Europe will follow Lebanon

Submitted by John G. Spethman MD (United States), Apr 14, 2008 at 21:54

I agree, Europe is beginning to "slowly awaken" to the problem it has created. I concur with Mr. Pipes' assessment that Europe is beginning to show signs of this with the Fitna film, the anti-hijab legislation, and the emergence of anti-immigrant political parties. I believe this is too late.

These are "knee jerk" reactions to a situation that Europeans feel frustrated with. The elites offer no real plan for assimilation partly because of the inherent racism in most of Europe's more influential countries, Britain and France and the abandonment of religion, especially Christianity, for secularism with it's myopic view of faith that prevents the elites from seeing Islam as not only a religion but a political system that views democracy as counter to the will of Allah because only Allah can make law and govern not man.

There is an increasing radicalization seen in Europe and one attempt to try and stem it is by bringing in "moderate" Imams from the ME and SA to help mosques deal with this. It rarely occurs on the part of muslims themselves. It is rare that "radical Imams" are deported but Europeans believe that reason can persuade them to temper their sermons or believe that they are "misunderstood."

The reason that I believe Mr. Pipes' third scenario will not come to fruition is the blatant capitulation to the veiled threats of the Islamic world to Geert Wilder's film Fitna. To see European elite and leaders forsake Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression has only emboldened the radicals in their own countries as well as in the ME. Another failure of assimilation is an unwillingness on the part of muslims.

Muslims see aspects of Western society in direct opposition to their faith i.e. women's rights, sexuality, and secularism especially. Muslims immigrating to Europe have not rejected Islam but the lack of opportunities in their home country. Islam is the perfect system. Muslims living in the land of the kuffar are to abide by the laws until they are strong enough to exert control. For example, the Deobandi scholar Justice Muhammad Taqi Usmani argues that muslims should live peacefully in countries such as Britian, where they have the freedom to practice Islam, only until they gain enough power to engage in battle.

Muslims who I am in debates with from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Jordan and elsewhere demonstrate no desire to live peacefully once Islam has gained it's strength and momentum back. Muslims in these areas of the world yearn for a day when the "Golden Age of Islam" returns and muslims again are in control. They sincerely believe that Allah desires the world to be Islamic whether through conversion or the lesser Jihad. When the West becomes weakened as is one of the goals of Al-Qaeda, Islam will have it's main obstacle wounded and vulnerable to attack. They already see Europe as weakened under it's secular way of life, low birth levels and an aging population coupled with the mind set of "moral relativism" that blinds them to anything but their own personal wants and needs. European elite and leaders have no desire to confront Islam in their midst nor to protect and defend European values.

The radicals see this as a weakness and will exploit it. As the resentment towards governments that do not support Islamic ideals grows and the muslim populations increase while native Europeans slowly die away, there will be a shift in the dynamics of society. Sharia law will be demanded on the grounds that muslims are the majority and as such have a right to decide how they wish to be governed. Native Europeans will find themselves forced into a corner. Violent conflicts will ensue as each tries to exert power and control over the other, One for Allah, the other for survival. Muslims and Europeans already live segregated.

The cities will be divided into muslim and non-muslim. European countries with smaller muslim populations will place them in "secured areas" reminiscent of Bosnia; which will enflame the Islamic world. Those who escape will go to muslim safe areas in other European countries. Money, arms and ammunition will be funneled from Eastern Europe and Turkey. As more and more countries are threatened by violence or have fallen to muslim organizations like the Hizb ut-Tahrir or "home grown Islamic terror groups that have mobilized the masses, the European Union is impotent to respond and appeals to the United State for assistance.

Welcome to the new Lebanon.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".