We hear endlessly in the media that European Muslims are failing to integrate; that they should stop wearing the burqa and building mosques with minarets; that like the rest of us, they must learn to tolerate insults to their religion however painful that may be. But isn’t the boot really on the other foot? By constantly criticising their traditions and beliefs and insisting they be more like the rest of us, aren’t we breaching our own hallowed principle of live and let live? Far from Muslims failing to be good Europeans, isn’t it Europe that is acting illiberally and giving a raw deal to its Muslim citizens?
Speakers for the motion:
Tariq Ramadan Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University whose work concerns the position of Islam in the modern Western world.
Petra Steinen Dutch former diplomat and author with long experience in the Arab world.
Speakers against the motion:
Douglas Murray Author and Director of the Centre for Social Cohesion.
The debate has been filmed for broadcast on BBC World News on 6th March 2010 at 9.10 and 22.10 and on 7th March at 2.10 and 15.10
