Moderate Muslims Afraid to Speak Out

November 16, 2004

Source: Copenhagen Post

http://www.cphpost.dk/get/83602.html

On November 16, 2004 the Copenhagen Post reported, "Members of Denmark's moderate Muslim community say they are reluctant to�speak out with�critical observations of their religion, fearing social isolation, threats and violence.

Daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten spoke with several immigrant pundits and politicians following the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh earlier this month.

Danish-Pakistani author and political adviser Mohammad Rafiq recently published a book in which he openly criticised the practice of�forced marriages. Following the book's release, Rafiq was the target of threats from Muslim extremists. He has so far refused to withdraw from the public arena, but says he knows people who are deliberately keeping quiet out of fear of reprisals."