The Islamic world and Europe have experienced a complex history marked by both interaction and confrontation. The introduction of Islam to Europe dates back to the 7th century AD, with its starting point represented by the letter from the Prophet of Islam to the Roman Empire. The first significant contact between Islam and Europe occurred in 711 when the Islamic army crossed the Strait of Gibraltar under the command of Tariq bin Ziyad. However, a substantial part of the current Muslim population in Europe results from immigration, particularly following World War II. This immigration has allowed non-Muslims to learn directly about the spiritual, divine, and human dimensions of Islam, and has enabled Islam to establish its presence in European countries.
Today, Muslims in Europe represent the largest religious minority, an undeniable reality. Their contributions to various developments in European society cannot be overlooked. Alongside this warm welcome to Islam, there are also challenges faced by the Muslim community in the West, particularly in Europe. In this article, we will analyze the primary challenges and, at the end, present the results of our discussion.
Distorting identity
Identity refers to the set of basic characteristics of a person, which follows five components. 1) Geography 2) History 3) Economy 4) Culture 5) Education. (Najafi, Musa, Identity, p. 26). Man’s beliefs and convictions are a part of the cultural component that actually forms the most fundamental pillar of his identity. Because an important part of our perceptions about ourselves and others is the result of our beliefs, worldview and religious teachings. Therefore, throughout the history of mankind, every system that sought to create a new direction in the society, went to the change of identity (in the field of beliefs) or, in today’s terms, distorting identity.
Distorting identity is the same as de-ideology, and ideology also includes beliefs, values, and perhaps the sanctities of a nation. This unknown phenomenon is the biggest known damage in Islamic societies, which has systematically affected Muslims, especially in the West and Europe. Removing the identity of Muslims in a targeted manner by European countries is considered their most fundamental challenge. Because European system builders have realized that if a nation forgets its identity or considers it worthless, it will naturally lead to the other direction.
Therefore, by focusing on the family system, society and education and by imposing it through the collapse of the family structure and the separation of the child from the warm center of the family, they are trying to reduce the means of religious and cultural influence to the lowest level and the ground for the efficiency of the defined European smooth as much as possible. In addition to targeting people’s religious identity, this harm also marks their national and ethnic identity. It weakens and destroys religious beliefs and feeds by inducing the ineffectiveness of Islamic religion and culture through rumors and spreading lies. The prospect of this distorting identity is the de-idealization of Islam and the replacement of the European intellectual and value system instead of the religious and national identity of Muslims. This process actually facilitates the acceptance of “European Islam”.
European Islam
In recent decades, the increase in the population of Muslims in Western societies, especially in Europe, has drawn attention to their cultural-identity differences from other citizens of these societies. The occurrence of some events such as September 11 added to the importance of this issue. Of course, facing this phenomenon (increasing Muslim population in Europe), the European governments considered various solutions and adopted different policies. Among the solutions is “Euro-Islam” or European Islam. European intellectual and political circles, after failing in many models of integration and convergence of Muslims in European countries, came to the conclusion that by presenting a specific model of Islam under the name of European Islam, which has its own characteristics, components, and propagation methods, they can control the perceived threats of the presence of Islam in Europe, especially political Islam. This is how European Islam was widely promoted by Western Islam scholars, government officials and the media.
The main concept of “European Islam” is to redefine an interpretation of Islam that does not conflict with European values. In other words; European Islam means the secularization of Islam. The verbal equivalents of European Islam, which has become fodder for the colonial media, are human rights-friendly Islam, European-friendly Islam, acceptable Islam, modern Islam, globalized Islam, and sometimes the term moderate Islam.
Western-European planners, covering all these terms, emphasize three aspects of European Islam: 1) tolerance; But not from the perspective of Islam, but from its broader European perspective. 2) pluralism; The purpose of emphasizing this aspect is that Muslims abandon the idea of superiority and seniority of the Qur’an. 3) Secularism; meaning the separation of religion from politics. (Majidi, Mohammad Reza, Mohammad Mehdi Sadeghi, “A critical reflection on the concept and idea of European Islam”, Foreign Relations Quarterly, 4th year, 1st issue, spring 2013, p. 120)
Therefore, after the challenge of distorting identity, the issue of European Islam, that is, strongly shaved Islam, is considered one of the most dangerous harms facing the Muslim community in Europe; Because the West is seeking to achieve two goals in the form of this program; 1) Presenting an obedient Islam 2) Creating division among Muslims and dividing them into extremists, moderates, etc. In other words, that is, they have targeted both the principle of Islam and the Muslim generation.
