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Religions
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Constructing the ‘European Muslim Crisis’: Discourse, Policy, and Everyday Realities
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Constructing the ‘European Muslim Crisis’: Discourse, Policy, and Everyday Realities

A special issue of Religions (ISSN 2077-1444).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 13499

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Tahir Abbas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University, 2511 DP The Hague, The Netherlands
Interests: securitisation; Muslims in Europe; afternoon studies; sociology; radicalisation; violent extremism; identity politics; religion and secularism
Dr. Richard McNeil-Willson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University, 2511 DP The Hague, The Netherlands
Interests: extremism; counter-extremism; critical terrorism studies; social movements; resilience; polarisation; sociology; securitisation
Dr. Lianne Vostermans

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Security and Global Affairs, Leiden University, 2511 DP The Hague, The Netherlands
Interests: religious violence; critical terrorism studies; social movements; extremism; counter-extremism; radicalisation; de-radicalisation; ideology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The discourse surrounding religious governance and the formation of European-Muslim identity has garnered significant attention in academic circles. This theme explores the various perspectives and viewpoints related to the intersection of religion and governance, particularly within the context of European societies and the Muslim populations residing within them.

The present call for papers seeks contributions that investigate various perspectives on the governance of religion and the formation of identity within Muslim communities in Europe. We are currently in search of scholarly articles that explore the ways in which Muslims residing in Europe navigate their religious identities and engage in religious practices within the context of varying national models of secularism, church–state relations, and multiculturalism.

Subjects for discussion encompass a wide range of options without being restricted to any set, including:

  • The framing of the ‘Muslim question’ as a ‘crisis’ within European discourse and its consequences for Muslim communities.
  • The Muslim community’s reactions to the implementation of secular governance of Islam in Europe.
  • The influence of Muslim organisations and leaders in shaping religious authority and identity.
  • The examination of gender dynamics within the context of debates surrounding Islam and multiculturalism in Europe is a topic of academic interest.
  • The convergence of Muslim identity with factors such as race, ethnicity, and migration experiences.
  • The convergence of Muslim identity with factors such as Islamophobia and securitisation.
  • The contention surrounding the issues of halal practices, hijab attire, and mosque construction as markers of identity, space, and place.
  • The dynamic interaction between transnational and local influences in the process of identity formation among European Muslims.

This discourse aims to foster a scholarly examination of the prevalent portrayal of Muslim communities in Europe as being in a state of ‘crisis’. It also seeks to explore the ways in which Muslims actively and innovatively address the oversimplified and generalised representations of their identities and religious practices. We extend a warm invitation for contributions from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds and methodological approaches.

We request that, prior to submitting a manuscript, interested authors initially submit a proposed title and an abstract of 200–300 words summarising their intended contribution. Please send it to the guest editors ([email protected]) or to the Religions editorial office ([email protected]). Abstracts will be reviewed by the guest editors for the purposes of ensuring proper fit within the scope of the Special Issue. Full manuscripts will undergo double-blind peer review. No charge will be made for publications.

Prof. Dr. Tahir Abbas
Dr. Richard McNeil-Willson
Dr. Lianne Vostermans
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Religions is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • crisis
  • nationalism
  • Islamophobia
  • identity construction
  • othering

