BY FERAI TINC
HURRIYET- Actually I curiously waited to see what would happen last Saturday. The Neo-Nazis planned to organize an anti-Muslim rally in Cologne. They weren't alone. Such far-right and racialist groups as Europe's Le Pen also supported this rally. A far-right group Pro-Cologne had been stimulated by a decision made by local authorities in Cologne to allow the construction of a mosque with a high dome and minarets. While the racism increases in Europe, the extent of the freedom of thought became a current agenda again. The camps became sharper due to the cartoon crisis. Neo-liberals argue that the Neo-Nazi organizations also have the right to spread their ideas, based on the understanding that everybody has the right to announce his thoughts. On the other hand, those who oppose them argue that insulting and offending views which target holy values should be prohibited. The Iranian administration requested the German government to ban the rally in Cologne, but it was refused, because everybody had the right to freedom of assembly.
But the rally wasn't made, because the German government banned it and a strong voice was heard from the democrats against Neo-Nazis. In addition, many bartenders refused to serve drinks to racists, some drivers didn't allow them to get in their cars and even a hotel cancelled their reservations. Thousands of people went out to streets to make their voices heard. The clashes between the parties had an impact on the decision of ban as well, but the main reason was the determined stance of anti-Nazi organizations, defenders of human rights and progressive parties and movements. I wonder in which Muslim country a rally against minorities could be stopped by the wide and effective participation of the people in a similar way. Would the administrations turn a blind eye to racists or those who are against them? So the culture of democracy is the ability of being sensitive to others' rights as much as your own freedoms.
The xenophobia is rising in Europe. The racism isn't only against the Jewish and Muslim people. The situation in women rights is also deteriorating. Feminist organizations have been announcing that there was deterioration in women rights due to the rise in conservatism and religiousness in Europe. Sweden, which is the most egalitarian country, ranks the first in terms of the domestic violence. But what's most striking is the women poverty. The economic crisis hits the women first.
European democrats prevented this hideous situation in time. But the Neo-Nazi movement is now so high in Europe that it can't be degraded immediately. This clash won't end here. The example of Cologne lays a burden on the Muslim people living in Europe. Muslims should also object to fundamentalist movements and reject certain tendencies feeding racism in order to protect their own culture. Reactionary attitudes should never be tolerated.