What is behind the burkini

In past couple of days I wrote a number of lines about the burkini hullabaloo in France. They were addressed to the Portuguese readers as the controversy has gone beyond the French borders and attracted very serious attention in several European countries. It´s a good summer story at a time of the year most newspapers are looking for light pieces to entertain the vacationers.

But this is no light subject. The burkini hides a number of political issues. It is not just a matter of freedom. It is the tip of a political iceberg.

One should note that even now that France´s Conseil d´Etat – the Supreme Court for these matters – has decided that the ban on wearing a burkini is illegal, the vast majority of the French people are for its prohibition. This reveals a new state of mind in the country. Public opinion has been deeply traumatised by the acts of terror that occurred during the last two years. They want to feel safe and at home in their own country. And they see the beach swimwear as an expression of radical Islam. Moreover, they see it as a banner that says no to the French way of life. It´s an expression of a culture that is foreign to many mainstream people. And that is less and less tolerated.

  

All this calls for a moment of introspection about the future. But it has to be carried out with greater serenity than what we have seen so far.

No need to go overboard

Serenity is the best answer to all complex challenges. It´s essential to keep that in mind as we face a number of terrorist attacks. They want to destabilize us. We respond with steadiness. And with the appropriate means. No need for dramatic speeches of the kind we watched yesterday in Paris. A few firm words are enough. 

Today in Brussels

We had a very dramatic day in Brussels. The bombs at the airport and in the subway, at the beginning of the working hours, have shaken everyone. They had a major political and economic impact. But they will not make us become less tolerant. From where I stand, I can say that people have shown a lot of restraint. They were certainly deeply shocked. However, they have not fallen into any kind of xenophobic reaction or racist mood. That basically means that the terrorists have been able to hurt all of us but they cannot change our way of life, they will not win. We, here in Brussels, are used to a very diverse city and will continue to appreciate that diversity. That´s the world of today. Theirs is a world of a very distant and barbaric past. 

Lessons from Cologne

Regarding the sexual attacks against young women and thefts in Cologne, and also in some other European cities, I certainly wish to add my voice to those who have expressed shock. It is important to make it clear that such actions are criminal acts. Therefore, the perpetrators ought to be brought to face justice. The police work needs to be done without any outside interference. This is no time for political meddling in police affairs.

But it is time to draw some very serious political lessons from these abhorrent incidents. They call for a frank debate about the challenges of integrating in Europe large numbers of people coming from cultures that are very different from ours – and in some ways, unacceptable, because they are a negation of key human values Europeans take for granted. It is not an easy debate but has to be clearly discussed. 

Hate or madness?

It is indeed too early to jump to conclusions but the mass killings in San Bernardino, California, raise a number of very worrisome questions. And these are not just about the access to weapons in the US. They would certainly be related to the growing culture of hatred we see taking roots in our societies. Is it so, or are dealing with another isolated drama? 

11 September

A day to remember all of those who have been victims of terrorist actions. And to reaffirm that one of the most pressing priorities of today, for every government that believes in democracy and tolerance, is to neutralise the leadership and the key elements of the so-called Islamic State. 

Copenhagen: again the desperate lone wolf

The killings in Copenhagen have shown again that the “lone wolf” has become a significant danger in our societies. This type of solitary killer is basically a younger person who has had serious problems of social integration. He – or she – might also have spent some time in the petty crime circles, with eventually some time served in prison. The killing spree is some kind of swan song. The last expression of a desperation. 

The Copenhagen drama has also shown that such actions are very difficult to prevent. A country can have the best police services in the world, the best integration systems, the best social security schemes, and still be vulnerable to these acts. We have to learn to live with a certain degree of insecurity. And protect the possible targets, as the Danes did, the best we can.

These are complex matters. They are above all criminal acts that are practiced by criminal minds with a strong dose of madness. It would be a very serious mistake to link them just to a community of citizens and put some generalized blame on such community. We condemn the killings, we condemn the perpetrator and we add, the responsibility rests clearly with him.  

Auschwitz is a powerful symbol

Today´s celebrations at Auschwitz should be emphasised. Europe needs to be confronted with the horrors of the recent past – people who suffered at that death camp are still with us – and be reminded that we can commit atrocities against our next door neighbour if, for a start, we do not respect him or her, if we do not accept that Europe is diverse and that diversity is enriching for all of us.

We mention so often the European values. Good. But then we should take into account that cultural tolerance is one of the defining principles that shape our system of values. 

Let´s be wise and thoughtful

This is a time, I should repeat, to be moderate and tolerant. And also to keep in mind the weakest segments of society and ask ourselves if we are doing the right things when it comes to respecting them. 

Please do not promote social discrimination

I welcome every statement made by the political leaders, including today´s speech by the French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, as well as Chancellor Angela Merkel´s declaration, that the Muslim citizens of our European countries should be fully respected. To discriminate against them because of the criminal actions of a handful of people would be totally unfair.

At present, one of the key issues is about making sure that an important segment of our societies is not victimised.

And this is even more important if one takes into account that many of our fellow Muslim citizens do occupy modest positions in the social ladder and are therefore less able to make their voice heard. 

After Charlie, many rays of hope

Impressive rally in Paris. Impressive popular demonstrations all over France. This should bring back hope and tolerance. And one should make sure that the security responses that will follow the Charlie drama are proportionate and unobtrusive.

Charlie Hebdo and our tolerance level

On this day, when barbarians attacked the weekly Charlie Hebdo, in the heart of the city of Paris, one should just say two things. First, to express sadness. And second, to say that this type of criminal actions aims at the core of our values and tries to destroy our tolerance, our acceptance of the difference. And that cannot be accepted. We certainly come out of this in pain but at the same time strengthened in our capacity to accept the difference. What we cannot accept is terrorism, extremism, ideas of centuries ago, or any dog of God. And we have to be prepared to fight them. There is no place in our society, in 2015, for any group of mad, hallucinated terrorists.  

Human rights and reconciliation

In Northern Mali, now that the French military operations brought state control back to the urban areas, the next challenge is to make sure that the national army respects the human rights of the Tuareg populations. The soldiers come from the south of the country and tend to see everyone that looks Arab or Tuareg as a suspect Islamist, or, at least, as a collaborator of the extremists. This needs to be prevented. There have been already some reprisal killings by the Malian army and the non-black residents of the North are terrified. Their human rights have to be safeguarded.

In addition, it is time for political dialogue and reconciliation between the communities.

All these issues need to be high on the international agenda as some type of assistance is being gathered by donor countries. To start with, France, the EU and the US should make clear statements about the need for a political process, for human rights and tolerance in Mali. 

Paris is diverse

There was a very large demonstration in Paris today against the adoption of legislation that would recognise the marriage between people of the same sex. I disagree with the position adopted by the demonstrators. But applaud those who have the commitment and courage to fight for their views and values. Strong societies are made of people who are not afraid of expressing their opinion.  They are also made of people who accept the views and behaviour of others who might have opted for a different approach to life.

Tolerance and inclusiveness are key dimensions of today’s democracies. 

Prejudices

Copyright V.Angelo

Different approaches are welcome as long as they sustain a common project. 

We cannot fall into the trap that sees some Europeans as just part of the decoration and little less. Some people in Brussels and in some Northern capitals are again tempted to look at nations from that perspective. We all know that arrogance and contempt have filled the history of Europe with wars and pain.