Muslims feel “oppressed” in the “evil” West. Young German Islamists are attempting to sow division in the digital sphere.
Young Muslims in Germany are now joining forces against the “external threat”. The Austrian sociologist and religious educator Mouhanad Khorchide is now calling for a counteroffensive, according to Die Welt.
Some might think that it is not Germans who constitute an external threat in their own homeland, which has been invaded by Muslims.
Khorchide is regarded as one of the best-known representatives of a liberal and cosmopolitan interpretation of Islam in Germany. The 54-year-old is director of the Centre for Islamic Theology (ZIT) at the University of Münster.
A liberal and cosmopolitan interpretation of Islam is as difficult as it would be if one replaced the word Islam with Nazism in the sentence.
There are several Muslims who have attempted it, but they have no influence on Muslims’ attitudes. They do, however, often receive praise in Western media and are celebrated by European politicians.
Korchide believes social media needs Muslim influencers with a different view of Islam.
A great deal of false and problematic information about Islam is circulating on social media. Self-proclaimed preachers spread short, emotionally charged but questionable messages on TikTok or in podcasts, reaching many young people.
Since Hamas’ attack on Israel, this dynamic has intensified. Many Muslims are troubled by this. Young people in particular are dazzled by charismatic appearances and perceived authority – they lack access to sources of genuine expertise.
The religious educator has launched the network “Muslim Active and Open-Minded”, which is an ironic counter-copy of the extremist “Muslim Interactive”.
We are deliberately provoking with this choice of name and believe it will quickly capture the attention of young people. Anyone with questions about Islam should contact us in future.
The target group is young students, and sports personalities are desired as contributors. Perhaps he could ask Barcelona star Yamal? Well, he is not German.
Barcelona-stjernen Yamal feiret ligagullet ved å vifte med et palestinsk flagg
But the sociologist is clear that an intellectual approach alone is insufficient and says: “We must also reach people emotionally. Credible multipliers are crucial.” Then mosques appear in his thoughts, as expected.
I also hope that many mosque communities throughout Germany will themselves become active on social media and promote an open understanding of Islam. That is where the battle for hearts and minds is taking place.
Khorchide focuses on the division that arises because Islamists on social media direct attention towards the “evil” West and the “oppressed” Muslims. Naturally, the nonsense-word Islamophobia constitutes a threat, a creation of the Muslim Brotherhood, so the academic represents the very misconduct he himself criticises.
Young people are led to believe that they are victims of this society and must distance themselves from it. The message is: unite with other Muslims against the external threat.
Phenomena such as Islamophobia or anti-Muslim racism are exploited and exaggerated by these influencers.
A recent survey shows that almost half of Muslims in Germany under the age of 40 view Islamism as attractive. Many wish to anchor Islam’s religious rules as the basis of the social and political order. This is cause for concern, Khorchide believes.
Religious discourse must not begin with a claim to absolute truth. If Islam is declared the only true order, there is a great danger of entrenching a hierarchical mindset: Muslims as first-class citizens – and everyone else beneath them, as inferior.
Both German and Muslim
Khorchide wants it to become natural to be perceived as both German and Muslim.
One can be Muslim while at the same time upholding the values of a democratic society. We must make this compatibility visible and provide it with a solid scientific foundation.
He speaks of a “cosmopolitan Islam” that focuses on equality, diversity and mercy. The whole thing is beginning to appear as a pure dream.
An open Islam is an Islam that sees itself as an enriching part of society, not as a counter-model. It is compatible with democratic values, with plurality and with living together in diversity. For years I have advocated a theology strongly influenced by the idea of mercy and placing humanity at the centre.
You also repeatedly address issues such as equality and women’s studies. What role do they play in your vision of a cosmopolitan Islam?
A central point. Equal rights are not contrary to Islam as I understand it – quite the opposite. Many sources can be interpreted as strengthening women’s dignity and rights. We must explore these perspectives more thoroughly and make them more visible.
As one of the best-known reformers within Islam, Khorchide has at times lived with extensive personal protection. He regularly receives death threats, and therefore believes that an Islam of mercy is more necessary than ever. Arguments must overcome violence.
But arguments have never in history overcome violence in Islam. Equality has never existed in an Islamic country. Mercy towards non-Muslims is inconceivable, and is regarded as a mortal sin towards Jews. In not a single Muslim country does there exist anything resembling equal rights.
Khorchide appears to be a sympathetic fellow, but also a dreamer lacking realism. Or is he perhaps an agent for the ummah? It really makes no difference, because his ideas will have virtually zero influence on Muslims in Europe, no matter how much he is praised in naive European media.
The University of Münster is to establish the first Islamic theological faculty in Europe. Khorchide is delighted and regards this as a victory for Islam.
This is a very important signal – both academically and socially. It shows that Islam and the Muslim community are recognised in Germany, and that a well-founded, academic engagement with Islamic theology is taking place on equal terms. Münster should be a place where theology, society and interreligious dialogue meet.
In Norway too, Islamism is creeping into academia, sponsored by Norwegian taxpayers.
Stealth Islamisation?
He states quite plainly that the aim is to bring this understanding of Islam into local communities, schools and the public sphere. In other words: as always, this is not about any “stealth Islamisation”. We are witnessing a completely open Islamisation, desired and promoted by this moderate Muslim.
More than twenty years ago, a man came up to me at an outdoor restaurant in Stavanger. He had overheard a conversation between my wife and me. He then came over to our table and asked somewhat mockingly whether I really believed that a stealth Islamisation of Norway was taking place.
My answer was simple: No, no stealth Islamisation is taking place. The Islamisation is occurring entirely openly. Then I gave a few examples, and it ended with the man who had tried to make a fool of me sitting down at our table and buying the next round.
Outside the Oslo bubble there are still Norwegians who can accept good arguments.
It is possible that Khorchide is a decent and well-intentioned fellow. But he is attempting to wrap a misanthropic ideology in glossy paper. Either he does not dare, or he does not wish, to attack the core of the problem, which is the ideology itself.
Personally, I believe in any case that this will have zero effect; it is merely window dressing, regardless of the motivation.