Islamisation of Europe and its Islamisation of Europe and its challenges for the international challenges for the international

securitysecurity

Elena Pereluigina, Ural State Elena Pereluigina, Ural State UniversityUniversity

Main Questions:

Does Islamisation really threatens to Europe?

Why are the Europeans so afraid of it and can we speak about Islamophobia?

Where are the sources of such a situation?

Contents

Islam as a religion, is it dangerous

Islamophobia Islamic terrorism Europe and Islam Mediterranean

region Turkey and the EU Russia and Islam

Islam as a religionIslam as a religion The religion of The religion of

Islam is the Islam is the acceptance of acceptance of and obedience and obedience to the teachings to the teachings of God which He of God which He revealed to His revealed to His last prophet, last prophet, MuhammadMuhammad  

Islam as a religionIslam as a religion

The notions of justice, solidarity and tolerance The notions of justice, solidarity and tolerance are central to the Koran and to Muslim ethics. are central to the Koran and to Muslim ethics.

The very name Islam - the Arabic root word The very name Islam - the Arabic root word 'salama' 'salama' - - peace. Islam is based upon peace. Islam is based upon achieving peace through the submission to achieving peace through the submission to the will of Allahthe will of Allah

Islam is a religion of peaceable and orderly Islam is a religion of peaceable and orderly peoplepeople

Islam as a religionIslam as a religion The West was presented with a hostile, The West was presented with a hostile,

suspicion-oriented vision of Islamsuspicion-oriented vision of Islam

The deep-rooted image on the West - The deep-rooted image on the West - fundamentalist Muslim world pursuing an fundamentalist Muslim world pursuing an international plot to destroy the Western international plot to destroy the Western identityidentity

S. Huntington1 wrote : "Islam has not been S. Huntington1 wrote : "Islam has not been hospitable to democracy “hospitable to democracy “

IslamophobiaIslamophobia Islam condemned as an obscurantist religion, closed Islam condemned as an obscurantist religion, closed

to any form of progressive thought.to any form of progressive thought.

The idea of an Arab Muslim world which is violent, The idea of an Arab Muslim world which is violent, fanatical and amoral.fanatical and amoral.

The fear of seeing populations of Magreb and Turkey, The fear of seeing populations of Magreb and Turkey, immigrating to Europeimmigrating to Europe

The propaganda chain : Arabs- the terrorist acts of The propaganda chain : Arabs- the terrorist acts of 11.09.- economical slump 11.09.- economical slump

Reasons to keep Islam in the distanceReasons to keep Islam in the distance (according to Mass-Media)(according to Mass-Media)

Islam and democracy seem to be contradictoryIslam and democracy seem to be contradictory

Every Islamic pressure from Nigeria to Afghanistan, means an extension of Every Islamic pressure from Nigeria to Afghanistan, means an extension of the Shari’ a, i.e. less rights for the women, for the Non-Moslems and even the Shari’ a, i.e. less rights for the women, for the Non-Moslems and even for the Moslems.for the Moslems.

Today, in Islam, the non-Moslem minorities are reduced as shagreen leather… Today, in Islam, the non-Moslem minorities are reduced as shagreen leather… Moslem colonies multiply in Europe. Moslem colonies multiply in Europe.

From Cyprus to Indonesia the frontiers of Islam are blood-stained. From Cyprus to Indonesia the frontiers of Islam are blood-stained.

Islamism, the only modern ideology, openly opposed to the Human rights, fast Islamism, the only modern ideology, openly opposed to the Human rights, fast established in some states and desiring to impose itself in the world , even by established in some states and desiring to impose itself in the world , even by the force.the force.

Islamic terrorismIslamic terrorism The term “Muslim terrorist” is used to label The term “Muslim terrorist” is used to label

Islam as a terrorist religionIslam as a terrorist religion JihadJihad – striving, an inner thing, within self, – striving, an inner thing, within self,

to rid it from debased actions or inclinations, to rid it from debased actions or inclinations, & exercise constancy & perseverance in & exercise constancy & perseverance in achieving a higher moral standardachieving a higher moral standard

Islam Islam does not fight other religionsdoes not fight other religions. . Islam opposes any form of indiscriminate Islam opposes any form of indiscriminate

violence. The Koran states: violence. The Koran states: “Anyone who has “Anyone who has killed another except in retaliation, it is as if killed another except in retaliation, it is as if he has killed the whole of humankind.” he has killed the whole of humankind.” (32:5).(32:5).

Europe and IslamEurope and Islam► The Historic conflict between the Christian The Historic conflict between the Christian

West & Islam : the crusades, colonization, West & Islam : the crusades, colonization, decolonization , the Arab-Israeli conflict, decolonization , the Arab-Israeli conflict, problems relating to oil & immigrationproblems relating to oil & immigration

► The social image of Arab and Turkish The social image of Arab and Turkish immigrants in Europe: from that of a immigrants in Europe: from that of a foreign temporary worker to that of a foreign temporary worker to that of a devout Muslim transplanted into Europedevout Muslim transplanted into Europe

Islam - Europe's second religionIslam - Europe's second religion

Nearly 20 million inhabitants of the EU Nearly 20 million inhabitants of the EU – Moslems:– Moslems:

Europe's aging population - labor-Europe's aging population - labor-thirsty for the next two decades thirsty for the next two decades

++ the population of the Arab Middle East the population of the Arab Middle East

- exploding & looking to move- exploding & looking to move==

by 2020 Moslems - 10% of the overall by 2020 Moslems - 10% of the overall population of Europepopulation of Europe

► In 30 years, the Moslem population of GB In 30 years, the Moslem population of GB rose from 82,000 to 2 million. rose from 82,000 to 2 million.

► In Germany - 4 million Moslems, mostly In Germany - 4 million Moslems, mostly Turks. Turks.

