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London-based Islamic scholar Haitham Al-Haddad, originally from Saudi Arabia, gave an address in Norway in which he talked about the alienation that many young people feel toward the European country in which they live and said that this was what led to the appeal of ISIS. "Taking over Europe is a negative statement," implying military force, he said, "but what we want is to bring light to all Europeans, so Europeans themselves decide that they want Islam." Al-Haddad further said that "Western values should include Islamic values, because Islam is part and parcel of Europe." He called for more young Muslims to become lawyers, politicians, and journalists, exhorting them not to "sit passive." "Islam has spread in many countries without shedding a drop of blood," he said. His address was posted on the YouTube channel of Islam Net Videos on May 5, 2017.
Haitham Al-Haddad: "So we should accept it: We are Europeans! We should accept that. We are Europeans."
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"Many [Muslim youth] live in this country, as Norwegians, they don't feel that they are Norwegians. They don't feel that they have a responsibility towards this country. They don't feel that they are Europeans. They don't feel that they have a responsibility towards Europe. That's why, my dear brothers and sisters, – and many of you are young – what happens? On the other side, ISIS is there. They are very active on social media, and they are very active in grooming you. They will tell you 'Yes, leave this infidel country. Leave them. Come to us. We built the Islamic State. We built the Islamic Caliphate. You don't belong to them. You belong to us. Come to us. You can't implement Islam [in the West], and we have implemented shari'a here. That country is not your country.
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"Every day they see that the media is attacking them. The politicians are attacking them. Their religion is being demonized. Their religion is being attacked: Do you believe in shari'a? Do you believe that homosexuality is forbidden? Do you believe in the Islamic Caliphate? Do you believe in the role of women? Do you believe in this or that? Then after some time, what will happen to the young zealous practicing Muslim, whether male or female? He will say 'Look, at the end of the day, this is not my country.' He will start having a problem with the sense of belonging: Who am I? Where do I belong to? As a result of this, when he is being groomed by ISIS and the likes of ISIS, when they tell him: 'You belong to us' – he will easily join them.
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"Many young Muslims – by Allah, I am sure – are not convinced that ISIS is the solution, but out of frustration, they see it as the savior. They see it as the solution.
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"We are the bearers of the light to the entire Mankind. By Allah, we will not bring light to the entire Mankind unless we feel that we are in charge of the people that we live among. We have a responsibility towards them. That responsibility is to bring light to them, light to the individuals, and light to the system as well. That is why... why do we shy away when we are asked: Do you want to change the laws to become Muslim-friendly laws? We say: 'No, no, no. We don't want to do that.' Otherwise, we will be seen as if we want to take over Europe. Taking over Europe is a negative statement – as if you are going to bring your military forces to take over Europe. No, no, no. We don't want this, and this doesn't even work. But what we want is to bring light to all Europeans, so Europeans themselves decide that they want Islam, that they want Islamic values, that they want Islamic laws.
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"I should not accept the notion of Western values. I should say that Western values should include Islamic values, because Islam is part and parcel of Europe. Full stop.
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"Whenever we are challenged with something – 'You Muslims believe in this' – [we say] 'No, no, no. I don't believe in that.' 'You Muslims do this.' 'You Muslims want to take over.' 'You Muslims want to Islamize Europe.' 'You Muslims become Islamists.' 'You Muslims... ' We should say: 'Listen, you don't impose your values on me, and I don't impose my values on you. All of us are partners in this continent.'
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"We are citizens, and we are not guests.
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"We want more young people to study law. We want more young people to study law, because if we do not know the law, we will get no rights. We want more young people to be involved in politics. We want more people to be involved in journalism. Don't sit passive. My dear brothers and sisters, Islam has spread all over the world. Islam has spread in many countries without shedding a drop of blood.”
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