C L O S E R

Protected: ‘Poldermujahedeen’

Posted on July 14th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Young Muslims.

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C L O S E R The Mohammed B. Court Case part 0

Posted on July 10th, 2005 by .
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

Tomorrow will begin the court case against the murderer of Theo van Gogh, who was killed 2 November 2004 by Mohammed B. who claimed to have a islamic motive.

He left a note on his body in which he treatened Hirsi Ali and that had several references to the Egyptian Takfir wal-Hijra.. Mohammed B. is also accused of being part of a terrorist network, the so-called Hofstadgroup.

Mohammed B. is refusing to appear before the court tomorrow, therefore he will be forced to appear. His lawyer will plea for him. Perhaps Mohammed B. is giving a statement but I doubt it. Theo van Gogh’s mother will give a statement before court.

Several questions remain at this moment. What is his place in this so-called Hofstadgroup? They were very much focused on a violent jihad in Chechnya, Palestina and other places but not in the Netherlands. Why did they change their minds, apparently in two or three months? What kind of group was the hofstadgroup. In my mind not a very professional one, although very serious with several international connections.

Questions, questions, questions…answers? Not yet. Perhaps in the coming days. I will attend the court case and inform you and at the same time report the debates about it on the internet (I wanted to do that now already, but it is very quiet).

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C L O S E R – Mohammed B. Court Case Part 0

Posted on July 9th, 2005 by .
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

Op maandag begint het proces tegen Mohammed B. Ik zal daar hier ook verslag van doen. Als ‘opwarmer’ (1 van 2) de NRC van vandaag met een zeer uitgebreid portret van deze man:

Mohammed B. was bezig met de dood

De wereld van Mohammed B.

Er blijven toch nog wel wat vragen over na het lezen van deze artikelen. Het wordt duidelijk dat Mohammed B. zich op een gegeven moment gaat richten op de gewelddadige jihad in Nederland. Dit is een duidelijke breuk met het eerdere patroon van de vermeende hofstadgroep. Wat bracht hem daar toe?

Wat was zijn positie binnen die vermeende groep?

Wat drijft hem nu precies? Nou ja en nog wel wat meer…

Het uitgebreide artikel in NRC: (more…)

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Protected: NRC Handelsblad – Binnenland: Imams preken tegen terreur

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Mohammed B. wil geen verdediging – telegraaf.nl [Binnenland]

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by .
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

Mohammed B. wil geen verdediging – telegraaf.nl [Binnenland]
Mohammed B. wil geen verdediging
AMSTERDAM – Mohammed B., die heeft bekend Theo van Gogh te hebben vermoord, weigert maandag naar de rechtbank te komen in Amsterdam waar zijn proces begint. Ook wil hij dat zijn raadsman geen verdediging voert. Dat zei advocaat P. Plasman vrijdagavond in het NOS Journaal.

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Protected: AD.nl – Leden Hofstadgroep ook in Londen

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: nu.nl/algemeen | Aanslagen Londen mogelijk werk van Britse jongeren

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: nu.nl/algemeen | Aanslagen Londen mogelijk werk van Britse jongeren

Posted on July 8th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: International Terrorism, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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right to decide | it is impossible to disentangle religion from culture or tradition

Posted on July 7th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Gender, Kinship & Marriage Issues, Young Muslims.

An interview with my ISIM-colleague Linda Herrera on right to decide

Some parts of it:

In the context of the Muslim world the bad practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), honour killings, forced marriages, homophobia, and a range of other oppressive patriarchal practices and attitudes get so much media and scholarly attention that I do not need to go into those topics here. What I can point out is that things are not always as they appear. The Islamic Republic of Iran which represents a fairly conservative theocracy, for example, has one of the most efficient and perhaps even progressive approaches to sexual and reproductive health in the region. A number of scholars including Soraya Tremayne (Oxford University) and Homa Hoodfar (Concordia University) have shown that due largely to a vibrant grassroots and mainly female based civil society working in the fields of health and sexuality, a range of services and programs by both governmental and non-governmental agencies have had a vast impact on curbing population growth and providing much needed services in areas of reproductive health. Such programs include condom distribution, sex education, abortion services, sex change operations, in-vitro fertilization, and services for teen pregnancy. These types of services get justified through religious rulings and testify to how practices and attitudes change according to dynamic process that involve the agency of activists, clergy, government and non-governmental organizations.

[…]

The Quran, a seventh century sacred text in Arabic verse believed by Muslims to represent the actual words of God (transmitted to the Prophet Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel), in its very reading, reciting, or hearing, necessitate interpretation. Whether one approaches the Quran as divine communication, sublime poetry, or historic document, it is not a how-to manual from a certain ideological orientation with straight forward instructions on how to deal with specific issues (such as sexual and reproductive rights and health issues). My understanding of these debates, therefore, is that the Quran, like any other holy book, body of thought, philosophy, transcendental guidance, is neither inherently traditional nor progressive; it is what the reader, reciter, or listener, situated in a specific historic moment with a certain social positioning and ethical inclination, makes of it.

