The Open Society Institute Muslims in Europe report series constitutes the comparative analysis of data from 11 cities in seven European countries. It points out common trends and offers recommendations at the local, national, and international levels, including to the European Union and to international organizations. While not representative of the situation of all Muslims…
Switzerland recently passed a controversial referendum to ban minarets in the country, provoking uproar, intense debate and even protest. The move is regarded by many as “deeply divisive,” says UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, as well as a major setback for American and European public diplomacy in the Arab world. Sweden, which…
A planned trip to Turkey by a delegation from the Dutch parliament has been cancelled. The trip was scheduled for January, and intended as a “fact finding mission” in connection with Turkey’s hopes to join the EU. Last week a representative from the foreign affairs ministry stated that Geert Wilders, leader of the right wing…
Herman Van Rompuy has become the first president of Europe. Mr. Rompuy is a hard-line opponent of Turkey’s bid to join the European Union because it is an Islamic country. Van Rompuy, Belgium’s Prime Minister and a Christian Democrat, has in the past spoken out against Turkish EU membership because, he warned, it would dilute…
The Bosnian Muslims are disappointed in the EU. They feel that they were the victims in the war against the Serbs. But the Serbs might soon be able to travel to the EU without needing a visa, whereas for the Bosnians this privilege is still a long way off. But the EU will only grant…
