Muslim Australians - Religion Cultural Diversity Resource Manual

Islam is against democratic
values
When democracy was introduced
into the Muslim world by the West,
naturally many Muslims were
hesitant to accept this Western
institution and argued that it
conflicted with Islamic ideas about
state and rule. But today, the vast
majority of Muslims argue in favour
of adopting democracy, and in many
Muslim countries some form of
democracy exists. Although support
for democracy is the norm among
ordinary Muslims , it is true that,
in the Muslim world, democracy is
yet to take root and authoritarian
regimes still rule much of the Muslim
world.
Rashid al-Ghannushi, a
modern Muslim thinker,
on democracy
If by democracy is meant the liberal
model of government prevailing
in the West, a system under which
the people freely choose their
representatives and leaders, and
in which there is an alternation of
power, as well as all freedoms and
human rights for the public, then
Muslims will find nothing in their
religion to oppose democracy, and
it is not in their interest to do so
anyway. 39
Women are inferior to
men in Islam
It is true that some Muslims believe
that women are subservient to men.
But this view is not shared by many
other Muslims who believe that men
and women are equal before God (see
section on women, p.35).
Muslims as a group do not fit
into Australian society
Islam is seen by some people
as a religion that is opposed to
fundamental Australian values.
These values include commitment
to Australia, its interests and future,
and the acceptance of the structures
and principles of Australian society
such as the Constitution, rule of law,
parliamentary democracy, freedom
of speech and religion, equality of
the sexes, and English as the national
language.
Mainstream Muslims argue that they
are committed to these values like
any other Australians. There may be
some Muslims who do not hold these
values, but this does not reflect the
views of mainstream Muslim society
in Australia. Furthermore, one of
the freedoms we have in Australia is
the right to debate and criticise our
government and the actions it takes.
Some Muslims, like other Australians,
may be critical of individual
politicians and the government of the
day. This does not mean that they are
against Australia or that they cannot
fit into Australian society. Muslims
are a very diverse group of people,
and like other Australians have
different ideas of how the country
should be run, what the government
should be doing, and the direction
that Australia should take in the
future.
Muslims are foreigners and
therefore ‘outsiders’
The fact is that, by 2001, over thirtysix
percent of Muslims were born
in Australia, and others have spent
most of their lives here. There is also
a substantial number of converts
to Islam from a variety of different
backgrounds. Most Muslims who
have migrated to Australia have made
their homes here, and are unlikely
to return to their country of origin.
They have tried hard to make a good
life for themselves and their families.
Like other Australians they want the
best for their children and want the
material opportunities that the ‘lucky
country’ has to provide. Australia is
a multicultural society and Muslims
are part of the diverse makeup of our
society.
39
John Esposito and John Voll. 2001. Makers of Contemporary Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 114.
Muslim Australians:THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 69