Islamophobia
In the concept Islamophobia, it is stated as follows: fear, prejudice and irrational discrimination against Islam and Muslims. (Alipour et al., “Strategies to prevent and deal with Islamophobia”, p. 104; Alireza et al., “Reviewing the phenomenon of Islamophobia and Quranic strategies to deal with it”, p. 381). Also, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation writes in the definition of this term: excessive fear of Islam and Muslims and everything related to this religion such as mosques, Islamic centers, the Holy Quran, hijab, etc. (Emadi, Seyyed Mohsen, “What is Islamophobia and the duty of Muslim governments” “, Center for the Future Studies of the Islamic World).
In general, it can be said that the phenomenon of Islamophobia in the West, especially in Europe, is on several levels; 1) Government. 2) Parties and groups. 3) The media. 4) public space and in several ways; 1) Violence: physical attacks, destruction and damage to property and verbal attacks. 2) Discrimination in citizenship rights. 3) Prejudice in the field of media and everyday interactions. 4) Rejection and expulsion from politics and government, management and responsibility. (Sabaghan and Khaksar, “Social manifestations of Islamophobia and anti-Islamism in England”, pp. 144-150; Morshidizadeh and Ghaffari, “Islamophobia in Europe, roots and factors”, p. 124).
Today, one of the most important issues that has a negative impact on the situation of European Muslims is the growing trend of this sinister phenomenon in Europe. This is while certain factors in European societies are trying to present a false image of Islam. This extreme approach has caused some groups and parties in European countries to consider Muslims as a threat to their existence, political and secular norms. A major part of this damage by the media is fueled by a kind of analysis and misinterpretation of Islam, which, with the expansion of this trend, has caused future damage to the Muslim community in Europe.
a) Negative feelings and persecution of Muslims
On the one hand, the daily bombardment of public opinion with a flood of harsh words, and on the other hand, the lack of proper facilities and equal opportunity for Muslims to answer and enlighten public opinion, has caused a serious impact on the public opinion of the people of Europe. The formation of negative mentality towards Muslims as a result of suspicion and the spread of negative news in Europe has created and increased the fear of Muslims. And naturally, when fear and hatred of Muslims spreads in the society, the ground is prepared for hostile actions and persecution of Muslims.
b) Imposing restrictions on Muslims
One of the other harms of this phenomenon Is the imposition of restrictions on Muslims. Especially on some religious ceremonies or imams of mosques In such a way that the security systems of European countries impose a series of restrictions on imams and religious leaders.
c) Discrimination and double vision
One of the effects of Islamophobia on the European Muslim community is the occurrence of some discrimination against them, such as: discrimination in the handling of complaints, discrimination in employment, discrimination in the type of actions of the police and security forces, etc.
Dispersion
For some reasons, the exact number of Muslims in Europe Is not known, because the collection of religious information is prohibited in some European countries, such as France and Italy, and others, under the pressure of anti-Islamic groups, publish unrealistic and exaggerated statistics of the Muslim population so that Islam Is considered a threat to the West. But In any case, it can be said that currently the total population of Muslims living in Europe Is estimated at more than 20 million people. (Eisazadeh, Abbas, Muslim population in Europe and the United States) At the same time, European Muslims are facing the challenge of incoherence due to the dispersion of their place of residence In different countries. Of course, this phenomenon is due to different causes. Including the strict surveillance of the countries’ security apparatuses and the existence of laws that prevent this integration.
Conclusion:
Based on the above statements, we can conclude like this; The four dangerous phenomena of distorting identity, European Islam, Islamophobia, and the dispersal and incoherence of European Muslims are among the highlights of the damage that has afflicted the Muslim community of the Green Continent. Therefore, it is necessary for Islamic countries to take action in cooperation with active Islamic organizations in cultural programs in order to prevent or free European Muslims from the mentioned challenges.
