Multicultural values can unite cities, countries

WE HAVE to be careful when we say Sadiq Khan,

pictured, is the first Muslim mayor of a major European capital. He has a rich history to follow.

The Muslims controlled large parts of Spain for 800 years, from the 7th to the 15th centuries. Cordoba in the 10th century was the largest, greatest and most civilised city in Europe.

Multiculturalism was the accepted system for much of the history of Islamic Spain.

There is a direct order from God in the Qur’an: “O people! Indeed, we have created you from a male and a female, and have made you nations and tribes that you may get to know one another” (49:13).

“That you may get to know one another” was the driving force behind multiculturalism in Islamic Spain and it meant that Muslims, Jews and Christians co-existed peacefully and co-operated on some important projects, like the translation of Greek philosophical treatises and Arab scientific and medical books into European languages, which kick-started the European Renaissance.

When the Catholics conquered Spain in the 15th century, the Spanish Inquisition oversaw the forcible expulsion and conversion of the Jewish and Muslim populations of Spain – something that Donald Trump possibly has in mind.

The Ottomans also controlled south-east Europe from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Istanbul, previously known as Constantinople, and which is largely situated on the European side of the Bosphorus strait, was a capital city and multicultural too (until the break-up of the Ottoman Empire) – and is still a great city.

Ironically, in 2013, the Muslim-majority city of Sarajevo in Bosnia elected Ivo Komsic, a Christian, as mayor.

London has become a great city because of its multiculturalism and cross-pollination of ideas and cultures.

This is a lesson for the racists of Europe, US and South Africa. America will not remain great if it hides behind a white, Christian laager – Trump should take heed if he ever gets elected.

In the wake of the role the Muslim city of Cordoba played in the development of European civilisation in the 10th century and the role the Muslim city of Istanbul played in the development of multiculturalism, architecture and other Ottoman contributions in the 15th century, London can become heir to a rich tradition of European multiculturalism among Muslim, Jew and Christian; among white, brown and black.

There is a lesson here for South Africa too. Will we elect a white, coloured or Indian as president of a black majority country, or will we stay with quotas, race wars, jealousy and conflict.

Can we meld a unique, united nation from our Christian, Islamic, Judaic and Ubuntuist values? NAUSHAD OMAR Athlone