Tolerance of Intolerance: Europe's Self-Destructive Embrace of Fundamentalism
Sunday's AfD Rise In Germany Is A Backlash Against Political Cowardice
A mosque in Soho, the heart of London’s LGBTQ+ scene, is an ironic monument to Europe’s modern contradictions. Asif Aziz’s ambition to establish this place of worship is, in itself, unremarkable—freedom of religion is one of Europe’s proudest traditions. But the deeper issue is not the mosque itself; it is what it represents: the West’s tolerance of an ideology that, when empowered, does not return the favor.
When ‘Diversity’ Starts Reshaping Democracy
Last year’s UK elections provided a stark warning. Labour, a party historically dominant among ethnic minority voters, found itself unexpectedly threatened in safe seats. A wave of Muslim candidates running almost exclusively on pro-Gaza platforms nearly unseated several Labour politicians. This was not simply about foreign policy—it was an example of how mass migration is actively reshaping the House of Commons. Political landscapes shift when immigrant populations reach a 30% threshold, as voting patterns begin to reflect the values and priorities of the incoming demographics.
Islam: More Than Just a Religion
Unlike Christianity, which largely functions as a private faith in modern Europe, Islam is not merely a spiritual belief system—it is a political framework, a judicial system (Sharia), and a societal code. The uncomfortable truth is that Sharia law is fundamentally incompatible with liberal democracy. A survey conducted in the UK found that a majority of British Muslims would favor the implementation of Sharia law. That means blasphemy laws, apostasy punishable by death, and the subjugation of women under Islamic jurisprudence—right here in Europe.
The implications are enormous. The more political representation these ideologies gain, the more likely it is that our institutions will drift away from the liberal values they were built on. This is not an abstract fear—it is already happening. Governments across Europe have embraced multiculturalism over integration, allowing migrant communities to self-segregate rather than adopt the values of their new home.
The Failure of Integration & The Liberal Choice Fallacy
Rather than defining what it means to be European, political leaders have given migrants the choice between embracing liberalism or remaining within insular Islamist communities. This is the critical mistake. Integration is not optional; it is a necessity for the survival of liberal democracy.
If newcomers choose Islamism over liberalism, Europe is not the answer for them. It is that simple. The irony is that the UAE, Qatar, and other Gulf states—places that are unapologetically Islamic—would never accept the same radical individuals that European nations blindly welcome. The Emirates, for example, strictly control which migrants they accept, prioritizing national stability over virtue-signaling.
The Real-World Consequences of Political Cowardice
Germany’s Sunday elections were a referendum on migration. In the three months leading up to them, the country suffered seven terror attacks—a staggering pattern of violence. These attacks were not random; they were directly linked to migrant groups with ideological leanings that are irreconcilable with European values. It is no surprise that in the election’s aftermath, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) emerged as the second-largest party.
The rise of the AfD is not an endorsement of extremism—it is a reaction to the political establishment’s refusal to defend European values. When mainstream politicians refuse to address concerns about crime, religious extremism, and cultural erosion, voters turn to anyone who will.
Europe’s Future: Liberalism or Islamism?
The choice is stark: does Europe remain a bastion of individual freedom, secular governance, and open debate, or does it allow its institutions to be reshaped by an ideology that does not believe in those principles?
The mosque in Soho is not the real issue. The issue is whether European societies will continue accommodating an ideology that, when given power, erodes the very freedoms that allowed it to flourish here in the first place. The failure to integrate is a failure of political leadership, and if the trend continues, the Europe we know will cease to exist—not because of an external conquest, but because we invited the transformation willingly.