C L O S E R

Orange County Weekly – Heavy Metal Muslim

Posted on July 17th, 2006 by .
Categories: Youth culture (as a practice).

Orange County Weekly – Heavy Metal Muslim
An article by Mark Levine, a must read:

The culture wars are all about power, he said. “In Pakistan the mullahs are afraid of losing their gig to longhaired rock musicians, and so come down hard on music; in the U.S., foreign policy is being shaped by global terrorism and politicians who want to control the political and social agenda by raising the specter of fear. In both cases, Muslims are caught in the crossfire. As a result of being under the microscope, they are being forced to re-examine their religious, social and cultural identities.”

Hence, the crucial role of what I call Heavy Metal Islam. As Reda Zine explained to me, “We play heavy metal because our lives are heavy metal.” From Morocco to Pakistan, metal, thrash, punk and rap are increasingly popular precisely because they offer a public space for the criticism of closed and oppressive societies.

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Protected: Het Nieuwsblad – Jihad krijgt girlpower: Radicale moslima’s tokkelen

Posted on July 11th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Gender, Kinship & Marriage Issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Protected: Het Nieuwsblad – Jihad krijgt girlpower: Radicale moslima's tokkelen

Posted on July 11th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Gender, Kinship & Marriage Issues, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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TBS Journal – The Appeal of Sami Yusuf and the Search for Islamic Authenticity by Christian Pond

Posted on July 10th, 2006 by .
Categories: Youth culture (as a practice).

TBS 16 The Appeal of Sami Yusuf and the Search for Islamic Authenticity by Christian Pond

Well-dressed, sporting a fashionably cut, close-cropped beard and preferring tailored black suits to traditional dress, he is famous for his glitzy religious CDs and music videos. Born in 1980 to Azerbaijani parents, Sami Yusuf grew up in London and first studied music under his father, a composer. From a young age he learned to play various instruments and at the age of 18 was granted a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London.(2) In 2003, Yusuf released his first album entitled Al Mu’allim (The Teacher). Along with the Al Mu’allim also came the release of the first “Islamic music video” for the album’s title track by the same name. Both the video and the album were immensely popular throughout the Muslim world, where even in conservative Saudi Arabia album sales topped 100,000 copies.(3)

Yusuf’s message is one of tolerance and integration. In Yusuf’s music, talk of infidels and jihad are replaced with appeals to God’s love and the beauty of religion. “Islam teaches us to be balanced, to be in the middle,” Yusuf says, adding that “Islam is not a religion of extremism, and my message is balance.”(4) Yusuf believes that the majority of Muslims hold Islam to be a religion of peace and tolerance(5) and so Muslim youth, especially in the West, should be proud of their religion. “My message (to the youth) is … to be proud of your religion, be proud of who you are whether you’re from Pakistan or from Saudi Arabia or from Algeria or from Morocco or anywhere in the Muslim world … just be proud of who you are.”(6)

Thanks to Sami Ben Gharbnia for submitting this one here.

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Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | G-had and suicide bombers: the rapper who likens Bin Laden to Che Guevara

Posted on July 4th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Public Islam, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | G-had and suicide bombers: the rapper who likens Bin Laden to Che Guevara
Extracts

I Reject

Reject your thieving foreign policies
Reject your elitist congregation
Reject your mini skirt liberation
Reject your concept of integration …

Parasites

But revenge will be mine, with my last breath I will rise to curse you
Because you, you dogs and parasites have made us helpless

Cookbook DIY

I’m strapped up cross my chest bomb belt attached
Deeply satisfied with the plan I hatched
Electrodes connected to a gas cooker lighter

(more…)

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Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | G-had and suicide bombers: the rapper who likens Bin Laden to Che Guevara

Posted on July 4th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Public Islam, Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | G-had and suicide bombers: the rapper who likens Bin Laden to Che Guevara
Extracts

I Reject

Reject your thieving foreign policies
Reject your elitist congregation
Reject your mini skirt liberation
Reject your concept of integration …

Parasites

But revenge will be mine, with my last breath I will rise to curse you
Because you, you dogs and parasites have made us helpless

Cookbook DIY

I’m strapped up cross my chest bomb belt attached
Deeply satisfied with the plan I hatched
Electrodes connected to a gas cooker lighter

(more…)

0 comments.

Pop Culture in the Name of Islam – Daily Muslims

Posted on June 17th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Public Islam, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

Pop Culture in the Name of Islam – Daily Muslims
The following article: Pop Culture in the Name of Islam by YVONNE RIDLEY has gained considerable attention on the World Wide Web. Notwithstanding the presence of several ‘islamic’ boy bands such as ‘Seven 8 Six‘ and ‘Mecca2Medina‘, and not to forget an artist as Sami Yusuf (who is the target of Yvonne Ridley)many people seem to be uncomfortable about the link between Islam and Pop Culture.

