Farah Pandith is senior adviser to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs in the US Government. She is focused on Muslim communities in Europe and is responsible for overseeing policy regarding integration, democracy and Islam. She also works on issues relating to countering violent ‘Islamic’ extremism. SANDY HAZEL met with Pandith during her one-day visit to Ireland last week
Can you tell us the purpose of your visit?
To build more robust programmes to engage with Muslims in Europe. The US Department of State has had very good initiatives to extend our exchanges, visitor programmes and opportunities for dialogue. I talk with Muslims, community activists, imams, students and government officials to learn what is taking place in Europe in Muslim communities, to learn if there are ways we can develop stronger dialogue and bridges.
We talk about how our country deals with issues of integration and immigration and the role that American Muslims play in America. There are a lot of misperceptions about Islam in America. There are millions of Muslims in America and the issues of identity they face can contribute to current dialogue.
When issues around Islam are reported by the media, they use the terms ‘Muslim’ and ‘the West’ separately. Why do you think that is?
I think it’s unfortunate that we describe things in a particular way. We are not so naive as to believe that the West means one thing. There are millions of Muslims who live in Europe and in America who are part of the West. When things are discussed as though Islam is somehow different from the West we must remember the facts that Muslims make up the communities in the West too.
Are the media guilty of being too uncritical of Muslims, giving them a leeway that would not be afforded other groups?
We have found ourselves in a post-9/11 world in complicated waters. People are trying hard to learn about Islam because frankly they did not think about it before 9/11. I don’t want to use the word ‘guilty’ but society in general needs to be more aware of what is taking place on the ground.
To describe a religion in the context of diversity, community, racial make up and laws is difficult. German Muslims are different from French Muslims.
Responsibility for this education needs to come from grass roots level, from theologians and from government. There is a need for greater societal awareness of respect for all.
Is there a case to be made for Muslim-only schools or does this contribute to segregation?
I am not in a position to say, nor will I comment on, what is a good policy or a bad policy for education. Each government has to decide for itself what the best resources are to respond to the community needs. Are there examples of both that work? Yes. Are there examples of both that don’t work? Yes.
What would you say to people who are critical of the Muslim Brotherhood in Ireland? According to some commentators they are too divisive and sectarian, and visa restrictions should be in place for some members.
The Muslim Brotherhood is an organisation that is very diverse around the world. I know it in the context of how it operates in the Middle East but I don’t know enough about how it operates in Ireland to comment usefully on that.
There are Muslims in Ireland who feel that they are sidelined because they are more moderate than others. There seems to be a split in the Muslim community in Ireland. How could this sector be better represented?
The majority of Muslims around the world are mainstream; they don’t have radical views and they are not extremists. To describe any community’s voice as the majority, you have to take what is happening around the world and to look at Islam in the context of a global conversation.
A tiny minority of those people who call themselves Muslim are violent. It is responsible to put it into the framework of listening to voices that are in the majority. To listen to radical voices that are on the fringe is actually irresponsible and would suggest that you are representing the religion in a way that is not the way the religion is.
What would you say to people who suspect the motives of American involvement in what could be seen as local issues?
We in no way are telling governments how to deal with their Muslim minorities, that is not our role. We have an interest in building bridges with Muslims in Europe.
There is a global narrative that suggests that somehow America is at war with Islam. In fact that is untrue. Our country respects Muslims and all faiths. There is freedom of expression in America. One could argue that Muslims are freer to practise their faith in America than in any other place on the planet.
Muslims are proud to be Americans. Our country in one of immigration but we don’t preach to other countries on how to behave. We talk to others about how our Muslims have handled issues of integration and how to balance Islam with the history of their new home country.
A recurring issue for younger Muslims is ‘How can I go out and socialise on a Friday night and yet not drink?’ Other issues would be dress, intermingling and education.
These are culturally related questions. There needs to be choice and balance. Kids have a need to understand Islam in a modern context with their identity questions.
Who have you met with while you’ve been here?
I have met with representatives of the Taoiseach’s Department and with the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI). I was also at the human rights unit at the Department of Foreign Affairs. All of those conversations were really excellent.
Have you got any specific message for Muslims in Ireland?
There are examples in Europe of what works and what doesn’t. Ireland is posed in a special place. Immigration is a new phenomenon here and Ireland can learn from best practise in Europe. You can learn what is needed and how to build out using the private sector, the government and civil society.
If Muslim community leaders can reach out and get answers to pivotal questions, they will be able to build out their society.
