Ian Buruma on the assimilation of Muslims in Europe

In an article published by different European dailies, Dutch writer Ian Buruma ponders how Islam is perceived on the Old Continent. "Fear of Islam and immigrants could lead to the adoption of non-liberal laws. ... The problem today is that the values of the Enlightenment are sometimes used very dogmatically against Muslims. They have in fact become a form of nationalism, 'our values' against 'theirs'. The values of the enlightenment should not be defended because they are 'our culture', but because we consider them fair. To thus confuse politics with culture amounts to falling into the same trap as the defenders of multiculturalism. Grave consequences ensue: by setting the Muslims of Europe against us, we will push more people to join the Islamist revolution. We should do everything to encourage the Muslims of Europe to be assimilated in European societies. This is our only hope."

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