Denmark: Turkish Muslims oppose Islamic Society

Turkish Muslims in Copenhagen reacted sharply to the Islamic Society, who they think is causing more damage than good for Muslims in Denmark due to their statements and participation in the Hizb ut-Tahrir demonstration last week.

Erfan Kurtulmos of the Turkish Muslim Society in Copenhagen says that the Islamic Society shares the same religion but that they don't represent them. He says his organization rejects fanaticism and the way imams from the Islamic society participate in the social debate. Fanatics don't have a monopoly on Islam and integration in Denmark.

About 70,000 of the 200,000 Muslims in Denmark have Turkish roots, making them the largest Muslim immigrant group. Turkish Muslims therefore think it's problematic that the Islamic society, which has a mainly Arab background, speaks for all Muslims in Denmark.

Erfan Kurtulmos says that the Islamic Society doesn't speak for all 200,000 Muslims. People might suffer from it, but the reprinting of the cartoons is part of the freedom of speech.

The Turkish Muslim Society was established in 1985. It's one of the biggest of about 30 Turkish mosques in Denmark. About 1000 Turkish Muslims pray every Friday in the mosque at H.C. Ørstedsvej.

Source: DR (Danish)

See also: Denmark: Islamic Society accused of being radicals/apostates

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