What perspectives for Islam and Muslims in Europe
Since the Iranian revolution of 1978-79, the issue of Islam and its supposed challenge to the West has become a matter of enduring international preoccupation, which politicians within western European states, as well as a number of Islamic leaders, have chosen to highlight.
Today, some 12.5 million Muslims live in Europe, compared with only 800 000 Muslims in 1950, and around 10 million in the US. Islam is no longer only a foreign policy matter, but has turned into a domestic issue that needs to be addressed at local, national and European levels. Muslim communities have grown rapidly in Europe in recent decades and Islam has emerged as the second religion in many European states.
However, recent international events, particularly the aftermath of 9/11, have created an unfavourable climate for many Muslims in Europe and have led to misperception and inaccurate stereotyping which risk making a “clash of civilizations” a reality.