Danes snigger off minister comments that Ramadan poses dangers

Muslims in Denmark secure laughed off the recommendation of integration minister that Muslims take dangle of time without work work all over Ramadan to steer sure of likely safety dangers that fasting might per chance well maybe moreover merely trigger to the remainder of society.

Integration Minister Inger Stojberg, an immigration hardliner in Denmark’s center-merely authorities, questioned in a weblog post printed on Monday how « commanding observance to a 1,four hundred-year-faded pillar ofIslam » was as soon as luxuriate in minded with contemporary labour markets.

In her post printed by Danish Berlingske Tidende (BT) newspaper, Stojberg cited bus drivers and well being facility employees as examples of team whose performance will be tormented by foregoing meals and drink all over daylight hours of the holy month.

Suggesting that fasting might per chance well maybe moreover secure an impact on « safety and productivity », Stojberg knowledgeableall Muslims to take dangle of leave from work all over Ramadan.

« I must name on Muslims to take dangle of leave from work all over the month of Ramadan to steer sure of negative penalties for the remainder of Danish society, » she acknowledged.

Danish Muslims got her comments with mockery, asserting that they secure been false and pleasant to be neglected.

Gina al-Farra, manual radiologist who works 14-hour shifts at the Herleve-Gentofte University Smartly being facility in Copenhagen while fasting, told Al Jazeera that she has under no circumstances faced any considerations.

« I take dangle of quick breaks but I receive no components doing my work while fasting, » acknowledged Al-Farra.

Muslims can originate their secure judgement on whether or to no longer snappily or no longer, and for the skill lengthy. Our priority is to give protection to and care for our patients. We might per chance well maybe moreover no longer ever place them at threat.

Gina al-Farra, manual radiologist

Al-Farra – who noticed Stojberg’s recommendation as a restricton on freedoms that will quantity to « social management » – confused that Muslims are able to caring for themselves and of society.

« Muslims can originate their secure judgement on whether or to no longer snappily or no longer and for the skill lengthy. [As doctors] our priority is to give protection to and care for our patients. We might per chance well maybe moreover no longer ever place them at threat. »

Kindergarten teacher Fatima Hajri, 28, who acknowledged she laughed at Stojberg’s post, told Al Jazeera that her fasting goes omitted at work so indispensable that « my colleagues inquire if I am in actuality fasting since the scrutinize me the skill I most frequently am. »

There are about 250,000 Muslims living in Denmark. They largely snappily from morning time unless sundown, that will well maybe moreover merely occur at 21:29 in Denmark in June.

‘Comical statements’

Danish Muslims and non-Muslim Danes stumbled on that it was as soon as pleasant to ignore Stojberg’s comments, which they judge secure little impact on wider Danish society. 

Naveed Baig, imam and Muslim Chaplain at the Royal Smartly being facility of Copenhagen acknowledged:« Other folks made relaxing of her and mocked her statements.. [while many others] started the use of a hashtag in Danish that suggests cease serene. That was as soon as no longer exact in the Muslim neighborhood but amongst the wider public too. »

« The comments secure been no longer elegant but pretty comic for many Muslims in Denmark. She [Stojberg] is identified for her rhetoric in opposition to Muslims and immigrants extra on the total.

Tackle Baig, Tarek Ziad, a 25-year-faded university pupil and creator of « The Unlit Beard », a e-book on being a Danish Muslim, was as soon as no longer stunned by the comments.

The comments secure been no longer elegant but pretty comic for many Muslims in Denmark. Stojberg is identified for her rhetoric in opposition to Muslims and immigrants extra on the total.

Naveed Baig, imam and Muslim chaplain

« The Muslim neighborhood has grown faded to most of these comments; it is no longer the first time this particular minister has arrive out with such statements.

« Most other folks, even non-Muslims, exact laughed them off. »

Final year, Stoejberg posed for photography with a cake embellished with a Danish flag and the number 50, a reference to the 50 immigration restrictions she had been ready to scurry into legislation.

« On the present time I got the Fiftieth modification to tighten immigration controls ratified, » she wrote on Fb. « This needs celebrating! »

Public make stronger for Muslims

In conserving with Baig, the wider public showed actual make stronger for Muslims in Denmark following Stojberg’s comments.

« Other folks secure shown a host of make stronger for the Danish Muslims. Danes are usually no longer unimaginative and might per chance well scrutinize through political rhetoric.

« Even the media showed a host of make stronger for our neighborhood… [asking] scientists, imams, theologians about what Ramadan is and its significance, » he acknowledged adding that he was as soon as even invited by Danish tabloid to discuss in regards to the holy month.

In an interview with spokeswoman of Arriva, which runs a host of bus routes in Denmark, Pia Hammershoy Splittorff told BT newspaper that the company had under no circumstances had any accidents sharp drivers who secure been fasting. « So de facto it is no longer a suppose for us, » she acknowledged.

Most other folks laughed off or felt embarrassed by the comments, but it completely is abominable in many programs that public belief and the Muslim neighborhood secure change into proof in opposition to those statements.

Tarek Ziad, columnist and university pupil

The same message came from Denmark’s 3F transport union, whose chief Jan Villadsen questioned if the minister was as soon as searching to originate a suppose that did no longer but exist.

For Villads Johansen, a 31-year-faded instrument engineer from Copenhagen, the comments secure been unreflective of his Muslim mates, and traumatic for the image they portrayed to the globe about Denmark.

« Stojberg made a degree that Ramadan burdens our society but I’ve handiest seen my Muslim mates extra light-spirited and particular all over that period.

« I am appalled by the skill she [Stojberg] sees things and panicked in regards to the skill other countries scrutinize us after we secure got a minister with such opinions, » acknowledged Johansen.

While Ziad, who writes a column at one of many pleasant Danish newspaper Politiken, took the comments lightly, he shares some of Johansen’s concerns.

« Most other folks laughed off … [or] felt embarrassed by her comments … [but] it is abominable in many programs that public belief and the Muslim neighborhood secure change into proof in opposition to those statements. »

Stojberg has change into the face of Denmark’s extra and extra tight immigration guidelines.

In 2015, Danish authorities place ads in Lebanese newspapers warning asylum seekers to no longer reach there. Then, in 2016, Denmark passed a controversial legislation that lets in Danish authorities to head trying migrants’ property and secure valuables and cash from them to aid pay for his or her time in the nation.