ProMosaik Turkey interviews Editor-in-Chief of Zaman Iskandinavya Mr. Kamil Subaşı
Mr. Aygun Uzunlar, with the Editor-in-Chief of Zaman Iskandinavya, Mr. Kamil
Subaşı.
in Denmark, and he told him that it is higher compared to other Muslim ethnic
groups. Turks in Denmark are future-oriented and focus on a better education
for their children. He expresses his concern about the rapid increase of the
right-wing national Party and the non-existence or wrong representation of
Islam and Muslims in Danish media.
disadvantages for Muslim Turks. The last two questions concerned the financial
support to immigrants who want to leave Denmark and the right of female Muslims
to wear their headscarf at school and university.
information.
consider the level of integration of Turkish Muslims in Danish society? What
has been achieved, and what has to be improved from your point of view?
Turkish origin people live in Denmark. If we compare the Turkish backgrounded
Muslims with the other Muslim background immigrant societies, we can easily say
that they are far better integrated into Denmark. But this does not mean that
they have no integration problem. Today there are more than 30 mosques
established by Turkish origin people in Denmark. Further the numbers of the
private schools are growing. That means the Turkish origin Muslims in Denmark
have been investing their on the future for a while. Education is very
important for the integration. Therefore Muslims of Turkish origin keep
supporting the private educational projects.
Aygun Uzunlar: How
dangerous do you think the right-wing parties are in Denmark at the moment? Do
you think that media and population support them?
party in the Danish Parliament (Folketinget). They have been growing very
quickly. The winner of the last EP election in May was the Danish People’s
Party which for the first time became the largest party in a nationwide
election, obtaining 26,61% of the votes and four of the thirteen seats. If you
look at the results you can say that the at least 26,61 % of the population has
supported them in the elections. But media support is something else. I don’t
think that they have a privileged position for Danish Media. However
disadvantageous position of Muslims in Danish media is not a secret. There are
numerous researches on that. A very recent research published by the Danish
Social Research Center stresses Danish newspaper media play in the reproduction
of racial and ethnic inequalities. Report says; A relatively large share of the
news stories dealing with Muslims and Islam was negatively framed and
restricted to certain topics such as extremism, terror and sharia, whereas
positive actions and critical topics like racism and discrimination against
Muslims were more or less nonexistent in the media coverage. Constructed
through an antagonistic and hierarchical relationship between ‘Danes’ and
‘Muslims’, Muslim culture and Islam tended to be represented as a threat to
Danish society and so-called Danish values.
something changed in the Danish view of Muslims and Turks since 9/11 in
Denmark?
Denmark strongly. But saying 9/11 has changed the Danish view of Muslims or
Turks would be an exaggerated comment. I personally believe that ordinary
Danish people still has not basic information about Islam. I don’t see Denmark
as a religious country. Religion is not the primary issue in Denmark. That, of
course, has the advantages and the disadvantages for Muslims and Turks.
Aygun Uzunlar: Is
the project still there to finance Turks to leave the country? Is this just a
political debate or a concrete offer to Turks to leave Denmark? How do you feel
when you read proposals like this?
Kamil Subaşı: There is no special project for Turkish
people in Denmark. But, yes there is a legislation which offers money for all
immigrants if they voluntarily give up their legal residency and move “home”.
There are age and legal status limits in this legislation. It does not include
all the immigrants in Denmark but mostly the retired ones. I think the state of Denmark tries to save
some money on old immigrants.
Aygun Uzunlar: How
are the religious rights of Turks in Denmark in the fields of education, law,
and equality?
Kamil Subaşı: Again, Turks has no special rights in
Denmark. They are subject to all laws as rest of the population. However, the
“Danish Turkish Islamic Foundation” is part of the Presidency of
Religious Affairs in Turkey, (Diyanet) and is the largest Muslim organisation
in Denmark. Islam is the largest minority religion in Denmark. More than 250,000 Muslims live in Denmark.
The first mosque was built in Denmark in 1967 and the first Muslim private
school was founded in 1978. Muslim female students have rights to wear headscarfs
not just in Danish universities but also at high schools and primary schools.
