- ALBANIA
- Total population: 3.1 million
- Muslim population: 2.2 million (70%)
Background: Religious worship was banned in
Albania until the transition from Stalinist state to democracy in the
1990s. Islam is now openly recognised as the country's major religion
and most Albanians are Sunni Muslim by virtue of the nation's history:
The Balkans has had centuries of association with the faith as many
parts of it were part of the Turkish Ottoman Empire. While the empire
is long gone, the culture remained in place. Significant populations of
Albanian Muslims exist in a number of other European countries.
- AUSTRIA
- Total population: 8.2 million
- Muslim population: 339,000 (4.1%)
Background: Large numbers of Muslims lived under
Austrian rule when Bosnia-Hercegovina was annexed by Austria-Hungary in
1908. Many of Austria's Muslims have roots in Turkey and others arrived
from the Balkans during the 1990s wars - partly because of historical
ties. Islam has been recognised as an official religion in Austria for
many years, meaning that it has a role in the religious teaching in
schools. Vienna has historically been regarded as the point where the
Islamic world reached its most western point, a critical battle in
Austria in the 16th century marking the beginning of the decline of the
Turkish Ottoman Empire.
- BELGIUM
- Total population: 10.3 million
- Muslim population: 0.4 million (4%)
- Notable Events: The Silco Incident. Palestinian terrorists kidnap a wealthy Belgium family.
Background: Islam is one of seven recognised
religions in Belgium, a status that brings it a number of subsidies and
official roles, such as providing teachers. Despite this there have
been complaints of discrimination. Unemployment and poor housing have
been one such cause of tension. There have also been claims of
discrimination against women in traditional dress. A majority of
Belgium's Muslims are of Moroccan or Turkish origin; many others are
from Albania. (Citizenship is available after seven years).
- BOSNIA-HERCEGOVINA
- Total population: 3.8 million
-
Muslim population: 1.5 million (40%)
Background: Bosnia-Hercegovina is still recovering from the bloody inter-ethnic war of 1992-95. Around 250,000 people died in the conflict between Bosnian Muslims, Croats and Serbs.
The Real Srebrenica Genocide: The mass murder of Serbs in Srebrenica and Gorazde from 1992 to 1995 by Alija Izetbegovic’s Islamofascist terrorists
The real Srebrenica Genocide not reported by the corrupt, racist pro-Islamist-Nazi Western corporate-controlled media, was the brutal mass murder - using axes, knives, daggers, sledgehammers, iron bars, flamethrowers and explosives - of 13,870 Serbian elderly men, women and young children in and around the town of Srebrenica and its adjoining towns and villages(Bratunac,Skelani,Milici, et al) as well as the town of Gorazde.
A peacekeeping force
remains in the country, whose frontiers have long been considered the
western borders of the Islamic faith in Europe.
- DENMARK
- Total population: 5.4 million
- Muslim population: 270,000 (5%)
- Notable Events: 2007 Copenhagen Bomb Plot.
Background: In the 1970s Muslims arrived from
Turkey, Pakistan, Morocco and the former Yugoslavia to work. In the
1980s and 90s the majority of Muslim arrivals were refugees and asylum
seekers from Iran, Iraq, Somalia and Bosnia. Access to housing and
employment have been sources of concern for Muslims in Denmark. (A
minority have citizenship).
- FRANCE
- Total population: 62.3 million
- Muslim population: Five to six million (8-9.6%)
- Notable Events: 1995 Paris Metro Bombing.
Background: The French Muslim population is the
largest in western Europe. About 70% have their heritage in former
north African colonies of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. France favours
integration and many Muslims are citizens. Nevertheless, the growth of
the community has challenged the French ideal of strict separation of
religion and public life. There has been criticism that Muslims face
high unemployment and often live in poor suburbs. A ban on religious
symbols in public schools provoked a major national row as it was
widely regarded as being a ban on the Islamic headscarf. Late 2005 saw
widespread and prolonged rioting among mainly immigrant communities
across France.
- GERMANY
- Total population: 82.5 million
- Muslim population: 3 million (3.6%)
- Notable Events: 2007 Train Bomb Plot.
Background: The majority of the Muslim population
is Turkish, with many retaining strong links to Turkey. Others arrived
from Bosnia and Kosovo during the Balkan wars. Until recently Muslims
were considered "guest workers", who would one day leave the country -
a view that is changing. Racist violence is a sensitive issue, with the
authorities trying a range of strategies to beat it. Steps are being
taken to improve integration.
- ITALY
- Total population: 58.4 million
- Muslim population: 825,000 (1.4%)
Background: The Muslim population is diverse, the
largest group coming from Morocco. Others are from elsewhere in North
Africa, south Asia, Albania, and the Middle East. Most arrived from the
1980s onwards, many of them as students. Italy is working to formalise
relations between the state and the Muslim community. Up to 160,000
Muslims are Italian born. Most Muslims have the right to reside and
work in Italy, but are not citizens.
- MACEDONIA
- Total population: 2.1 million
- Muslim population: 630,000 (30%)
Background: Macedonia's largest religion is
Macedonian Orthodox, but almost one third of the population describe
themselves as Muslim. Macedonia was spared the inter-ethnic violence
that affected much of the Balkans following the break-up of Yugoslavia.