I FEEL very uncomfortable about the pop culture which is growing around some so-called Nasheed artists. Of course I use the term ‘Nasheed artists’ very lightly. Islamic ‘boy bands’ and Muslim ‘popsters’ would probably be more appropriate.
Eminent scholars throughout history have often opined that music is haram, and I don’t recall reading anything about the Sahaba whooping it up to the sound of music. Don’t get me wrong. I’m all for people letting off steam, but in a dignified manner and one which is appropriate to their surroundings.
The reason I am expressing concern is that just a few days ago at a venue in Central London, sisters went wild in the aisles as some form of pop-mania swept through the concert venue. And I’m not just talking about silly, little girls who don’t know any better; I am talking about sisters in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, who squealed, shouted, swayed and danced. Even the security guys who looked more like pipe cleaners than bulldozers were left looking dazed and confused as they tried to stop hijabi sisters from standing on their chairs. Of course the stage groupies did not help at all as they waved and encouraged the largely female Muslim crowd to “get up and sing along.” (They’re called ‘Fluffers’ in lap-dancing circles!)
The source of all this adulation was British-born Sami Yusuf, who is so proud of his claret-colored passport that he wants us all to wave the Union Jacks. I’m amazed he didn’t encourage his fans to sing “Land of Hope and Glory.” Brother Sami asked his audience to cheer if they were proud to be British ,and when they responded loudly, he said he couldn’t hear them and asked them to cheer again.
How can anyone be proud to be British? Britain is the third most hated country in the world. The Union Jack is drenched in the blood of our brothers and sisters across Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Our history is steeped in the blood of colonialism, rooted in slavery, brutality, torture, and oppression. And we haven’t had a decent game of soccer since we lifted the World Cup in 1966.
Apparently Sami also said one of the selling points of Brand UK was having Muslims in the Metropolitan Police Force! Astafur’Allah! Dude, these are the same cops who have a shoot-to-kill policy and would have gunned down a Muslim last year if they could tell the difference between a Bangladeshi and a Brazilian. This is the same police force that has raided more than 3000 Muslim homes in Britain since 9/11. What sort of life is there on Planet Sami, I wonder? If he is so proud to be British, why is he living in the great Middle Eastern democracy of Egypt? (more…)

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C L O S E R – SonicJihad: A Day in the Life of a Dutch Resistance Fighter

Posted on June 2nd, 2006 by .
Categories: Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

Sometimes, Dutch press is really sleeping.

Or isn’t this news:

CM: Can you tell us a little about yourself?

SJ: I am Samir. I was born and raised in Holland. But my parents are from Moroccan origin. I’m 25 years old. I have a master degree in management, economics and law. I work for a hospital as a quality manager implementing the ISO quality certificate. My hobbies are Battlefield 2, movies and Thai-Boxing.

CM: Are you Islamic? What are your political views on what’s going on in the Middle East right now? Did they affect your choice of theme for the video?

SJ: Yes I am Muslim. But my ethnic background and religion have nothing to do with this video. My political views are like most of the people of Europe. We think that Team America IS the WORLD police 😉 I live in the west, I love the west and I do love American culture. Especially rap such as Eazy-E, NWA, Public Enemy, T-KASH and especially…. Paris! Did my views effect my choice? Nah man we were just making videos for fun. Just look at the [BF2] community, there are lots of videos made.

CM: What’s the inspiration behind your handle, “SonicJihad”?

SJ: Paris is a rapper that is trying to put a positive message in his raps… Not that bling bling, ‘ho this… that’s what’s dominating the charts nowadays. Believe me I love some good “gangsta rap” once in a while; but there has to be balance. And that is what’s wrong with the hip-hop scene nowadays. I really liked the album Sonic Jihad. And I really felt the artist and his views of the messed up situation in the world nowadays.

CM: Paris once released a song called “Bush Killa”, but it was about Bush Sr., not Dubya. When did you first come up with the idea for the video? Is there a story the video is trying to tell, or is it just a collection of interesting footage from the game?

SJ: The idea came to me when I saw that Team America movie. GREAT movie everybody should watch it. This video was just for fun with a Team America twist. There is a character [Gary Johnston] in the movie that talks about his goats getting killed by a Blackhawk helicopter and that’s why he wanted revenge. I just took that story for my BF2 video and worked it out.

CM: What was the original intent in making the video? Fan-film, demo of gaming skill, protest, art project, clan recruitment, just for fun?

SJ: It was just a fan-film made by me. There are a lot of films made by the battlefield community. There is an in game battle recorder, so that encourages [you] to make movies about the game you have just played.

CM: When did you originally release the video?

