“Islam in Finland” Seminar took place under the theme of “Muslims and Researchers in Dialogue” on Tuesday, at 10.15, in Axelia, Auditorium Salin of Abo Academia in Turku, Finland with the support of 1001 Actions for Dialogue, The Anna Lindh Foundation. Leading researchers in the field and students took part in the interactive seminar and had the chance to search for a possible co-operation between different religious groups. “Islam and Suomessa” (Islam in Finland) book is also released in the before the seminar written by Tuomas Martikainen, Tuula Sakaranaho & Marko Juntunen.
In the morning part of the seminar, Tuomas Martikaninen from Abo Akademi greeted the participants and Marko Juntunen, Tuomas Martikainen, Minna Säävälä, Antero Leitzinger, Hanna Virtanen, Mari Maasilta, Karin Creutz-Kämppi continued with their views in the matter. Ahmed Akar fom Kulttuurikeskus Caisa of Finland also shared his view in the frame of “Islam in Finland”.
Islam in USA: Contemporary Trends in Religion and Immigration
Second part of the seminar was chaired by Prof. Antti Laato and Prof. Alex Stepick from Florida International University, USA made his presentation on “Contemporary Trends in Religion and Immigration” which really contributed another approach from the examples of US experience of immigration and adaptation of immigrants in their new environment. Generally, he started with the researches done on the “understanding of religion and God” in US and in comparison with Europe. According to him, more or less, religion is important to %60 of the Americans in USA, while it’s only 20% of in Europe. In USA, %63 the respondents also stated that they know God exists and in Europe around %20 of the respondents stated that they know God exists. According to statistics, %44 of the respondents attend the worship at least once a week, while in Europe it is around %15. In conclusion, “religion is very important in social life in US” stated Mr.Stepick.
He also supplied information on Islam in US and gave approximate numbers on Muslims living in US. According to him, there are over 12,000 mosques and more than half of them are founded in last 25 years. Islam is still the fastest growing religion in US and approximate Muslim population is around 5, 8 million and %30-%40 of them are African Americans (non-immigrants), 25% of them are South Asians, around 25% of them are Arabic speaking and rest is from N.Africa. First Muslim settlement was N. Dokato in 1900’s and later on Indiana Islamic Center was founded in 1914 in Iawo, the oldest American mosque still exist there and actively used. What was interesting is both states are in the heartland of US, still known as the most conservative parts of US.
Prof. Alex Stepick went on by giving information on immigration waves of US and on average Muslim goers. In 1924, US shut down all the immigrations, and 3rd wave immigration started only in 1947, dominantly from Pakistan and India. 4th wave followed in 1965 with mainly highly qualified professionals due to the immigration regulations. According to Mr. Stepick, average Muslim goers today “has a Bachelor degree of higher”, “earns around 74 thousand US dollar”, and “married with children” in US.
Prof. Alex Stepick: Path towards Integration
According to Prof. Alex Stepick, tension between religiously differed groups is inevitable. But “cooperation can be encouraged” and “positive context of reception” can be attainable and integration process might be successful with “strong leaders” and “cooperative activities”. Spots, music, food can well be used as a common international bridge between different groups.
He also emphasized the importance of “welcoming” immigrants in their new environment. It generally produces a smooth integration process and well adapted immigrants at the end. The other way to “reject” them and this act highly luckily to crates reactive response, and emphasizes on differences rather than commonalities.
Prof. Alex Stepick stated that he found Bush having a positive response toward US Muslims after September 11 was worked well to distinguish the terrorism and Muslims living in US. Certainly this example was highly debatable on. He concluded his words summing up his core points; such as “religious leadership”, “projects moral authority”, “links congregants with power or people who come to power”, “cooperative activities that effect solidarity” (such as food, dance, music, sport, education and our communication rhetoric”.
Dr. Sean McLoughlin :Muslim Leadership and Public Engagement in Britain
Dr. Sean McLoughlin from University of Leeds, UK took the stage and overviewed his presentation under the topics of “Muslim in Britain”, “From Race to Faith: The State Multiculturalism”, “From Local to National: Old & New Movement”, “The Rise and Fall of Muslim Council of Britain” and “The State & Muslim Leadership after 7/7”
He pictured the current Muslim demography in UK and stated that 1/3 of all the Muslims of UK live in London. According to Religious Question 2001, there are around 1,6 million Muslims living in UK and the number grew up around %60 since 1991.Generally Muslims are in UK described as “less mobile and more conservative” than other groups and the word of YUMMies (Young and Upperly Mobile Muslims) often used to describe the new generation.
