German sociologists warned about increasing hostility to Islam by the local German population. According to them, hostility to Muslims is common among all social classes – and the elite, and those who live on the state allowances.
Similar sentiments are observed in almost all the countries of Northern and Central Europe. In general, we can talk about the wave of Islamophobia. The fact that these sentiments are now infected by previously tolerant European “middle class”, and causes, most likely, the biggest concern by the migrants.
The Central Council of Muslims in Germany requires to draw a particular attention to “anti-Islamic racism”, as it spread to the center of German society. Today, the German authorities refuse to recognize the crimes and acts of violence against Muslims separate offense, limiting the general formulation of “hostility to foreigners.” The local Muslims require the introduction of a special article in the Criminal Code.
Meanwhile, experts in the phrase “local Muslim” call to put the word “local” in some quotes. As the present-day German Muslims – is at best a second or third (and often first) generation of immigrants. Of course, people in the Arab East immigrated to Germany before. But the vast majority of them assimilated, becoming in the end an average German.
Another thing is the migrants of the last few decades. Using post-war European systems (especially in Germany) as they (and in some cases even deliberately) distanced themselves from socio-cultural traditions of their new home. Leonid Syukiyaynen, professor at the State University Higher School of Economics explained: “Opposition and even some hostility due to the presence of the Muslim minority in Europe is a fact. Analysts do not exaggerate in this regard. Many conflicts where the Muslim community is quite extensive and affects the political situation, the social life: France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Scandinavian countries. For a long time, Germany differed in that situation there was more or less quiet, compared to France. Clearly, the responsibility for such a confrontation is on both sides. On the other hand, the Muslims themselves are not particularly active part in the European society, opposing to European culture”.
It should be admitted that anti-Islamic factor in Europe is related to its history. We can recall the Arab’s capture of Spain and subsequent Reconquista; the Crusades for “Tomb of the Lord,” the capturing of Constantinople by Turks, the enslavement of the Balkan peoples, and so on, up to the colonial wars of the Europeans in Africa and Asia.
Two or three years ago, a series of statements on the highest level started that multiculturalism has not worked. It became clear what we saw protection from xenophobia, in reality turned into a stimulator of xenophobia.
In a whole, Islamophobia fueled the European historical memory. The tolerance of the outsiders was not part of a European system of priorities to the very recent time. As a result, Continental snobbery has played a cruel joke with the Europeans. First they bravely conquered the world, and now humbly ask for forgiveness. Residents of the former European colonies are preferred possibilities for obtaining a residence permit. As a natural result – France was flooded by Algerians and Tunisians, UK by Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, Italy by Libyans and Somalis, Holland by Indonesians, Spain by Moroccans. In this case, the legislation regarding family reunification allowed each stranger who has received European citizenship to carry all his relatives.
Another reason for the current state of affairs is the European political atmosphere of the entire second half of the last century. In those days, in many European countries for a long time liberal or even socialist parties were presented which strongly promoted the concept of Europe as a home. All this ultimately resulted in 15 million Muslims living in the moment in the EU.
What is interesting that the signs of Islamophobia clearly seen in Catholic and in Protestant countries. Just recall a speech delivered in 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI in the German city of Regensburg. It caused a storm of enthusiasm among Catholics and anger among Muslims. An example can progress right political parties in the Netherlands, Austria, Hungary, Ireland, Germany, the ban on headscarves in France, on the construction of minarets in Switzerland, etc.
In fact, according to many experts, the root of the problem is that the parties to the conflict have lost interest in peaceful coexistence. Neither one nor the other does not need more than a compromise with the infidels. European Muslims – because the new home allows them to live and behave like centuries lived and behaved in their ancestors. But indigenous people – because I believe that the boundaries of common sense in the dispute between the two civilizations long since broken. Actually, this has led the leading European politicians say the failure of multiculturalism.
But the roots of Islamophobia in the European continent still be found in the minds of the indigenous population (or rather, in their souls.) In fact, the fear of people of other faiths – the fear of losing their identity. European society is rapidly emptying. The European Community is rapidly losing the spiritual ties of which it is connected with the history. A foundation on which was built the Christian Europe is eroding. A Muslim only fills the vacuum emerged.
Almaz SANDY
