This volume exposes some of the various issues raised in relation to Muslim communities in Europe by putting the intellectual and legal traditions into dialogue. It brings together a number of scholars of Shari'a and Islamic law with counterparts from the parallel European disciplines of hermeneutics, philosophy and jurisprudence, to explore how the processes of theological-legal thinking have been expressed and are being expressed in a more or less common intellectual framework. It provides a valuable reference for all those interested in exploring how Muslims and non-Muslims view Shari'a law, looking at ways the European legal systems can provide some form of accommodation with Muslim customs.

This volume exposes some of the various issues raised in relation to Muslim communities in Europe by putting the intellectual and legal traditions into dialogue. It brings together a number of scholars of Shari'a and Islamic law with counterparts from the parallel European disciplines of hermeneutics, philosophy and jurisprudence, to explore how the processes of theological-legal thinking have been expressed and are being expressed in a more or less common intellectual framework. It provides a valuable reference for all those interested in exploring how Muslims and non-Muslims view Shari'a law, looking at ways the European legal systems can provide some form of accommodation with Muslim customs.

A useful introduction to the social, political, cultural and religious position of Muslims living in contemporary Europe. It describes the history of early European Muslims and outlines the causes and courses of 20th-century Muslim immigration. Explaining how Muslim communities have developed in individual countries, the book examines their origins, their present day ethnic composition, distribution and organisational patterns, and the political, legal and cultural contexts in which they exist. It also provides a comparative consideration of issues common to Muslims in all Western European countries, namely the role of the family, and the questions of worship, education and religious thought. In the fourth edition all country-related chapters have been substantially updated. A new chapter has also been added on Southern Europe, where the maturity of a new generation has seen moves towards political integration. This new chapter will reflect the extensive research of the past decade in this area

Across Europe there are numerous examples of recent linkages between universities and Islamic seminaries. In Germany the federal 'top-down' experiment, now over ten years old, of establishing departments of Islamic theology in five universities has now recruited over 2000 students, many of whom will end up teaching confessional Islam RE in schools. In the UK, local partnerships have been developed at under- and postgraduate level between e.g. Warwick, Birmingham and Middlesex universities and Islamic seminaries representing a range of Islamic traditions. Similar experiences are being developed on a smaller scale in other countries. These developments, which have taken place against a backdrop of state pressure to 'integrate' Islam and address 'radicalisation', challenge university traditions of 'scientific' approaches to the study of Islam as well as the confessional expectations of faith-based Islamic theological training. By looking more closely at the developing experience in Germany and Britain and selected other countries this volume explores how the two approaches are finding ways of creative cooperation.

This title analyses European Muslim communities' developing involvement in their political environment. To what extent are Muslims in Europe 'integrated'? Muslims are increasingly making themselves noticed in the political process of Europe. But what is happening behind the often sensational headlines? This book looks at the processes and realities of Muslim participation in local and national politics in a range of Eastern and Western European countries: voting patterns in local and national assemblies, membership of elected councils and national parliaments, and the tensions between ethnic, political and religious identities. It also asks how political participation and wider integration issues interrelate and considers how Muslims - as ethnic groups, or through specific institutions - seek to locate themselves within European political society. It includes 16 chapters presenting up-to-date research on European Muslim political participation. Case studies include the Respect Party in the UK, the ethnic and religious identity of Tatars in Lithuania and Poland, and the French Muslim crisis. It focuses on issues such as Muslim women, class and youth. It covers Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

This title analyses European Muslim communities' developing involvement in their political environment. Muslims are making themselves noticed in the political process of Europe. But what is happening behind the sensational headlines? These 16 essays look at the processes and realities in 12 European areas: Belgium, Catalonia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the UK. They analyse and compare issues from voting patterns in local and national assemblies to the tensions between ethnic, political and religious identities. These developments drive internal Muslim debates including whether Muslims should take part in the democratic process at all, and rivalries over who should represent Muslims. They also inspire sharp discussion in Europe: how should European states view the increasingly active role of Muslims in the public space? Does it signal integration or separation?