SECULARIZATION OF EUROPE – OPPORTUNITY OR CHALLENGE FOR THE INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTSFROM MUSLIM COUNTRIES? THE CASE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM

Abstract

This article attempts to answer the question: To what extent the secularity of Europe facilitates or hinders the process of integration of immigrants from Muslim countries? The answer to this question is based on selected literature about immigrants from Muslim countries in the UK, in selected research and observation of current activities of certain Muslim institutions in England. The paper consists of three parts. The first part is devoted to the demographic development of the Muslim community in the world and Europe, part two shows the processes of secularization in Europe, with particular attention paid to Britain. The third part examines the reaction of Muslims in the UK towards secularism in Europe, their proselytism and the importance of Christian-Muslim cooperation in the modernization of Islam. Analysis shows that secularization of Europe is much more of a challenge than an opportunity for the integration of immigrants from Muslim countries. In the first place, among the factors, hindering integration, one can put the Muslim conviction of the superiority of the Islamic values over the "godless" and "immoral" Europe and therefore religious mission that Muslims attempt to play in Europe. This type of attitude does not facilitate the coexistence between the Muslim community and the peoples of Europe. It also allows extreme groups, as terrorist recruiting young Muslims, especially second generation seeking their identity in religion.