[…]

In addition to changes that might occur through international influence and pressure, Muslim societies and individuals within transnational Muslim communities are also contributing to the advancement of more rights-based movements. Countries such as Egypt have seen the growth of organizations dealing with sexuality and rights such as Al-Nadim Centre for Human Rights and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Iran, as mentioned above, has long been witnessing a vibrant civil society movement in arenas of gender and sexuality. Proponents of a progressive Islam, such as Zeina Anwar of the Sisters of Islam in Malaysia and Scott Kugle, a fellow at the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM), are working in movements with colleagues and like-minded reformers towards greater social justice as it pertains to gender and sexuality. Change, I believe, is not only inevitable, but a force of nature. But change towards greater social justice will need not only support from many constituents, but continuous commitment, courage, and creativity.

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right to decide | it is impossible to disentangle religion from culture or tradition

Posted on July 7th, 2005 by .
Categories: Gender, Kinship & Marriage Issues, Young Muslims.

An interview with my ISIM-colleague Linda Herrera on right to decide

Some parts of it:

In the context of the Muslim world the bad practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM), honour killings, forced marriages, homophobia, and a range of other oppressive patriarchal practices and attitudes get so much media and scholarly attention that I do not need to go into those topics here. What I can point out is that things are not always as they appear. The Islamic Republic of Iran which represents a fairly conservative theocracy, for example, has one of the most efficient and perhaps even progressive approaches to sexual and reproductive health in the region. A number of scholars including Soraya Tremayne (Oxford University) and Homa Hoodfar (Concordia University) have shown that due largely to a vibrant grassroots and mainly female based civil society working in the fields of health and sexuality, a range of services and programs by both governmental and non-governmental agencies have had a vast impact on curbing population growth and providing much needed services in areas of reproductive health. Such programs include condom distribution, sex education, abortion services, sex change operations, in-vitro fertilization, and services for teen pregnancy. These types of services get justified through religious rulings and testify to how practices and attitudes change according to dynamic process that involve the agency of activists, clergy, government and non-governmental organizations.

[…]

The Quran, a seventh century sacred text in Arabic verse believed by Muslims to represent the actual words of God (transmitted to the Prophet Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel), in its very reading, reciting, or hearing, necessitate interpretation. Whether one approaches the Quran as divine communication, sublime poetry, or historic document, it is not a how-to manual from a certain ideological orientation with straight forward instructions on how to deal with specific issues (such as sexual and reproductive rights and health issues). My understanding of these debates, therefore, is that the Quran, like any other holy book, body of thought, philosophy, transcendental guidance, is neither inherently traditional nor progressive; it is what the reader, reciter, or listener, situated in a specific historic moment with a certain social positioning and ethical inclination, makes of it.

[…]

In addition to changes that might occur through international influence and pressure, Muslim societies and individuals within transnational Muslim communities are also contributing to the advancement of more rights-based movements. Countries such as Egypt have seen the growth of organizations dealing with sexuality and rights such as Al-Nadim Centre for Human Rights and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Iran, as mentioned above, has long been witnessing a vibrant civil society movement in arenas of gender and sexuality. Proponents of a progressive Islam, such as Zeina Anwar of the Sisters of Islam in Malaysia and Scott Kugle, a fellow at the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM), are working in movements with colleagues and like-minded reformers towards greater social justice as it pertains to gender and sexuality. Change, I believe, is not only inevitable, but a force of nature. But change towards greater social justice will need not only support from many constituents, but continuous commitment, courage, and creativity.

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Protected: de Volkskrant – Salafisme: compromisloos en rechtlijnig, maar ‘niet gevaarlijk’

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: My Research, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: de Volkskrant – Over Martine van den O. en Soumaia

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Young Muslims.

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Protected: AD.nl – ‘Bilal had plan voor zelfmoordaanslag’

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: AD.nl – 'Bilal had plan voor zelfmoordaanslag'

Posted on July 6th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Lifemakers NL

Posted on July 4th, 2005 by .
Categories: Internal Debates, My Research, Young Muslims.

Sinds vandaag online: Lifemakers NL

Dit is een website gerelateerd aan Amr Khaled’s initiatief Lifemakers. Volgens de website gelooft Amr Khaled dat het de (hoogste?) tijd was voor verandering en dat het overschot aan energie van de jeugd moet worden gebruikt voor een betere toekomst en om een toegevoegde waarde te leveren aan de reden en het nut van het bestaan. Het idee achter Lifemakers is het opzetten van projecten waarvan de opleving van de samenlevingen het doel is. Voor meer info ga zelf maar even kijken.