In the “From the Race and Faith Relations”, Dr. Sean McLoughlin made an outline of immigration, citizenship, race and ethnic relations in UK. First started with Post Colonial Commonwealth Citizenship and race riots of 1950’s. Immigration legislation from 1950’s and discrimination legislation after 1966 were important attempt to create a base for unity in diversity. Multiculturalism was seen as a way out from most of the problems by the liberals starting from 60’s and the same thinking went for quite a long time. Dr. Sean McLoughlin continued his presentation with “From Race to Faith Relations” and gave the examples of “Riots in Northern mill towns”, “failure in multiculturalism”, “islamaphobia”, and possibility of “shared experiences and common citizenship to minimize the further disorder”.
He also overviewed the attempts of Muslims to be organized in UK under an umbrella organisation such as a council or a council in order to defend their rights. This came to real in 1997 with the name of “Muslim Council of Britain” as something similar to Jewish Board of Deputies”, but the council lacked representatives of Pakistani Sufis while the majority of the Muslims in UK are Pakistani originated. At the end, in 2006 Sufi Muslim Council appeared on the stage as a power. They called themselves as “the silent majority” but lacked the institutional expression. Meanwhile traditional Islamist took the stage under the name of “struggle for Islam”. Generally Dr. Sean McLoughlin stated that there seems to be tendency towards “wider trends since Sept. 11, mature, self critical, cosmopolitan Muslim voices”.
Dr Anas Hajjar:Finnish Muslims and Dialogue of Religions
Dr Anas Hajjar from Islamic Council of Finland started giving information on his background as an immigrant who came to Finland 22 years ago. He overviewed the history of Islam in Finland by referring to Tatars who came from Russia in 19th century to Finland as Muslims. In 1940, Tatars even found their first mosque in Järvenpää. Later on 1980’s, a new wave of immigration started mainly from Middle East and Africa to Finland and in 1990’s Somalians, Kosovians and Bosnians came as immigrants due to the conflicts in their own regions. Muslim population is thought to be around 40.000 and Dr Anas Hajjar stated that 7000 of them are registered members of Islamic Council of Finland and rest prefers to be free believers of Islam rather than having any ties with any council or associations.
He stated that, after September 11, President of Finland and leaders of religious groups wanted to meet more often to know more about each other and have talks about a possible cooperation. Dr Anas Hajjar stated that it is about cooperation not about bossing to prove who is better than the other, or who is more right, but mainly for dialogue between religions on an equal level and understanding of each other in order to work together for a better society. He stated that the regular meeting between the leaders of different religions still taking place in Finland.
Director Seppo Rissanen :The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Dialogue
Director Seppo Rissanen from The Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission also informed the audience about his background and told that they are having regular meeting with the countries; Lebanon, Syria and Iran for cooperation. He stated that dialogue attempts are quite new not because they did not want but it was because there were not a Muslim community existing other than Tatars. According to him, all together number of Tatars and Jews were around 2000. But the whole picture started to change in homogeneous Finland in especially 90’s with new immigrants. Especially with the rise of religious extremism, dialogue stated to be a new challenge. “Peace between religions can not be taken for granted” Director Seppo Rissanen stated. Because the whole situation can turn into intolerance, discrimination, and violence at the end.
He gave an example of an actual case happened few years ago in south west of Finland; young Finns and young Muslims had a fight on the street and after the fight the leaders of religious groups condemned the action all together. According to Mr.Rissanen, moment of crises can be used as a starting point of active cooperation. He also stated that they have open invitation to other religions to come together and discuss and cooperate. He said twice a year, they are having such meetings and so far there has not been any tense argument. He said they are aware of they are major differences in their beliefs but it does not prevent them to respect each other. “Personally I am convinced dialogue is becoming part of our life” stated Director Seppo Rissanen.
Gokhan KURTARAN
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