Moral Panic in Denmark: When Islamic Values Challenge Danish Moral Decadence
(Translated)
News:
In recent days, Muslims in Denmark have been subjected to harsh criticism for sharing Islamic reminders on social media regarding annual high school graduation celebrations, which often involve mixing between genders, drinking alcohol in public places, and indecent behavior. The posts congratulated the graduates and advised young Muslims to stay away from practices that contradict Islamic morals.
This sparked a sharp reaction from Danish politicians and media figures, with accusations of "extremism" and "social control," and even threats to professional livelihoods. Politicians, including the Minister of Integration, criticized Muslims for not adopting the drinking culture in Denmark, claiming it is "part of our values."
Comment:
The outrage over a simple Islamic advice reveals more about Danish politicians than it does about Muslims. What provoked the political class and the media was not hatred, incitement, or coercion, but a moral viewpoint rooted in Islam that questioned societal norms and advised Muslims to refrain from participating in voluntary celebrations, and this alone was deemed unacceptable and criminalized.
This is the essence of liberal secularism: it tolerates all opinions, except those that stem from divine sources and challenge its foundations. When Muslims merely express their belief that alcohol and mixing are wrong, the mask of tolerance falls off. Freedom of expression becomes a privilege for secular voices only. As for the rest, government officials must assimilate them or silence them. The goal is simple: outrageous behavior is sacred, and drunkenness is a sacred Danish value, even though alcohol consumption, according to many experts and reports, is a major problem among young Danes, who hold the European record for alcohol consumption among young people. However, the same politicians who attack young Muslims for warning against drunkenness have remained completely silent for twenty months while the genocide in Gaza unfolds. Where was their outrage when children were being slaughtered? Where were their moral sermons when hospitals were bombed and entire families were buried under the rubble? Their silence speaks louder than their selective outrage.
To all young Muslim graduates this year: we congratulate you from the bottom of our hearts. Not only for your academic success, but for your steadfastness on your Islamic identity amidst enormous societal pressures, you are the pride of this nation. Your refusal to comply with unethical standards is not backwardness, but principle, courage, and a dire need. Never be ashamed of Islam, you are not alone, the entire nation is with you. Do not let their threats and ridicule pass you by, for they are signs of their weakness, not your weakness. Stand firm, engage with society wisely and confidently, and carry your Islam with dignity. Finally, these events remind us once again that Islam is not just a personal belief, but an integrated way of life. The time has come to work hard for a political system that protects our values and expresses our beliefs; a state that embodies Islam as a mercy to mankind, this system is the Caliphate on the Prophetic method.
Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut-Tahrir
Ibrahim Al-Atrash
