“Europe is not a Christian club; in reality it is much more heterogeneous”

As part of the event organised at the UOC, the anthropologist Jordi Moreras offered a lecture on how to approach the Muslim identity in a European context. He assures us that it is very much a work in progress and that just as with Europe’s own identity, it is continually in transformation. It is a subject which can not be looked at from just one perspective and that generates a debate with more questions than answers.

As part of the event organised at the UOC, the anthropologist Jordi Moreras offered a lecture on how to approach the Muslim identity in a European context. He assures us that it is very much a work in progress and that just as with Europe’s own identity, it is continually in transformation. It is a subject which can not be looked at from just one perspective and that generates a debate with more questions than answers.

I feel that asking people to be knowledgeable about the receiving society should be limited to requiring them to have an adequate level of the language; essentially, to be willing to learn the language, in order to improve their interaction and subsequent integration. To ask questions about the events of 1714 or who was Guifré el Pilós, would be like asking our own people, especially teenagers, which would show us that there are not many people that are familiar with this type of information. I think that these declarations have to be read in an electoral or pre-electoral context and as being motivated to stir up suspicion in public opinion. The Spanish government’s relation with the Catholic Church has been somewhat controversial at times, putting forward arguments that go against the Catholic faith, but this does not get away from the fact that it is time that we recognised that there are other religions in the country. The much needed recognition of this pluralism has not resulted in some people being allowed to do things which are not permitted to others. The model of the relation between state and the Catholic religion has been maintained and will continue. These provocative statements should be avoided as they only generate apprehension. It is a delicate subject. The cultural references that come from these religious traditions should be referred to, but not the particular ethics from a given religion, as this would represent a way of legitimising the pre-eminence of certain beliefs over others. This would be a mistake. I think that it has been introduced from an erroneous perspective of historical heritage in order to avoid other traditions, which are not Catholic, being present. It is an error of perspective to have to include doctrinal references. It makes much more sense to speak about cultures and religious contributions as culture. In this way, Islam would also be present, along with other traditions of oriental origin. It is wrong to believe that Europe is a Christian club, as in reality it is much more heterogeneous. We need to be satirical towards religious believers, as well as the nonreligious, political parties, football teams, etc. We have to laugh at people and their convictions because it forms a part of the interaction between people. The question of symbols is different however. In the case of the caricatures, I think that radical groups used them for their own ends. There was a misunderstanding concerning freedom of expression and the stressing of a reactive identity. They could not justify people being so offended as to want to assassinate someone who had expressed an opinion contrary to theirs. It needs to be examined at a world level and, in this case particularly, at a European level. There is a right to freedom of expression which has to be fundamental, although there also has to be a level of responsibility. I saw the caricatures and I think that some of them could have a certain satirical reading, although there were others that were much more hurtful. In any case, we need to acquire a coherent way of exercising freedom of expression. This debate comes more from the heart than the head on both sides, with a readiness to take offence and a lack of responsibility when exercising the right to freedom. I think that we have lost an opportunity here to make progress. If we were to ask Najat she would say no. I have known Najat personally for many years, she is a good friend and I greatly admire her for what she is: a Catalan writer, and not because she came as an immigrant and integrated successfully. Furthermore, she has never promoted integration. She is a good Catalan writer and that’s what counts.