islam in europe natasha kim i31026. historical ties between the muslim world and europe...

ISLAM IN EUROPENATASHA KIM

I31026

HISTORICAL TIES BETWEEN THE MUSLIM WORLD AND EUROPE

Umayyads' invasion of

Spain and France in 700s

Crusades and the European colonization of North Africa and South Asia in the 1700s and 1800s

The Ottoman Empire in the wake of WWI

European colonization of the Middle East

MUSLIMS IN EUROPE: A QUESTION OF BELONGING

There are 19 million (3.8%) Muslims living in the EU.

In France - 5 millionIn Germany - 4.3 million/5.4%In UK - 2.7 million/ 4.8% In Netherlands - 850,000 /14%In Belgium - 628,751/6%

• There have been Muslims living in Europe for centuries (from the Baltic coast to the Balkans, and the Iberian Peninsula, Cyprus and Sicily)

• The majority of Muslims are migrants or the descendants of migrants who arrived during the economic boom of the 1960s

• Former colonial ties (Algeria, Morocco, Indonesia and Tunisia, Pakistan and Bangladesh)

• Refugees seeking asylum in 1980-1990ss (Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Balkans, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa)

• Students, professionals, investors..

• In the aftermath of 9/11, Muslims found themselves

bearing the brunt of a wave of suspicion and

hostility.

• In social and public policy, Muslims are increasingly

viewed as a potential security threat or

a group that is unwilling or unable to integrate.

1. Are Muslims willing to be integrated into European society and its political values?

2. Are Muslims committed to the core European values of freedom, tolerance, democracy, sexual equality

and so on?

3. Is Islam a Threat to Europe’s multicultural democracies?

CLASH OF PRACTICES

1. Halal meat

2. Muslim method of slaughtering animals

3. Muslim dress at work

4. Time-off for prayer from work

5. Polygamy

6. Girls wearing hijab in schools

CLASH OF VALUES

1.Equality of races is important, but equality of the sexes

poses difficulties.

2.Freedom of speech. Muslims value it, but do not privilege

it as much as the liberals do.

3.Tolerance and peaceful resolutions of differences

4.Respect for majority decision. Almost all Muslims

accepted the ban on polygamy and female circumcision.

Values of sexual freedom…

Many people in Europe think that Islam is inherently incompatible with

multicultural democracy because of undemocratic character of Islam.

ANSWERS

1 The fact that most Muslims societies are undemocratic does not mean that the blame lies

with Islam.

Different Factors: egalitarian and feudal social structures; corrupt rulers;colonialism, a long history of external interference;the failure to find an adequate place for religion in public life.

2 The fact that Muslim societies have not themselves developed stable democratic

institutions does not mean that Muslims cannot live under them.

Reasons to adjust democracy: Political survival; the opportunities offered by a democracy to pursue their

legitimate interests; the educational impact of the schools, work places;

3 The main concern for Muslims is to secure and enjoy the freedom to practice their religion and to

lead the life of their choice.

Democracy allows this, and they have therefore a strong pragmatic and even a moral reason to be

loyal to it.

CLASH OF RELIGIONSISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISM

The Salafism (fundamentalist religious radicalism) financed by Saudi Arabia, emphasized the loss of cultural identity in traditional Islam.

“Salafi” means “a return to the way of the pious ancestors” i.e. of the prophet and the prophet’s successors.

They criticize traditional Muslim cultures.

This form of religiosity cancels culture

REASON: either culture belongs to religion and

therefore culture is not needed or culture is

something different from religion, and therefore

must be eliminated because it distracts you from

the religion

It is a mistake to link modern forms of

fundamentalism to the idea of a clash of cultures,

or a clash of civilizations, because there is no

culture any more, there is no civilization.

The role of the state is not to put in

place a fair society, but to create

opportunities, even if they are coercive,

for believers to find their way to

salvation.

In Europe many resentful Muslims have the opportunity

to be exposed to radical discourse and to become

involved in radical political or even militant activity.

Incidents such as the French burqa ban and anti-Islamic

rhetoric of politicians like Geert Wilders reinforce the

narrative put forward by jihadist recruiters that Islam is

under attack from Europeans and help the preachers'

efforts to recruit new followers.