Muslims in Netherlands Distribute Free Qurans after Failed Desecration Attempt
The Quran burning attempt by the leader of the Dutch branch of the extremist group known as Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West or PEGIDA, took place last week.
Muslims in the Netherlands then collaborated on an excellent response that has led to hundreds of copies of the Quran being distributed.
In a joint press release, the two organizations behind the campaign, Daliel and Waaromislam, expressed the importance of reading as opposed to burning, in addition to encouraging the “fostering of harmonious coexistence in daily life”.
While discussing the arguably courageous endeavor to distribute copies of the Quran in the very same city that the PEGIDA leader, Edwin Wagensveld, recently tried to stir up division, the organizations stated, “Wagensveld’s actions, which not only push the limits of freedom of speech but also actively seek to insult and harm Dutch Muslims, have prompted a collective effort to promote understanding and unity.
“The provocative act, seen as an attempt to deepen polarization within Dutch society, has been met with a resolute stance by Waaromislam, in collaboration with Daliel and their supporters.”
If it were not sufficient that Waaromislam and Daliel took steps to set up stalls to simply engage in meaningful dialogue about Islam with members of the public, the partnership has also resulted in at least ten people reverting to Islam.
As the press release notes, “The first distribution, which took place last Sunday (January 21), resulted in ten conversions to Islam, the distribution of a thousand Qurans, and over a hundred meaningful conversations.
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“Social media responses indicate that the message has reached PEGIDA, sparking curiosity about their next actions.”
In addition to the heightened interest in Islam and the collaborative response to the hate-filled actions of PEGIDA, there has been a sea-change in the political environment in the Netherlands.
Indeed, with the late November 2023 general election resulting in the rightwing PVV — led by veteran Islamophobe Geert Wilders — receiving the most votes and continuing to engage in tedious coalition talks, some members of society may have taken this rightwing lurch as a signal to be more brazen in Islamophobic rhetoric and actions.
However, in his desperation to gather enough parliamentary support to form a government, Wilders has apparently dropped a number of proposed anti-Muslim policies including one that would have banned all “expressions of Islam”. If enacted, this would effectively ban the Quran in the Netherlands.
Such incidents as the one carried out by Edwin Wagensveld in the Netherlands and others in countries such as Sweden and Denmark by the likes of Rasmus Paludan and his Stram Kurs political party are unlikely to cease anytime soon.
In anticipation of a repeat of incidents by these extreme individuals and groups, Daliel and Waaromislam have announced a commitment to responding in an equal fashion in future.
“For every such attempt, Waaromislam and Daliel have committed to distributing a thousand Qurans.
“This symbolic gesture serves as a reminder that Dutch identity encompasses diversity, including Islam as a Dutch religion.”
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At the end of the press release, the organizations reiterated their resoluteness and confidence in handling such periods of “deep disagreements” by the will of Allah.
“Waaromislam and Daliel are steadfast in their determination to promote understanding, especially in times of deep disagreements, fostering harmonious coexistence in daily life.
“The initiative sends a strong message that attempts to insult the Quran will only lead to an increased presence of the holy book in the Netherlands.
“The organizations invite dialogue and aim to bridge divides, demonstrating that diverse beliefs can coexist without resorting to hatred, violence, or the suppression of religious freedom.”
Source: islam21c.com