► Over 5 million across the Rhine in France, Over 5 million across the Rhine in France, mostly North Africans. mostly North Africans.

► A million Moslems each in Italy & the A million Moslems each in Italy & the Netherlands, & half-a-million in Spain. Netherlands, & half-a-million in Spain.

► Almost a tenth of all babies born in EU Almost a tenth of all babies born in EU countries - Moslem.countries - Moslem.

►the often-difficult process of mutual the often-difficult process of mutual adaptation & accommodation adaptation & accommodation between European societies & between European societies & burgeoning Muslim populationsburgeoning Muslim populations

►Moslem migrants -increasingly the Moslem migrants -increasingly the targets of the "war against terror" in targets of the "war against terror" in Europe. Afghani & Iraqi terrorists are Europe. Afghani & Iraqi terrorists are claimed to have infiltrated refugees claimed to have infiltrated refugees & asylum seekers& asylum seekers

Mediterranean region

Historical background 1. In 711, the Arabs and Berbers in the Iberian

Peninsula ( for 8 centuries, Al-Andalus, Cordoba) ;

2. In the 11th century, the Christian “reconquest” 3. From the 16th century onwards, European

countries settled in the South Mediterranean (until the second half of the 20th century).

4. Today, public opinion in Europe and the South Mediterranean lags far behind the views of intellectuals and politicians. .

the North-South divide at the Mediterranean: confrontation between two worlds which differ in culture, religion, politics, development levels, demography, emigration, and economic flows.

the European media - a decisive role in spreading the fear of a perceived Islamic threat

Modernisation is not synonymous with Westernisation

there is migratory pressure from south & east towards the north, there is a demographic imbalance .

Turkey & the EUTurkey & the EU

The Turkish campaign for accession – 4 mainThe Turkish campaign for accession – 4 main argumentsarguments::

a long-standing contractual relationship with the a long-standing contractual relationship with the EU ( Association Agreement) EU ( Association Agreement)

Turkey - economically on a par with or more Turkey - economically on a par with or more advanced than many of the applicants, it’s a advanced than many of the applicants, it’s a parliamentary democracy.parliamentary democracy.

Turkey offers the EU strategic and economic Turkey offers the EU strategic and economic advantages in terms of stability on its south advantages in terms of stability on its south eastern flank, & influence in the emerging eastern flank, & influence in the emerging countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia.countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia.

The application is crucial to Europe’s future The application is crucial to Europe’s future relations with the Islamic south of the relations with the Islamic south of the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.

In the EU, attention tends to focus In the EU, attention tends to focus on several points:on several points:

Turkey is still a poor country in terms of Turkey is still a poor country in terms of per capita income. per capita income.

Much of the economy is still agricultural. Much of the economy is still agricultural. There are very severe regional There are very severe regional

imbalances. imbalances. A successful Islamic revival in TurkeyA successful Islamic revival in Turkey

Good reasons to say :” No for Good reasons to say :” No for Turkey in Europe” Turkey in Europe” (public opinion).(public opinion).

The birth of a The birth of a Europe without any Europe without any geographic limits. geographic limits.

The aggravation of The aggravation of the immigration. the immigration.

Islamisation of Islamisation of EuropeEurope

The increase of The increase of unemployment unemployment

The re-Islamisation of Turkey The re-Islamisation of Turkey Islamists in Turkey say : “The re-Islamists in Turkey say : “The re-

Islamisation of Turkey - the first step Islamisation of Turkey - the first step towards the Islamisation of Europe”.towards the Islamisation of Europe”.

The Party of Prosperity (Refah), “Grey The Party of Prosperity (Refah), “Grey Wolves”, organization “Islamic Jihad” Wolves”, organization “Islamic Jihad” propagandize the following ideas:propagandize the following ideas:

• Hatred to EuropeHatred to Europe• Islamisation of Europe Islamisation of Europe • PanturkismPanturkism• XenophobieXenophobie

The 14 months of Refah rule left The 14 months of Refah rule left some clear indications:some clear indications:

Foreign Policy: Foreign Policy: The friends were in The friends were in Islamic states Islamic states

The legal system: The legal system: it promised to start it promised to start the Islamisation of the legal system.the Islamisation of the legal system.

Education: Education: its long-term aim was to its long-term aim was to phase out the ‘secular’ educational system phase out the ‘secular’ educational system in Turkey, and replace it at all levels by a in Turkey, and replace it at all levels by a religiously-oriented one.religiously-oriented one.

Finance: Finance: Left to itself Welfare would have Left to itself Welfare would have tried to ‘Islamise’ the economytried to ‘Islamise’ the economy

Russia and Islam the Moslem population of the RF vary from 15 to

21 million. Russia - an Euroasian country, the country of

Christian-Islamic dualism.

For the West Islam & Islamic institutions - the moment of their foreign policy or the problem of the elaboration of the attitude to immigrants from Moslem countries.

For Russia it is a part of the way of life of many millions of Russian Moslems that have been living in Russia for centuries, for whom Russia isn’t a temporary refuge but the native home.

Arange of measures for the limitation of the Islamic danger:

1. the depoliticisation of Islam, the de- Islamisation of politics;

2. the exclusion of interference in the sociopolitical sphere of Islamic organistions;

3. the limitation or full ban on the the activities of foreign Islamic organizations;

4. the reconsidering of foreign policy priorities towards cooperation with states which either do not use Islamism in foreign policy, or at a minimum do not use it against Russia.

the Moslem faith isn’t identified as such with the threat it sees as emanating from the extremist forces

According to V. Putin and I.Ivanov: A threat of Islamic extremism has

emerged in Central Asia and the Islamic regions of the RF.

By militarily confronting this threat, Russia is protecting the entire international community (particularly the West), and deserves its support.