State Politics and Islam in the Netherlands and Germany: The Case of Milli Görüş

Abstract

This article examines how European state authorities are taking part in the shaping of Islam in Europe by comparing the impact of German and Dutch state policies on Islamic organisations such as Milli Görüş¸ a Turkish-origin political Islamic organisation. Milli Görüş ¸ in the Netherlands has cooperated with Dutch authorities and developed liberal Islamic interpretations, while German authorities list Milli Görüş¸ among the top threats to the constitution. The difference between German and Dutch Milli Görüş¸ has been created through the partially-exclusivist policies of Germany and the multicultural policies of the Netherlands. I suggest that, on the one hand, the Dutch socio-political system and multicultural policies actively promote public recognition of the Muslim community, provide for a transparent relationship between the state and Islamic organisations and make cooperation a more rewarding strategy for Islamic organisations to attain their goals. On the other hand, the German socio-political system and partially exclusivist policies provide limited venues for participation and recognition, promote distrust between political authority and Islamic organisations, and make court cases a more rewarding strategy for public recognition. This comparison may provide insights for European states on how to develop policies conducive to Muslim incorporation.

Keywords

• Islam; Europe; Milli Görüş; Integration; State Policy; Turkish Muslims

Hollanda ve Almanya’da Devlet Politikaları ve İslam: Milli Görüş Örneği

Abstract

Bu makale Avrupa devleti yetkililerinin Avrupa’da İslam’ın şekillenmesinde nasıl rol aldıklarını Alman ve Hollandalı devlet politikalarının Milli Görüş gibi bir Türk kökenli siyasal İslamcı örgüt üzerindeki etkilerini karşılaştırarak inceliyor. Hollanda'daki Milli Görüş Hollanda devletiyle işbirliği içerisine girdi ve liberal İslam yorumları geliştirdi ancak Alman yetkililer Milli Görüş’ü anayasayı en çok tehdit eden örgütler arasında listeliyor. Alman ve Hollanda Milli Görüş arasındaki fark Almanya’nın kısmen dışlayıcı ve Hollanda’nın çok kültürlülük politikalarının birer sonucu. Hollanda’nın sosyo-politik sistemi ve çok kültürlü politikaları Müslümanların tanınmasını aktif olarak teşvik ediyor; devlet ve İslami kuruluşlar arasında şeffaf bir ilişki sağlıyor ve işbirliğini İslami kuruluşların hedeflerine ulaşmaları için daha ödüllendirici bir strateji haline getiriyor. Öte yandan, Alman sosyo-politik sistem ve kısmen dışlayıcı politikaları katılım ve tanınma için kısıtlı bir alan sağlarken, siyasi otorite ve İslami kuruluşlar arasında karşılıklı güvensizliği teşvik ediyor ve mahkemelerde dava açmayı kamusal tanınma için daha ödüllendirici bir strateji haline getiriyor. Bu karşılaştırma Avrupa devletlerinin Müslümanları topluma entegre etmelerine yönelik politikaları nasıl geliştirebileceklerine ilişkin yollar gösteriyor.

Keywords

• İslam,Avrupa,Milli Görüş,entegrasyon,devlet politikaları,Türkiyeli Müslümanlar

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