SJ: I released the video in I think December last year. So I don’t know why they come up with this about 6 months later. Is the defence department that slow in searching the net for possible threats? If that is the case I fear the worst…

CM: When did you first hear that your video was being touted as an example of “terrorist propaganda”? What was your reaction to hearing this?

SJ: I head it first from a PlanetBattlefield member named “Drezeir” he opened a topic about it at PlanetBattlefield.com. And he send me a mail about it… Of course I was shocked. It’s not everyday that they label you part of al-Qaeda… and a Jihad recruiter. They demonised me by directly labeling me to someone from al-Qaeda who’s trying to recruit innocent children that are playing this game, by using a mod.

CM: What did you think when you heard the claim that you had “modded” the game? Isn’t the character in the footage just the “Insurgent” faction from the “BF2: Special Forces” expansion pack?

SJ: It is just in game footage from SF, no self made mod at all. I can’t get even my own computer to work. So you can see programming isn’t on of my strong points As a matter of fact my computer crashed just a few days ago, and for a month now I cant get BF2 to work…

CM: Do you regret having made the video at all? Or releasing it, considering how it’s being treated by the media?

SJ: I don’t regret making the video. It wasn’t intended for the purpose what it was portrayed to be by the media. So no I don’t regret making a funny video.. why should I? The only thing I regret is thinking that news from Reuters was objective and always right. The least they could do is some online research before publishing this. If they label me al-Qaeda just for making this silly video, that makes you think, what is this al-Qaeda? And is everything al-Qaeda? Or has this name become synonymous to the “communist” labeling a few decades ago…

CM: Have you seen any videos al-Qaeda uses to recruit members? Were any used as a template or inspiration for your film?

SJ: Everybody has seen videos of al-Qaeda. [They are] constantly in the news. If they were an inspiration… not directly no. The C4 blowing up and RPG are very popular in the game. You could say those are exactly the tools being used by al-Qaida, but to link this game to that organisation goes too far even for me. And I personally think it’s a shame that BF 2 is put in a bad spotlight. I think whats wonderful about this game is that there are no politics at all. There is no good or bad, there are no evildoers. You can chose each side you want and enjoy the game. Hmmm that’s not the case with America’s Army. A game that was meant to recruit people. Do I smell a little bit of hypocrisy?

CM: Has anyone from the government contacted you about your film? How about major news media such as Reuters?

SJ: No, nobody from the government or Reuters. Thank god for that (governm.). Yes I have had interviews for CNBC, ABC and others… and a lot of online magazines.

CM: Other than Team America: World Police, what other sound clips did you use? Which were taken from fictional portrayals of al-Qaeda/insurgents (movies & video games), and which were from real-life circumstances (such as the Bush “crusade” speech remix)?

SJ: That crusade part was some audio clip with a “combat tune” underneath it, that I found online. And because the video was about the man getting revenge through “Jihad”, I thought it fit the clip and the story. In the Team America sound clip he says that the Americans invaded his country and he was holding them responsible for that, so why not take a sound clip that quotes the man in charge? And that other “Allahu Akbar” [“God is Great”] sound clips were mostly from the movie “Lion of the Desert” and some of real life clips. I don’t know where to find that stuff anywhere else. I first did it without the “Allahu Akbar”, but I thought it wasn’t complete without it. And it just fit the story.

CM: What prompted the various choices of music used in the background?

SJ: I was just looking for music that fit a “jihad” story and sounded middle-eastern. Most of the sounds are from the movie called “Lion of the Desert” with Anthony Quinn. And it just fit the movie that I was trying to make. And that music from the “crusade” part sounded just like some good drums before going to “war”. I don’t even know what they are saying, because I speak just a little bit of Arabic. I’m a Moor so I speak Berber. I hope that the message in the audio wasn’t coming off too strong.

CM: Have you seen South Park/Team America writer Trey Parker’s take on all this?

SJ: Yes I have seen it. It looks like I have involved him too in this messed up affair. Sorry for that 😉 I just want to say to him, Loved Team America and keep up the good work… Stop involving Al-Jazeera in this…

CM: Once again, thank you for taking the time to talk to GamePolitics. I’ll let you get back to dodging counter-terrorist agents. Best of luck getting your copy of BF2 running bug-free.

SJ: I hope EA helps me with finding a solution to this bugged out game. Thank you for the interview.

Yes, its about a game altered by Samir S. (SonicJihad), that is to be found on the Planet Battlefield forum.

