Perceptions of Islam in Europe: A Case study of EU Candidate countries in the Balkans
by Isaac Rizzo
The policy the west has taken up with regards to Turkey is likely a reflection of societal sentiments surrounding Turks and Muslims as a whole. American professor and intellectual Noam Chomsky argues that the EU’s opposition to Turkish membership is due to racism as he believes that the main preoccupation for the west is not its human rights track record. Influential European leaders such as Angela Merkel had stated that German culture is based on Judeo-Christian values with one of her closest allies saying that Muslim immigrants need to stop, referencing Arabs and Turks
In recent times the far-right in Europe utilise anti-Muslim rhetoric so as to garner support in the elections, exploiting existing sentiments in Europe for their political gain. This being said, this type of discourse is also seen from the moderate centre parties. A former centre-left politician wrote a paper explaining how Muslim migrants will bring societal collapse in Germany as they do not want to integrate. A study carried out in 2011 found that many Germans found their Turkish neighbours unpleasant to have despite their presence in Germany and their contribution towards the German economy after the Second World War. Another study found that discrimination against Muslims and Arabs is the highest in EU members states with the most discriminated groups being Muslim youths, however, Turks also made it to the list.
Despite having a large Muslim community, France banned women wearing the burka or niqab with those that are caught are fined €150, forced to take a citizenship class and have it recorded in their criminal record. According to French authorities this is due to security concerns especially after the 2015 Paris attacks despite only a few thousand wore the niqab before the ban. This largely stems from the belief that multiculturalism can result in clashes and segregated community and so an emphasis was made on minorities to integrate in the societies they found themselves in. This Muslim community is divided on the issue as some argue that in a free society they have the right to wear what they want whilst others believe that it is not specified in the Quran and that in this case Muslims should integrate into French societal norms. A study conducted in 2009 delved into the challenges Muslim women faced in Europe in which despite the difficulties many said that they are pleased to live in Europe due to the freedoms, security, and opportunities they found, supporting European values. Struggles they face are not only due to prejudices by non-Muslims but also due to pressures by their families, insisting that their adherence to Islam is not to distance themselves from Europeans but rather to embrace the freedoms in Europe when it came to expressing their identity.
Despite the prejudices, Islam is the second largest religion in Europe behind Christianity and is the fastest growing religion. One must keep in mind that Muslims had been present in southern Italy, Greece, and Eastern Countries for many generations before the migration crisis. Nowadays, in Portugal many Muslims who came from the country’s former colonies are well integrated with some cities in Europe such as Rotterdam issuing funds for Muslim organisations. Europe does not base itself on the domination conquest of others but focuses on what it is not. Despite opposition to Turkish integration into Europe due to it being a predominantly Muslim country and being pushed to the periphery politically, there are other predominantly Muslim countries in Europe that are not in the periphery. Kosovo, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Albania, and North Macedonia all comprise of a significant Muslim population that have been present since the Ottoman occupation of the aforementioned. In countries such as Kosovo however, Islam did not play a part in its independence as the Sufi branch of Islam is different to the Sunni and Shia branches in terms of their values and rituals. The concept of Muslim solidarity differs to that found in Turkey and the Arab world for example.
In conclusion, the conditions present make Turkey’s accession into the EU impossible due to fundamental differences between the two. Although Erdogan and his party will not be in government forever as the local elections have shown, he still enjoys a lot of support in the country, meaning that many support the direction the country has taken, arguably away from the west and Europe. Religion is also a major factor as Erdogan has used Islam for political gain which had also distanced the country from the EU. Christianity has become the basis of most European societies that has influenced the values the EU as a whole works for despite a more secularist approach being taken. This acts as a unifying force in the continent, and so, as Turkey and Turkish society largely adheres to Islam, this will bring out the divides that exist in both side’s perception of major issues.
The rise of the far-right also shows that Europeans generally do not have a favourable opinion to Muslims and countries that are predominantly such. On a political level, as Turkey has a larger population than Germany and France, and has ongoing disputes with Greece and Cyprus, it is expected that they would have an unfavourable opinion to Turkish membership. Furthermore, especially with Erdogan’s government, Turkey does not seem to be making progress with regards to the EU Acquis Communautaire, the criteria needed to be eligible for membership.