Europe is not overwhelmingly white and Christian? Even the Scandinavian countries, which are nowadays migrating towards atheism, have a serious Protestant background.

All, I see, all. Interesting. Well, France is completely secular, it doesn't have a national church. Spain has had a contingent of muslims for several hundred years, Southern Spain was under Moorish rule for some time. The Celts were not Christians, nor were the Angles, or Goths, or Visagoths or Norsemen, slavs or croats, I could go on so your version of Europe is, well, it never existed. More than that, there are already several million non white, non christians living all over Europe and have been, well ever since Europe was Europe. So, my question is, what exactly are objecting to that this mosque represents for you? Do you object to Africans? Muslims? Both? Or only Africans that are also Muslims? Or, Muslims that are not white? You seem to think that one mosque in Denmark is an issue because it reflects badly on the overwhelmingly white, christian Europe that you cherish, and yet, what's one mosque more or less? I really find your objection irrational.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Where do you get the energy to engage???

Good luck!

[Fan_Dancer 171]

All, I see, all. Interesting. Well, France is completely secular, it doesn't have a national church. Spain has had a contingent of muslims for several hundred years, Southern Spain was under Moorish rule for some time. The Celts were not Christians, nor were the Angles, or Goths, or Visagoths or Norsemen, slavs or croats, I could go on so your version of Europe is, well, it never existed. More than that, there are already several million non white, non christians living all over Europe and have been, well ever since Europe was Europe. So, my question is, what exactly are objecting to that this mosque represents for you? Do you object to Africans? Muslims? Both? Or only Africans that are also Muslims? Or, Muslims that are not white? You seem to think that one mosque in Denmark is an issue because it reflects badly on the overwhelmingly white, christian Europe that you cherish, and yet, what's one mosque more or less? I really find your objection irrational.

I could have sworn the Moors or the Celts would have been brought into the discussing. Incorrectly, obviously. All those populations were either assimilated or eliminated from Europe - or they survived in enclaves that are almost irrelevant in number and influence.

The ancient populations were converted to Christianity (really, everyone knows that). Slavs and Croats are Christians, what are you talking about?

No, there were never "several million non white Christians living in Europe" some hundred of years ago, where do you get your information from, lol! The two most diverse areas of Europe were Spain (and we all know how La reconquista ended), and the Balkans, which were continuously invaded by the Ottoman Empire, more or less successfully (and one of the important aspects of those wars was actually the right to build or not a mosque on those territories)

I object on the presence of the muslim religion in Europe, simply because I feel it bring nothing good to the table. You are right - Europe is moving away from organized Christianity towards a Secular Humanism that I personally embrace. A religion of a pedophile, woman abuse and violence can certainly bring nothing worth to it.

Sometimes it takes one apple to spoil the bushel.

Oh, btw, I was expecting better arguments. I have a degree in European Studies, so I have read a bit about my continent's history and culture. But I am always open to a dialogue, and wiling to change my mind.