More background information: (more…)

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C L O S E R – ‘Wilkommen zum’ commodification of Islam

Posted on June 1st, 2006 by .
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Some personal considerations, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

Commodification is the transformation of what is normally a non-commodity into a commodity. In case of religion and culture it means that beliefs, symbols, experiences, and practices are turned into free-floating signifiers of an authentic, (read consumerist), self that can be consumed like any other product. Boubekeur (in ISIM Review 16: 12) sees a development of ‘cool islam’: the revalorization of the personal pleasure of consumption, success and competiveness. The youth forges a new urban islamic culture based both on an individualistic ethic that promotes economic success and a certain conception of well being. Religious and secular (consumer) symbols can come together as Boubekeur shows in several examples such as Mecca Cola’s French slogan: Drink with commitment (familiar with Nike’s Just do it!) which in Arab could mean: Drink faithfully.

Or what to think of a short story that was told by one of my ISIM colleagues. About a boy who was asked if he was a Muslim or not, and he stated (after a bit of thinking), yes, I have a mobile phone with the Quran on it! Nice for the Ilkone:

More orthodox people might find it offensive or ridiculous. Commodification is often seen in a negative light. But we shouldn’t forget that youth nowadays are growing up in a society that places much value upon consumerism. We shouldn’t be surprised that this has consequences for the religious convictions. We can probably also see it among youth that for example support Globalicious in their struggle against poverty and famine.

But also non-Muslims know how to commodify Islam. For example Dutch HEMA in a advertisement campaign in 2003 for their clothes. They used a woman with a headscarf in the campaign:

Probably not meant as a political statement, but as a means to expand their share of the market. Considering the discussions on internet however we should consider it as a political statement as well. Certainly when an another campaign from a mobile phone provider used a woman with a headscarf as well. On some internetfora this was seen as ridiculous: the backwardness (in their view) of Muslims combined with a highly sophisticated Western product. And of course now there is the campaign of Puma for the World Cup Football in Germany:

These are examples of a different type of commodification of course, because it is used by ‘Western’ companies with a completely different message. In this case Pumafootball is also supporting an aid campaign for Africa. Off course one can be a little cynical about their good intentions, but perhaps adds like these could also normalize the public presence of Islamic symbols. And yes, normalize in this case means (also) pulling them into the neo-liberal free market sphere and the culture of consumerism. Both forms of commodification are recent developments, interesting and relevant for thinking about religion and identity in the modern world.

2 comments.

C L O S E R – 'Wilkommen zum' commodification of Islam

Posted on June 1st, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Some personal considerations, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

Commodification is the transformation of what is normally a non-commodity into a commodity. In case of religion and culture it means that beliefs, symbols, experiences, and practices are turned into free-floating signifiers of an authentic, (read consumerist), self that can be consumed like any other product. Boubekeur (in ISIM Review 16: 12) sees a development of ‘cool islam’: the revalorization of the personal pleasure of consumption, success and competiveness. The youth forges a new urban islamic culture based both on an individualistic ethic that promotes economic success and a certain conception of well being. Religious and secular (consumer) symbols can come together as Boubekeur shows in several examples such as Mecca Cola’s French slogan: Drink with commitment (familiar with Nike’s Just do it!) which in Arab could mean: Drink faithfully.

Or what to think of a short story that was told by one of my ISIM colleagues. About a boy who was asked if he was a Muslim or not, and he stated (after a bit of thinking), yes, I have a mobile phone with the Quran on it! Nice for the Ilkone:

More orthodox people might find it offensive or ridiculous. Commodification is often seen in a negative light. But we shouldn’t forget that youth nowadays are growing up in a society that places much value upon consumerism. We shouldn’t be surprised that this has consequences for the religious convictions. We can probably also see it among youth that for example support Globalicious in their struggle against poverty and famine.

But also non-Muslims know how to commodify Islam. For example Dutch HEMA in a advertisement campaign in 2003 for their clothes. They used a woman with a headscarf in the campaign:

Probably not meant as a political statement, but as a means to expand their share of the market. Considering the discussions on internet however we should consider it as a political statement as well. Certainly when an another campaign from a mobile phone provider used a woman with a headscarf as well. On some internetfora this was seen as ridiculous: the backwardness (in their view) of Muslims combined with a highly sophisticated Western product. And of course now there is the campaign of Puma for the World Cup Football in Germany:

These are examples of a different type of commodification of course, because it is used by ‘Western’ companies with a completely different message. In this case Pumafootball is also supporting an aid campaign for Africa. Off course one can be a little cynical about their good intentions, but perhaps adds like these could also normalize the public presence of Islamic symbols. And yes, normalize in this case means (also) pulling them into the neo-liberal free market sphere and the culture of consumerism. Both forms of commodification are recent developments, interesting and relevant for thinking about religion and identity in the modern world.

2 comments.

NRC – Sheila Kamerman: Verkeerde Vrienden

Posted on May 26th, 2006 by .
Categories: Important Publications, Youth culture (as a practice).