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 307 KiB  
Article
Reconciling British Values with Professional Identity: The Pursuit of Ontological Security Among Muslim Teachers in England
by Muzaffer Can Dilek
Religions 2024, 15(11), 1353; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15111353 - 6 Nov 2024
Viewed by 759
Abstract
This article aims to investigate how the legal requirement to promote fundamental British values (FBVs) impacts Muslim teachers’ professional identity formation, utilising Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with self-identified Muslim teachers, including both male and female individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, [...] Read more.
This article aims to investigate how the legal requirement to promote fundamental British values (FBVs) impacts Muslim teachers’ professional identity formation, utilising Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with self-identified Muslim teachers, including both male and female individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, employed in secondary schools across England. This study seeks to interpret Muslim teachers’ experiences through Anthony Giddens’ ontological security theory. Firstly, Muslim teachers expressed pride in being British and their successful integration into society. Secondly, the meaning of Britishness was elucidated by the participants through references to the values described in the current government guidelines on promoting FBVs. Finally, the impact of the obligation to promote FBVs on the professional identity formation of Muslim teachers points to a degree of ambivalence rooted in seeking ontological security. Certain teachers adopted an uncritical stance towards FBV policy, prioritising ‘values’ within the debate and thereby normalising the discourse surrounding FBVs. In contrast, others engaged in a critical analysis of FBV rhetoric, highlighting its adverse impact on academic discussions and their professional identities. From the perspective of ontological security theory, Muslim teachers are situated in a fragile position; while the majority grapple with ontological insecurity, others exist in a realm between ontological security and insecurity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Constructing the ‘European Muslim Crisis’: Discourse, Policy, and Everyday Realities)
23 pages, 1972 KiB  
Article
The European Muslim Crisis and the Post-October 7 Escalation
by Hira Amin, Linda Hyökki and Umme Salma
Religions 2024, 15(10), 1185; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101185 - 29 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1740
Abstract
Israel’s war on Gaza following 7 October 2023 has given birth to several political and social changes in European nations. According to the United Nations Report of the Special Rapporteur, Israel has used this moment to “distort” international humanitarian law principles “in an [...] Read more.
Israel’s war on Gaza following 7 October 2023 has given birth to several political and social changes in European nations. According to the United Nations Report of the Special Rapporteur, Israel has used this moment to “distort” international humanitarian law principles “in an attempt to legitimize genocidal violence against the Palestinian people.” In the European context, this has led to European Muslims and non-Muslims, including organizations, institutions, as well as individual academics, politicians, and activists mobilizing and voicing their condemnation and demand their governments to do more towards peaceful and equitable solutions. However, this has been met with a strong reaction from European governing bodies. This paper situates this reaction within wider discourses on the European Muslim crisis. It begins with a systematic literature review on the so-called European Muslim crisis, followed by case studies on the United Kingdom and Germany on their respective changes to policies impacting Muslims in the post-October 7 contexa Regarding the literature review, this paper illustrates how this concept has three distinct, yet intersecting meanings: the crisis of European identity; the crisis of foundational ideologies of Europe; and an internal Muslim crisis that often leads to radicalization. Through the British and German case studies, this paper illustrates that October 7 has reinforced and strengthened the shift towards values-based citizenship and integration. This paper argues that through branding pro-Palestine protesters and organizations as extremists in the British context, and adding questions related to antisemitism and Israel in the citizenship tests in the German context, the Israel/Palestine issue has now become yet another yardstick to demarcate the European, civilized “us” vs. the Muslim “other.” In doing so, October 7 has escalated elements already present within the wider discourses of the European Muslim crisis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Constructing the ‘European Muslim Crisis’: Discourse, Policy, and Everyday Realities)
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24 pages, 912 KiB  
Article
The British Broadsheet Press and the Representation of “The Mosque” in the Aftermath of Post-7/7 Britain
by Irfan Raja
Religions 2024, 15(10), 1157; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15101157 - 25 Sep 2024
Viewed by 923
Abstract
The role of the mosque has become increasingly vital, particularly in contemporary societies such as Britain, where both the place and status of religion in public life are constantly discussed and debated. Indeed, in the contemporary period, the role of the mosque has [...] Read more.
The role of the mosque has become increasingly vital, particularly in contemporary societies such as Britain, where both the place and status of religion in public life are constantly discussed and debated. Indeed, in the contemporary period, the role of the mosque has several dimensions, ranging from a social space, educational and cultural exchange, and community cohesion centre to a knowledge hub. In this context, this paper suggests that a mosque should be seen as an independent religious institution, although these are influenced by and responsive to governments, elites, pressure groups, public bodies, etc. Using a thematic analysis of news items in The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph over a period of two years (8 July 2005–7 July 2007), it finds that in the aftermath of 7/7, the mosque as a religious place and an institution for British Muslims is largely seen as incompatible and a threat to secular British society and that it is linked with radicalisation and terrorism. According to Quranic texts and revelations, it is indeed a fact that mosques are open to all. This is logical since God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness are for all of mankind without any distinction, which is perhaps why the mosque has been the sacred house of God Himself. This study aims to reveal the development of visible hostility in some sections of the British media and political campaigns. Moreover, it intends to trace the determination and idea of the mosque as a religious place and an institution for British Muslims rather than only a place for worship. Finally, this study will argue the role of the mosque in promoting community cohesion and mutual understanding within the Muslim and other faith communities located in Britain. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Constructing the ‘European Muslim Crisis’: Discourse, Policy, and Everyday Realities)
