Post #9, Week Ten: More on Islam

By: Tori Travers

In the book Islam, Europe’s Second Religion: The New Social, Cultural, and Political Landscape Sami Zemni and Christopher Parker explain the “failure of integration” of Muslims in Europe. They explain that the failure stems from how the Muslim migrant was socially portrayed. They write that Muslims in Europe are being “a problematic participant in European social and political life,” on page 235.

In the early 1950s, laborers and their families migrated from developing countries to fill low paying jobs in European economies until the 1970s, when the European economy took a turn for the worst (235). This portrayal was prevalent for the second time during the massive rise of “people fleeing conflict and/or political and economic insecurity in their home countries and arriving in Western Europe” after the Cold War ended (235). Soon enough, the entire situation was seen as a need to come to terms with the reality of a “multicultural Europe,” this being in a negative manner. The migrations were a threat and a challenge because immigrants seemed to be unable to integrate.

This way of perceiving immigration and multiculturalism by Europeans is problematic in the discourse surrounding Islam and Muslims in Europe because it perpetuates a stagnant and prejudiced view. Separating Islam and Europe structures a way of thinking between all parties. There is no cohesiveness. Everything is separated. As Zemni and Parker assert, “the construction of this discourse . . . profoundly influences the way European publics and policymakers view and interact with Europe’s Muslim communities” (236). Furthermore, there is a risk of it being fulfilled because important questions are never asked. For example, no one ever asks or takes the time to see if a Muslim migrant is “more” or “less” integrated than a migrant from another area.

Alia Malek and Josh Neufeld’s Foreign Policy issue The Dispossessed offers an awakening view of what is occurring with the refugee crisis in Europe. The first paragraph especially brings up an important factor that needs to be considered worldwide. The reality is that most of the people that are displaced, inhabit countries that simply do not have the resources to host them. With this trend continuing in this manner, it could mean for worse situations in the future if resource-rich countries don’t step up.

The stories, facts, graphs and images that the article shows also add to telling the story of refugees. The comic in the middle offered an interesting view on the matter as well. The illustrations added a viewing element, especially with the addition of actual images of the current panel. The struggles and hardships of the journey were especially highlighted with the addition of the comic.

Something I noticed in the film My Escape was the multiple times that refugees stated they did not know that the journey would be so difficult. Smugglers morphed from charming (in order to get the money to move refugees) to violent and terrifying. I believe the film does contain a good analysis of the crisis that many refugees are experiencing. The “homemade” videos as people made the exhausting and trying journey show just how terrible the conditions were and how critical it was. The importance of the crisis was showcased in the film and more people need to be aware of what is going on.

In regards to Islam playing a role in the refugee situation, I would have to say that it does play a role. However, I think it’s more so that Islam is forced to play a role. The prejudice and negativity of people’s perspectives about Islam force it to be a factor.