NRC Krantenarchief
Verkeerde vrienden

Sheila Kamerman
Vooral jongeren uit problematische gezinnen zijn gevoelig voor groepsinvloed
De vriendengroep heeft op een tiener meer invloed dan zijn ouders. Maar wat te doen als een vriendengroep een jeugdbende wordt?
De grootste angst van ouders met tienerkinderen is dat ze verkeerde vrienden krijgen, zegt pedagoog en onderzoeker Bas Levering van de Universiteit Utrecht. Al die ouders weten hoe belangrijk vrienden zijn en hoe groot hun invloed is. Daar hebben ze geen onderzoek voor nodig.’ Vrienden openen het venster op de wereld, zegt hoogleraar jeugd en kinderstudies Wim Meeus van de Universiteit Utrecht: De vrijetijdscultuur waarbinnen tieners zich bewegen is grotendeels georganiseerd rond vrienden. Kinderen leren alles van elkaar: hoe ze contact leggen met het andere geslacht, welke films of muziek cool zijn, alcohol drinken en welke kleding ze moeten dragen om erbij te horen.’
De invloed van leeftijdgenoten (peerpressure) op jongeren is groot, vindt pedagoog en voormalig jeugdhulpverlener en maatschappelijk werker Marinus Traas. Hij promoveerde onlangs aan de Universiteit van Tilburg op een studie naar de oorzaken van jeugdcriminalteit. Peerpressure is prima als het om fijne vriendschappen gaat, maar de invloed van leeftijdgenoten wordt een probleem als tieners in een groep ongewenst gedrag van elkaar gaan overnemen. In de ernstigste vorm gaat het om kopieren van crimineel gedrag. Vooral adolescenten uit kansarme, problematische gezinnen zijn gevoelig voor de invloed van peers, stelt Traas. Bij hen vindt de socialisatie vooral buiten het gezin plaats. Zij zijn extra kwetsbaar en worden eerder meegezogen in de criminaliteit.

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Protected: Trouw, deVerdieping| overigeartikelen – Generatie Lonsdale / Vol hormonen en niet lekker in hun vel

Posted on May 6th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Protected: Trouw, deVerdieping| overigeartikelen – Generatie Lonsdale / Vol hormonen en niet lekker in hun vel

Posted on May 6th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Protected: Trouw, hetNieuws| nederland – ’Lonsdale-jongeren zijn vooral bang’

Posted on May 6th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Protected: Trouw, hetNieuws| nederland – ’Lonsdale-jongeren zijn vooral bang’

Posted on May 6th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Multiculti Issues, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Top-x.nl :: Laat je stem horen!

Posted on April 25th, 2006 by .
Categories: Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

Wat het waard is? Weet ik niet. De vraag is wat mensen onder vrijheid verstaan. Daar lijkt dit onderzoek meer informatie over te geven, dan over de vraag of mensen zich vrij voelen.

Top-x.nl :: Laat je stem horen!
Uitslag: Vrijheid
25 april 2006

Hoe vrij voelen jullie je? Op straat voelt bijna de helft van jullie zich niet vrij om te zeggen wat je wilt. Mogen ouders bepalen met wie je omgaat? Nee, dat mag niet, zegt 61 procent. Mag je oerwoudgeluiden maken in het stadion? Ja, de helft zegt dat dat mag. Bekijk ook de andere uitslagen van de enquête over vrijheid, ingevuld door ruim 4200 panelleden.

‘Vrij zijn, ik wil alleen maar vrij zijn…’
Meer dan 16 procent van jullie voelt zich niet of nooit vrij in ons land. Onder moslimjongeren is dat 27 procent. Niet iedereen is altijd overal vrij om te zeggen wat je denkt. Op school kan 67 procent van de leerlingen dat en op straat geldt de vrijheid van meningsuiting maar voor 47 procent van de ondervraagden. Van de moslimjongeren vindt 89 procent vrijheid van godsdienst belangrijker dan vrijheid van meningsuiting. Van alle anderen is 22 procent het daarmee eens.
Ik mag toch alles zeggen?
Je mag anderen niet beledigen zegt 72 procent. Op de vraag of je mag zeggen dat de islam een achterlijke godsdienst is, zegt 35 procent ja en 61 procent nee. Mag je zeggen dat homoseksualiteit gewoon een ziekte is? Ja, vindt 25 procent en nee zegt 71 procent. Oerwoudegeluiden maken i het stadion mag wel vinden de meeste, 51 procent. Bekijk hier de uitslagen!
‘Die komt er bij ons thuis niet in!!’
Jongens zijn stelliger in hun uitspraken dan meiden. Ze vinden het belangrijker om te kunnen zeggen wat zij willen. En ze zijn volgzamer dan de jongens. Mogen ouders jou verbieden een relatie te hebben met iemand die zij niet zien zitten? Dat mogen ouders, zegt 32 procent van de jongens tegen 24 procent van de meisjes. Van de jongens vindt 31 procent dat de leraar het dragen van hoofddoekjes mag verbieden tegen 18 procent van de meisjes.

