Euro-Islam: An Alternative to Islamization and Ethnicity of Fear

Abstract

Although the history of interaction between Islam and Europe is as old as both civilizations, Islam’s return to Europe in the late twentieth century in the context of global migration has ushered in an entirely new phase in their relationship. Together with other factors, the growing Islamic diaspora on the continent has brought about a dramatic shift in European demographics.¹ This not only correlates with a changing composition of the European population, but also represents a challenge to Europe’s secular identity, since most diaspora Muslim leaders do not approve of the separation of religion and politics. The challenge, moreover, is not unidirectional; Muslims who move to Europe also find their own world-views and identities questioned. While neither Europeans nor immigrant Muslims seem to be willing to come to terms with the new reality and the challenges it brings, they must nevertheless make a choice among the options they have; refusing to deal with this reality is not one of them. This chapter discusses their predicament and rejects self-censorship, whether because of political correctness, or what is called “Muslim sensitivity.”