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16 pages, 263 KiB  
Article
Everyday Lived Islam among Hazara Migrants in Scotland: Intersectionality, Agency, and Individualisation
by Sayed Mahdi Mosawi
Religions 2024, 15(8), 950; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080950 - 6 Aug 2024
Viewed by 2969
Abstract
The mainstream literature on the religiosity of Muslims in Europe often homogenises this diverse minority. This article diverges by focusing on a less visible ethno-religious minority within the Muslim population, specifically examining how Hazara Shia Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, resettled in the UK, [...] Read more.
The mainstream literature on the religiosity of Muslims in Europe often homogenises this diverse minority. This article diverges by focusing on a less visible ethno-religious minority within the Muslim population, specifically examining how Hazara Shia Muslim migrants from Afghanistan, resettled in the UK, live and organise Islam in everyday contexts. Addressing this gap, the research highlights the intersectionality of religion, ethnicity, and migration in reconfiguring religious practice. Grounded in the intersectional and lived religion approaches, this study contends that the religiosity of this Muslim minority undergoes a dynamic shift entwined with agency and adaptation in the new secular and plural context, becoming more individualised, privatised, and elective. Employing an ethnographic design, data are collected through semi-structured and key informant interviews, as well as participant observation, over 18 months of fieldwork across various council areas in Scotland. The findings illustrate reconfiguration, adaptation, and innovation in everyday Islam among this intersectional Muslim minority, identifying three main themes: the adaptation and reconfiguration of religious practices and rituals, the renegotiation of authoritative sources, and the navigation of intersectional identities and belonging since resettlement in the UK. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Constructing the ‘European Muslim Crisis’: Discourse, Policy, and Everyday Realities)
15 pages, 267 KiB  
Article
Reimagining Ummah: The Role of Third-Generation Immigrant Women in the Transformation of Turkish Islam in Europe
by Zehra Yılmaz
Religions 2024, 15(8), 911; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15080911 - 27 Jul 2024
Viewed by 819
Abstract
For decades, the traditional precepts of “Turkish Islam” have defined the community structure for Turkish immigrants in The Netherlands. Today, spiritualism rather than Islamic morality is emerging as the more compelling religious practice among young people, especially among women who are looking to [...] Read more.
For decades, the traditional precepts of “Turkish Islam” have defined the community structure for Turkish immigrants in The Netherlands. Today, spiritualism rather than Islamic morality is emerging as the more compelling religious practice among young people, especially among women who are looking to break out of their culturally enclosed communities. This study uses the terms “enclosure” and “opening up” as metaphors for immigrant participation in Dutch society and suggests that religious Muslim women immigrants are both the founders and dismantlers of the two metaphors. Through their own narratives, women are shown to challenge and resolve social compartmentalization, and the role of cultural transmission through “Ummahtism” (the global Islamic community) is detailed as it is reinterpreted in Europe by Dutch–Turkish women. The findings of this paper are based on field research conducted in The Netherlands between September 2020 and April 2022. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Constructing the ‘European Muslim Crisis’: Discourse, Policy, and Everyday Realities)
14 pages, 681 KiB  
Article
Brexit’s Illusion: Decoding Islamophobia and Othering in Turkey’s EU Accession Discourse among British Turks
by Özge Onay
Religions 2024, 15(4), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15040498 - 18 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1775
Abstract
The warnings about Turkey’s not-so-near accession to the EU are explored as a strategic tool in the Brexit campaign, linking concerns about sovereignty and immigration compounded with the anxieties surrounding Islam and the threat of terrorism. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Edward [...] Read more.
The warnings about Turkey’s not-so-near accession to the EU are explored as a strategic tool in the Brexit campaign, linking concerns about sovereignty and immigration compounded with the anxieties surrounding Islam and the threat of terrorism. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Edward Said’s Orientalism and the unique perspectives gathered from British Turks, this paper sheds light on their nuanced responses. It uncovers strategies of disbelief and denial in the face of the constructed narrative that portrayed Turkey as an undesirable ‘Other’ with its predominantly Muslim population. A closer analysis of some British Turks’ narratives is premised not only on the sacralised defence of the principles of Turkish westernisation but also on the socio-political reputation of the Islamic Ottoman past as almighty. The article equally contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between British national identity and discourses surrounding immigration, sovereignty, and Islamophobia within the context of Brexit, as well as the principles by which the privileges of modern, secular Turkey, as well as the demise of the mighty Ottoman image, are maintained. In a paradoxical manner, the act of denial only serves to affirm the Brexit campaign’s narrative depicting Turkey as an undesirable ‘Other’ with a predominantly Muslim demographic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Constructing the ‘European Muslim Crisis’: Discourse, Policy, and Everyday Realities)
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