Alle uitslagen op de website van Top-x.nl

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Belgium-Muslim s-Crime /WRD Brussels Imam denounce killing of Belgian youth – Irna

Posted on April 23rd, 2006 by .
Categories: Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

Belgium-Muslim s-Crime /WRD Brussels Imam denounce killing of Belgian youth – Irna

Brussels, April 21, IRNA

The Imam (prayer leader) at Brussels Islamic Centre Friday condemned as a ‘heinous crime’ the killing of a Belgian youth by killers believed to be of North African descent.

Addressing the large gathering of worshipers, the Imam in his Friday sermon said robbery and murder were grave sins in Islam and noted that it was the religious duty of Muslims to contribute to maintain peace and security in the country in which they live.

17-year-old Joe Van Holsbeeck was stabbed to death in the Brussels Central Railway Station last week, for refusing to hand in an mp3 player.

The killing at one of Brussels busiest train station and at day time has shocked the Belgian society.

The Imam urged Muslim families to pay careful attention to the upbringing of their children in accordance with the true teachings of Islam.

“The people who know who the killers are, should not remain silent and reveal their identity,” Nordine Taouil of the Antwerp Mosque was quoted saying by the local media.

Brussels police have released video images of the killers.

The Saudi-funded Islamic Centre of Brussels is the biggest mosque in Belgium and the only Muslim worship house to be recognized officially by the state.

An estimated 400,000 Muslims, a majority of them from North African states like Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, live in Belgium.

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Protected: Moslimjongeren zijn onwetendheid autochtonen zat – telegraaf.nl [Binnenland]

Posted on April 3rd, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Protected: Trouw, hetNieuws|Jongeren surfen langs religies

Posted on March 18th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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Protected: Trouw, hetNieuws|Jongeren surfen langs religies

Posted on March 18th, 2006 by martijn.
Categories: Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

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International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) – Conflict prevention and resolution – France and its Muslims: Riots, Jihadism and Depoliticisation

Posted on March 18th, 2006 by .
Categories: Religious and Political Radicalization, Young Muslims, Youth culture (as a practice).

International Crisis Group (Crisis Group) – Conflict prevention and resolution

France and its Muslims: Riots, Jihadism and Depoliticisation
Europe Report N°172
9 March 2006

This report is currently only available French.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

France faces a problem with its Muslim population, but it is not the problem it generally assumes. The October-November 2005 riots coupled with the wave of arrests of suspected jihadists moved the question of Islam to the forefront of French concerns and gave new life to concerns about the threat of a Muslim world mobilised by political Islamism. Yet the opposite is true: paradoxically, it is the exhaustion of political Islamism, not its radicalisation, that explains much of the violence, and it is the depoliticisation of young Muslims, rather than their alleged reversion to a radical kind of communalism, that ought to be cause for worry. The key to minimising the risks of rioting and militant jihadism is to curb forms of state violence being exercised against predominantly Muslim, working-class neighbourhoods and to promote political participation by their residents.
(more…)

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NRC Handelsblad – ‘Ze zien ons als tweederangs burgers’

Posted on February 18th, 2006 by .
Categories: Youth culture (as a practice).

NRC Handelsblad

NRC Handelsblad komt met een serie over de hangjongeren naar aanleiding van een debat in de Tweede Kamer over de aanpak van lastige jongeren. Eerste deel van een serie: de hangjongens over zichzelf: Jongeren en de kunst van het rondhangen.

Door onze redacteur Sheila Kamerman

Dordrecht, 18 febr.

Mohammed Bouratour (18) valt niemand lastig, zegt hij. Hij zit op een bankje op het Admiraalsplein in de Wielwijk in Dordrecht. Er staan een paar vrienden om hem heen. Ze dragen zwartleren jacks met bontkraag, de meesten een baseballpet. „We horen vaak dat we hier niet mogen zitten”, zegt Mohammed. „Maar we doen hier niets verkeerd. We kletsen wat, we lachen.”

Abdoessamed Amara (17): „Te hard of zo.”

Mohammed: „Als we geeneens meer mogen lachen…”

Wielwijkers die boodschappen doen in het winkelcentrum aan het Admiraalsplein, vinden de hangende Marokkaanse pubers bedreigend. De jongens zien dat zelf ook. „De vrouwen klemmen hun tas onder hun arm”, zegt Mohammed, terwijl hij een denkbeeldige tas strak tegen zich aan houdt. „De mannen kijken boos.”