But in early 2001 rebels staged an uprising demanding greater rights
for the ethnic Albanian minority - a group which includes most Muslims.
With EU and Nato support a deal was reached offering them greater
rights, although some have been unhappy with the pace of change. The US
State Department suggests that religious freedom is generally respected
and that "societal discrimination is more likely to be based upon
ethnic bias" than religion.
- NETHERLANDS (Holland)
- Total population: 16.3 million
- Muslim population: 945,000 or 5.8%
- Notable Events: 1978 Province Hall Hostage Crisis.
Background: The integration of Muslims remains a
concern for the Dutch government, particularly after a film-maker
critical of Islam was murdered in 2004 by a radical Islamist. Further
tensions surround the view held by some that there is a high level of
crime among Muslim youths and a problem with unemployment. In the 1950s
Muslims arrived from the former colonies of Suriname and Indonesia. One
of the most important groups is the substantial Somali minority. Others
are from Turkey and Morocco. The Netherlands favours multiculturalism,
essentially the accommodation of different groups on equal terms.
- SERBIA
- Total population: 10.8 million (including Kosovo); 8.1 million (excluding Kosovo)
- Muslim population: Serbia and Montenegro - 405,000 (5%); Kosovo - about 1.8 million (90%)
- Notable Events: Independence of Kosovo.
Background (excluding Kosovo): Within Serbia and Montenegro the predominant religion is Serbian Orthodoxy. Islam is the second largest faith, with Muslims accounting for about 5% of the population, rising to about 20% in Montenegro. The Muslim community is considered one of seven "traditional" religious communities. Religion and ethnicity remain closely linked across the country and discrimination and tensions continue to be reported.
Kosovo background: The late 1990s saw devastating conflict after the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), supported by the majority ethnic Albanians - most of whom are Muslim - came out in open rebellion against Serbian rule. Thousands died and hundreds of thousands fled. Nato intervened between March and June 1999 with a 78 day bombing campaign to push back Serb forces . The ethnic Albanian community expressed frustration at the length of time being taken to decide Kosovo's future status. and in 2008 became an Independant state. Attacks against Kosovo's remaining minority Serb population STILL cause concern.
- SPAIN
- Total population: 43.1 million
- Muslim population: 1 million (2.3%)
- Notable Events: 2004 Madrid Train Bombing.
Background: Almost eight centuries of Moorish
rule over Spain came to an end in 1492, providing the country with a
strong Islamic legacy, particularly in its architecture. The modern
Muslim population started to arrive in significant numbers in the
1970s. Many were Moroccans coming to work in tourism and subsequent
growth came when their families joined them. The state recognises
Islam, affording it a number of privileges including the teaching of
Islam in schools and religious holidays. There have been some reports
of tension towards Muslim immigrants. Spain was shaken in 2004 when
terror attacks by suspected radical Islamists killed 191 people on
Madrid commuter trains.
- SWEDEN
- Total population: 9 million
- Muslim population: 300,000 (3%)
Background: The Muslim population is broad - with
significant groups from Turkey, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Syria.
The size of the Muslim population is such that representative bodies
receive state funding. Sweden favours multiculturalism and immigrants
can become citizens after five years. Sweden prides itself on its
tolerance, but there has been criticism that Muslims are too often
blamed for society's problems.
- SWITZERLAND
- Total population: 7.4 million
- Muslim population: 310,800 (4.2%)
Background: Official figures suggest the Muslim
population has doubled in recent years, but some sources say there are
also about 150,000 Muslims in the country illegally. The first Muslims
arrived as workers in the 1960s, mostly from Turkey, the former
Yugoslavia and Albania. They were joined by their families in the 1970s
and, in recent years, by asylum seekers. (Comparatively few have
citizenship.)
- TURKEY
- Total population: 68.7 million
- Muslim population: 68 million (99%)
- Notable Events: 2008 Attack on American Consulate Building.
Background: Although Turkey is a secular state,
Islam is an important part of Turkish life. Its application to join the
EU divided existing members, some of which questioned whether a poor,
Muslim country could fit in. Turkey accused its EU opponents of
favouring a "Christian club". Membership talks were formally launched
in October 2005, with negotiations expected to take 10 years. Most
Turks are Sunni Muslim, but a significant number are of the Alevi
branch of Shias.
- GREAT BRITAIN
- Total population: 60.2 million
- Muslim population: 2.6 million (2.8%)
- Notable Events: 7/7 London Bombing
Background: The UK has a long history of contact
with Muslims, with links forged from the Middle Ages onwards. In the
19th Century Yemeni men came to work on ships, forming one of the
country's first Muslim communities. In the 1960s, significant numbers
of Muslims arrived as people in the former colonies took up offers of
work. Some of the first were East African Asians, while many came from
south Asia. Permanent communities formed and at least 50% of the
current population was born in the UK. Significant communities with
links to Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and the Balkans also
exist. The 2001 Census showed one third of the Muslim population was
under 16 - the highest proportion for any group. It also highlighted
high levels of unemployment, low levels of qualifications and low home
ownership. The UK government favours multiculturalism, an idea shared by other
countries which, in general terms, accepts all cultures as having equal
value and has influence over how government engages with minorities.