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Protected: NRC Handelsblad – Misvatting over ‘terreur’ scholieren

Posted on July 2nd, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Some personal considerations, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Protected: NRC Handelsblad – Misvatting over 'terreur' scholieren

Posted on July 2nd, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Some personal considerations, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Protected: C L O S E R – De spin in het zelfmoordnet

Posted on July 2nd, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

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Protected: Het Parool – Radicalisme bereikt Marokko via Europa

Posted on June 28th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Religious and Political Radicalization, Some personal considerations, Young Muslims.

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Protected: Reformatorisch Dagblad – Internet Editie

Posted on June 28th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Young Muslims.

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C L O S E R: De inkt van de geleerde en het bloed van de martelaar door Dick Pels

Posted on June 22nd, 2005 by .
Categories: Internal Debates, Islam in the Netherlands, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

Ontvangen via Tareq van de MoslimMedia Yahoogroep.

De inkt van de geleerde en het bloed van de martelaar

Dick Pels
Dick Pels over Azzam, de pen, het bloed, scheiding kerk-staat enz. Zeer de moeite waard!

De institutionele machtenscheiding tussen wetenschap en staat is dus niet hetzelfde als de filosofische scheiding tussen wetenschap
en politiek, of for that matter die tussen rede en geloof. Ook hier moeten de harde onderscheidingen door zachtere worden vervangen. De modernistische opvatting van wetenschap, die zich zo sterk tegen
zowel religie als politiek heeft afgezet, onttrekt gemakkelijk allerlei onderhuidse continu�teiten aan het zicht. Een meer postmoderne en reflexieve benadering van de kennisvorming staat in elk geval sceptischer tegenover de universalistische claims van waarheid, ethische neutraliteit en objectieve feitelijkheid die het
wetenschappelijk rationalisme zo dierbaar zijn (en komt daarmee in zeker opzicht tegemoet aan de islamitische kritiek). De westerse
wetenschap blijkt politieker van inslag te zijn en meer geloofselementen in zich te dragen dan door modernisten en Verlichters doorgaans wordt erkend (11). Wie hierin een heilloos
relativisme ziet, dient te bedenken dat deze sceptische benadering van de wetenschappelijke waarheid nog veel scherper gekant is tegen de absolute openbaringswaarheden van de politieke islam. Voor radicalen die m�t Azzam de inkt van de geleerde laten ineenvloeien met het bloed van de martelaar, is deze vorm van veelgoderij zonder meer een influistering van de Duivel.

Dit artikel verscheen eerder in Civis Mundi. Tijdschrift voor
politieke filosofie en cultuur 44(3), juni 2005.
(more…)

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Islam Online- Young Dutch Muslims Take the Lead

Posted on June 22nd, 2005 by .
Categories: Islam in the Netherlands, Multiculti Issues, Young Muslims.

Islam Online- News Section
Young Dutch Muslims Take the Lead

We need to remain Muslims and at the same time respect the other’s religion, race and color, said Budak.

By Nasreddine Djebbi, IOL Correspondent

ROTTERDAM, June 15, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) Young Dutch Muslims are now taking the lead from older generations and are qualified enough to steer the minority’s integration drive.

Young Dutch Muslims better understand the nature of society as they master the native language and are fully aware of its culture and laws,� Zekerya Budak, a young Muslim activist, told IslamOnline.net.

(more…)

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Protected: Binding met Nederland vermindert…

Posted on June 17th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, My Research, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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In the Aftermath of the Van Gogh Assassination: The Future of Islam in the Netherlands

Posted on June 17th, 2005 by .
Categories: Important Publications, International Terrorism, Murder on theo Van Gogh and related issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims.

On ICT – Terrorism & Counter-Terrorism an article of one of my VU co-workers Jeffrey Schwerzel. He cultural anthropologist at the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam. He is currently working on his PhD thesis.

The assassination of filmmaker Theo van Gogh rocked Dutch society and politics. In the aftermath of the murder, the government has set about a process of fundamentally changing its policies towards Islam, Muslims, and integration. These issues have become issues of national security. Vice Prime Minister Zalm stated that �We will wage war against extremism.�[1] The impact of the new policies will be immense. Other countries in Europe are closely watching the Netherlands, and will likely follow suit with similar policy changes.

The preoccupation with security may skew the resulting policies in ways that may further antagonize groups in Dutch society. For example, the new legislation proposed will only be applied to Muslim extremists and this will confirm to some Muslims that these policies are targeted against them as a group. The processes the government has set in motion are not as predictable as the government may wish; integration can be stimulated but not enforced. The combined effect of the government�s policies may thus serve to speed up the rapid and unpredictable social changes in Dutch society, rather than calm tensions down. Further upheaval awaits us.

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Protected: NRC: Een traditioneel huwelijk uit rebellie

Posted on June 15th, 2005 by martijn.
Categories: Gender, Kinship & Marriage Issues, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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