De situatie in Wielwijk (5.800 inwoners, 35 procent niet-westerse allochtonen) lijkt op die van zoveel wijken in grote en kleinere steden. Er is geen landelijk overzicht van jeugdgroepen. Veel gemeenten registreren die niet, zegt criminoloog en politieonderzoeker Henk Ferwerda. „Hanggroepen zijn van alle tijden. Ik hing als puber ook op straat en stopte aardappels in de uitlaat van de buurman. Maar de tolerantie neemt af. Dat zie je vooral in buurten met een gemengde bevolking. Vooral als het gaat om allochtone jongeren. De buurman kwam bij mijn vader klagen. Nu bellen omwonenden meteen de politie.”

De Marokkaanse jongens op het Admiraalsplein geven toe dat ze niet altijd lieverdjes zijn. Een enkeling heeft een strafblad. Abdoessamed (geen strafblad) zegt daarover: mishandelingetje, diefstalletje, niets supergroots. Maar het klopt, ze hebben op de ramen van het wijkcentrum gebonsd, tijdens de les streetdance voor meisjes. Zo hard dat een ruit brak. Het klopt ook dat ze de soep hebben opgegeten die twee dames uit het wijkcentrum hadden gemaakt en klaargezet voor de ambtenaren van het gemeentehuis. Al het brood was ook op.

Maar er is ook een andere kant, zeggen ze. Als zij de Albert Heijn inlopen om een zak chips te kopen, vraagt de bedrijfsleider: „Wat doen jullie hier?” Is het normaal dan dat zij met de nek worden aangekeken als ze op straat een sigaretje staan te roken? En toen er kort geleden een laptop was gestolen uit het wijkcentrum, keek iedereen meteen naar hen. Mohammed: „Terwijl wij er allemaal naar hebben gezocht.” De jongens hebben het gevoel gezien te worden als tweederangs burgers. „Omdat we Marokkanen zijn.”

Zit wat in, zegt wijkagent Arno Jonkers. „Ik zal niet ontkennen dat ze soms gediscrimineerd worden.” Uit het wijkjaarprogramma Wielwijk 2006 blijkt dat slechts 28 procent van de inwoners een positieve kijk heeft op allochtonen. Abdoessamed: „Jochies van 16 noemen ons kutmarokkanen, maar wij wonen langer in Dordrecht dan zij.”

Jonkers zegt tegen de jongens dat ze respect moeten tonen, zelfs als ze geen respect ontvangen. De jongens kunnen Jonkers wel hebben, zeggen ze. Maar de vorige wijkagent, die kortgeleden is vertrokken, vonden ze „zielig”. Die wijkagent ging bij de ouders langs en zei dat hun zoon tot een criminele bende behoorde. Abdoessamed: „Mijn vader schrok zich dood.” Mohammed: „Marokkaanse ouders geloven leraren en politieagenten.”

Abdoessamed: „Mijn vader geloofde me uiteindelijk wel, toen ik zei dat het wel meeviel. Maar hij bleef ook wantrouwig. Zo van, wat spookt hij eigenlijk buiten uit?”

Hun ouders, zeggen de jongens, hebben helemaal geen tijd zich met hun bezigheden buitenshuis te bemoeien. Hussain Elmard: „Ze zeggen alleen dat ik goed mijn best moet doen op school en geen rotzooi moet trappen.”

De vaders van de jongens werken hard, die van de tweeling Hassan en Hoessain Elmard (17) in een steenfabriek, de vader van Abdoessamed heeft een supermarktje, de vader van Mohammed een goedlopende viswinkel. De moeders zorgen voor grote gezinnen.

De ouders van Hassan en Hoessain hebben zes kinderen, die van Abdoessamed acht, Karim Abbou (18) heeft drie broers en een zus, Mohammed heeft vier zussen.

Thuis is het vol. Bovendien zijn ze liever samen. Mohammed: „Mijn vrienden zijn mijn broers.” Dus zijn ze op straat. Of in het meetingpoint, tegenover het wijkcentrum. Daar kunnen ze tafelvoetballen, poolen of internetten. Alleen is het meetingpoint maar één avond in de week open. Veel te weinig, vinden ze. Karim: „Waarom geven ze ons niet een plek die elke avond en in het weekend open is, als ze last van ons hebben?” En ze zouden er graag een tv willen. En een Playstation. „Heeft u dat genoteerd in het verslag, mevrouw? Misschien helpt het.”

En een baantje om de Playstation zelf te kopen? De jongens lachen smalend. „Ik zou met liefde gaan werken”, zegt Karim. „Ik heb vaak gesolliciteerd. Maar niemand wil een Marokkaan. Wij krijgen niet eens een stage.” Marokkaanse meisjes krijgen meer vertrouwen, zeggen ze. Hussein: „Mijn zus lijkt niet op een Marokkaan, maar op een Nederlander. Zij kan zo een baantje krijgen.”

