– He should go down to his Muslim friends, it said in…
The hijab debate is heating up in Denmark after the leader of Frie Grønne, Sikandar Siddique, proposed allowing religious headgear in the police and defence. According to Siddique, the proposal is about “creating space for diversity”, and according to him himself, the proposal has “nothing to do with Islam”. Pernille Vermund, leader of Nye Borgerlige, is not impressed. She replied “agree” to a comment that said Siddique “should go down to his Muslim friends”. Unlike Norwegian politicians, Vermund does not lie flat when she is confronted with the comment. On the contrary, she says there are many places Siddique can go if he wants a society where Islam has greater influence.
It is “village mentality” not to allow religious headgear in public positions, claims Frie Grønne’s leader in a video he has posted on Facebook. He says that skullcaps, turbans and hijabs show diversity and that it is time to allow such garments in both the police and the armed forces, as other countries do.
The comment field under the video clearly shows that there are very few Danes who allow themselves to be provoked by Siddique’s statements, many of whom advocate that Denmark must and must retain the principle of neutrality. A commentator writes that Siddique should travel down to his Muslim friends, and it is Pernille Vemund’s answer that has caused the temperature to rise to the boiling point not just in Danish social media, but in the media in general. For Vemund does not allow himself to be picked on by Siddique’s subsequent allegations of racism and unworthy debating style. She stands her ground.
Crusade for Islam
To Berlingske Vemund says that she has no faith that Frie Grønne is so concerned with “diversity”, but that the proposal is about Islam.
She emphasized at the same time that in her view it is not right when Sikandar Siddique denies that the proposal is about Islam. According to her, there are almost no Jews or Sikhs who request the opportunity to wear religious headgear.
– Now listen to her. It is a condition in a democracy when opinions differ and controversial topics are debated. Islam is controversial. It is important for many that Islam does not gain more influence in our society, and correspondingly it is Muslims who think Islam should be given a greater place. We must expect the show to be tough and the debate red-hot, and if you don’t want that, then you have to stop doing what Sikandar Siddique did.
She believes that Siddique pulls the offer card as soon as he is criticized, and on his own Facebook page Vemund writes about Sikandar Siddique’s “Islamic crusade”.
“Unworthy”
Unsurprisingly, Siddique reacted with alleged dismay at how “undignified” it was for Vermund to comment. To BT the Frie Grønne leader says the following:
– I think it is frightening that a political leader wants another politician sent out of the country. This is not the kind of democratic conversation I want. It is unworthy of a party leader. Pernille Vermund does not live up to her responsibility to keep a good tone here.
Siddique is also upset on his own Facebook page, and insinuates that people associated with Nye Borgerlige are both extreme racists and Nazis. He refers to those who sympathize with Vermund as “basement people”.
You can easily imagine the lengths to which Norwegian politicians would go to clear themselves of such accusations, but Pernille Vermund takes the criticism with crushing calm.
She points out to Berlingske that she has not said that Siddique at all shall travel, but that she absolutely means him ought to travel, if he really wants a country where Islam has power.
– It is perhaps violent to say it that way. But if you want more Islam in Denmark, then I strongly disagree, and then there are many Islamic countries you can travel to.
– So if he continues to stand for his opinions, then he should go down to his Muslim friends?
– It is not something he HAS to do. But I think it is an advantage if you want to live in a liberal democracy that you support the rights we have in Denmark. Among other things, the current principle that our law enforcement is free and neutral.