Copenhagen, 2006: Muslim Integration in the West

General

Building upon the excitement generated by the 2004 forum, the first pan-Western MLT conference was held in 2006 in Copenhagen, Denmark with an expanded group of Muslim leaders from both North America and Europe. Assembling on the anniversary of the 2005 London Bombings, the MLTs stressed the need for Muslims in the West to set their own agenda by defining and offering solutions to the problems that face them collectively. The conference, entitled “Muslim Integration in the West,” reinforced the cohesiveness of the MLT network with the shared values of tolerance, pluralism and a more peaceful world.

Copenhagen’s significance as the capital of the country at the center of the 2004 Prophet Muhammad controversy was a central feature of the conference. The more than 200 MLTs present participated in a session entitled “Freedom of Expression,” which featured Flemming Rose, the Danish editor of Jyllands-Posten who commissioned the controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. The dialogue examined how respect for the sacred and freedom of speech can become competing values.

Other conversations, such as the sensational discussion of theology that took place in a session features six imams, addressed further challenges faced by Muslims in the contemporary West, including media bias, dogmatism, values conflicts between traditional Islam and secularism and the place of women in religious authority.

Photos

MLT 2006 Conference Group Picture

Click the box below to view the slideshow of all the pictures from the 2006 MLT conference!

Cartoons

Concluding the conference, Salih Memecan, an American Muslim cartoonist, exhibited his insightful and humorous cartoons which portrayed deep rooted sentiments felt by many in the Muslim community.  With his quick wit, Mr. Memecan cleverly depicted many of the conference themes in his cartoons, including freedom of expression, integration, the exportation of democracy, and assimilation. He ended with the hope that “in time, Muslims will become more tolerant, and the West will become more respectful.”

Click the box below to view a slideshow of Salih’s cartoons!