Gigović: Islamophobia in Sweden has escalated into hatred of Islam

In all major Swedish cities today, Muslims took to the streets in large numbers to peacefully protest the rise of hatred towards Islam, which in the past 10 days has manifested as mosque burnings, reports Patria's correspondent from Sweden.

The majority of the approximately 400,000 Muslims in Sweden were driven to this distant country by wars and genocide in their homelands, which is why they are particularly sensitive to the recent events we are witnessing.

Around 60,000 Bosniaks sought refuge here in the late nineties, and Sweden generously offered them hospitality. Today, 25 congregations of the Islamic Community of Bosniaks operate here, functioning very well, partly thanks to societal support.

The reason for the interview with the president of the umbrella organization of Muslims in Sweden, Elvir Gigović, is the burning of mosques, of which there have been as many as three in the last 10 days alone. Unfortunately, some even "celebrated" New Year's Eve by burning one of the places of worship.

- Sveriges Muslimska Råd (Swedish Muslim Council) is an umbrella for several of the largest Muslim associations in Sweden, including the Islamic Community of Bosniaks in Sweden. The purpose and goal of the organization is to unite and represent its members before authorities, politicians, and institutions, but also to participate in dialogue with other religious communities.
 

PATRIA: How do you in that body assess the situation in Sweden? Are you concerned about the general rise of Islamophobia in the world?

GIGOVIĆ: Already after September 11, 2001, Muslims in Sweden felt Islamophobia in the form of discrimination in various segments of social activities, as well as in society as a whole. It has also been observed and documented by the media and those who scientifically study it. However, after the Sweden Democrats entered parliament in 2010, the intensity of Islamophobia took on new dimensions. The leader of the SD party stated clearly in a notable article in the widely circulated newspaper Aftonbladet that "Islam is the biggest threat to Sweden after World War II." Thanks to their entry into parliament, this party has received significant financial aid, which they use to propagate against Islam and Muslims. The results of the 2014 elections, when they managed to double their number of voters and are now the third largest party, speak to how effectively they are doing this.

PATRIA: So, you believe that the right-wing political party SD has the greatest influence on current events?

GIGOVIĆ: Precisely. In light of the increased number of attacks on mosques and masjids in 2014, which culminated in these recent burnings, we can safely say that the situation is worrying, but not hopeless. Although 2014 is a year in which we can stop talking about Islamophobia, or if you prefer, the fear of Islam, and start talking about "hatred of Islam," we believe that certain steps forward have been made.

The new Swedish government has shown interest and a certain concern for the situation, expressing their disapproval of the mosque burning in Eskilstuna and clearly stating that it is an attack on freedom of religion, and thus on Swedish society.

PATRIA: Do you have a concrete action plan following the mosque burnings?  

GIGOVIĆ: One of the primary tasks for our organization is to care for the rights of Swedish Muslims. In this regard, we write reports, articles, and meet with politicians and other government representatives to inform them about the level of problems that Muslims in Sweden are facing.

We will strive in all future meetings to emphasize the importance of their condemnation of this act, and that they have an important role to play in ensuring through their institutions that the perpetrators of this crime are punished and that new ones are prevented.

PATRIA: Have there been letters of support or apologies for this crime from the Swedish authorities?

GIGOVIĆ: We are satisfied with the reaction, as several ministers have already publicly condemned this crime and expressed their regret. We, along with many other Muslim organizations in Sweden, have exceptionally good cooperation with other religious communities and have already planned an action for the beginning of this year to highlight the rise of racism in society and intolerance towards religious organizations, especially Muslim ones.

PATRIA: What is the future for Muslims in Sweden?

GIGOVIĆ: It is difficult to predict the future for Muslims in Sweden, as Sweden is not entirely independent of and immune to global events. Therefore, the future becomes complex and very difficult to predict. However, Sweden has a long democratic tradition with good contact between the government and its institutions on one side, and non-governmental organizations on the other. Sweden is also one of the leading countries in terms of care for human rights and minority rights, and I hope that this democratic tradition will prevail and be more persistent than the undemocratic ambitions of populist parties.

FOR PATRIA FROM SWEDEN MUHAMED MAHMUTOVIĆ