Hassan en Hussain doen vmbo-metalektro. Hun droom is een eigen garage in Wielwijk. Hassan: „Mijn zus kan dan de administratie doen.” Hussain: „Dan nemen we Marokkaanse jongens in dienst. Wij kijken niet naar uiterlijk.”

Karim en Abdoessamed doen handel. Abdoessamed wil de kleine supermarkt van zijn vader niet overnemen. Hij wil op een kantoor werken. Mohammed is tijdelijk gestopt met school. Zijn vader heeft een goedlopende viswinkel aan het Admiraalsplein. Hij verwacht dat hij die zal overnemen. Hij heeft niets met vis, maar het verdient goed. „Dat is belangrijker.”

Hun ouders, zeggen de jongens, verlangen naar Marokko. „Bijna alle ouders willen terug”, zegt Abdoesamed.

En zij, willen zij ooit in Marokko wonen? Alleen voor vakantie. Mohammed: „Ik ben een rasechte Nederlander.”

Abdoessamed: „Ik ben de regen gewend. Dit is mijn landje.”

Hassan: „Ik ben super geïntegreerd. Alleen zien jullie dat niet.”

De vaders gaan bijna dagelijks naar de moskee, de jongens bijna niet. Hij zou het fijn vinden als ik ook zou gaan, maar ik hoef niet, zegt Mohammed.

Abdoessamed: „Ik ga tijdens de ramadam en het suikerfeest.”

Mohammed: „Twee keer per jaar is een prestatie voor ons, mijn vader gaat elke dag.”

Mohammed: „Als je rookt, drinkt of blowt, dan kan je niet naar de moskee.”

En vriendinnen? Een hoop geginnegap. Ze hebben allemaal vriendinnen. Hussein: „Je mag wel met een meisje omgaan, maar er niet over praten.”

Mohammed: „Mijn ouders raden het misschien, maar ze hebben mij nooit met een meisje gezien.”

En hun zussen? Hussein zegt beslist: „Een Marokkaanse jongen mag een vriendin hebben, een Marokkaans meisje géén vriend.”

Waarom niet? Hussein: „Jongens zijn verstandiger dan meisjes.”

Hassan: „Meisjes zijn makkelijker over te halen om foute dingen te doen.”

Karim verduidelijkt: „Straks wordt ze ontmaagd. Daar denken jongens toch als eerste aan.”

Abdoessamed: „Als ik mijn ongetrouwde zus met een jongen zie, grijp ik in. Als ze serieus iets wil, moet ze hem voorstellen aan papa en mama.”

Waar zijn hun zussen eigenlijk? Marokkaanse meisjes zijn thuis, zeggen ze. Karim: „Ze studeren, ze maken eten en helpen moeder.”

Hussain: „Ze zijn ook wel eens buiten hoor, voor de boodschappen.”

Groepen hangjongeren, van hinderlijk tot crimineel

Hoeveel groepen hangjongeren er zijn, is onduidelijk omdat veel steden en gemeenten die niet registreren. In de regio Zuid-Holland Zuid (Dordrecht, Zwijndrecht, Hoeksche Waard, Alblasserwaard en Vijfheerenland) worden hangroepen wél geteld, het zijn er rond de tachtig. De meesten zijn hinderlijk (lichtste categorie), een stuk of acht overlastgevend (zwaardere categorie), ongeveer vier crimineel (zwaarste categorie). In de regio Haaglanden hingen vorig jaar 111 groepen jongeren, waarvan 86 hinderlijk, twintig overlastgevend en vijf crimineel. De politie telde vorig jaar in Amsterdam 118 groepen waarvan 86 hinderlijk, 26 overlastgevend en zes crimineel.

De indeling (hinderlijk, overlastgevend en crimineel) is gebaseerd op de shortlist groepscriminaliteit van criminoloog Henk Ferwerda waarmee de politie en jeugdwerkers lastige jeugdgroepen gedetailleerd in kaart kunnen brengen – waar houdt de groep zich op, hoe groot is de groep en wie zitten erin? Na het beantwoorden van de vragenlijst bepaalt een score of een groep hinderlijk, overlastgevend of crimineel is.

Een hinderlijke jeugdgroep bestaat uit jongens én meisjes. Ze zijn tussen de twaalf en veertien jaar en zitten op school. De hinder bestaat uit geluidsoverlast door muziek en scooters en brutale opmerkingen.

Leden van een overlastgevende jeugdgroep intimideren bewoners, vernielen een bushokje en maken zich schuldig aan lichtere vormen van criminaliteit zoals winkeldiefstal.

Een criminele jeugdgroep is groot, gemiddeld dertig leden, voornamelijk jongens. Ze plegen ernstige delicten en schuwen geweld niet. De groep is meestal mono-etnisch.

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