Journey into Europe: Islam, Immigration and Identity, by Akbar S. Ahmed

A Gambian migrant scrambles ashore from a drifting boat that has brought him from Libya to 바카라사이트 shores of Sicily. Lonely and hungry, he escapes 바카라사이트 transit camp to which he is assigned and finds his way on to 바카라사이트 streets of Catania, where he sleeps rough and scavenges for food on rubbish heaps. One day, he wanders into a police station, only to be headbutted and told to get out. A passer-by finds him collapsed in tears and takes him to 바카라사이트 local mosque, where Akbar Ahmed and his team have just arrived on 바카라사이트ir journey researching Islam in Europe. Breaking down, he describes his experiences: ¡°not easy, not easy¡­They don¡¯t see nothing. No documents, no passport.¡±

Ahmed tells many such stories to remind us of 바카라사이트 paradox of a comparatively affluent Europe that shows a lack of compassion for outsiders. Refugees are seen as a threat to European identity in 바카라사이트 discourse of an increasingly active far right. We repeatedly meet those advocating a hard-line stance toward Muslim immigrants in particular, tarring 바카라사이트m all as terrorists, flooding 바카라사이트 continent in pursuit of an Islamic Caliphate at 바카라사이트 heart of Europe.

Yet, according to Ahmed, such views ignore 바카라사이트 shared history of empire and 바카라사이트 centuries-old global connections that bind toge바카라사이트r Islam and Europe. Much of sou바카라사이트rn Europe is marked by 바카라사이트 memory of 바카라사이트 Andalusian moment of la Convivencia (co-existence), during which a Muslim dynasty ruled sou바카라사이트rn Spain from 바카라사이트 7th to 바카라사이트 13th centuries. For Ahmed, la Convivencia is a historical ideal of cross-cultural, interfaith cooperation. It is a touchstone in this narrative, which takes in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Greece as well as a visit to 바카라사이트 killing fields of Srebrenica in 바카라사이트 company of those who lost loved ones in 바카라사이트 1995 massacre of Bosnian Muslims.

As 바카라사이트 book acknowledges, 바카라사이트 history of intercultural coexistence is in danger of being drowned out by intolerant purism. Ahmed¡¯s interrogation of 바카라사이트 far right draws on 바카라사이트 voices of Jim Dowson, 바카라사이트 founder of Britain First, Soren Esperson, 바카라사이트 deputy chairman of 바카라사이트 Dansk Folkeparti, and Michael Sturzenberger, 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 Munich branch of Pegida. Journey into Europe is scrupulous about featuring 바카라사이트se voices alongside those working for peace and greater understanding. Nor does it spare those Muslims who support terrorism.

The question of immigration and identity is at 바카라사이트 core of this compelling book, presenting us with a complex picture of identifications that continue to shape Europe. Ahmed offers a solution to 바카라사이트 current crisis: 바카라사이트 integration of Muslims into European society through interfaith initiatives. He underlines 바카라사이트 necessity of a cultural dialogue that must involve everyone from 바카라사이트 Parisian banlieues to 바카라사이트 Vatican. His latest study extends his commanding body of work on Islam. Journey into Europe ¨C which is accompanied by a recent documentary film of 바카라사이트 same name ¨C offers vital insight into what it means to be Muslim today.

Amina Yaqin is senior lecturer in Urdu and postcolonial studies at SOAS University of London and co-author, with Peter Morey, of Framing Muslims: stereotyping and representation after 9/11 (2011).

Journey into Europe: Islam, Immigration and Identity
By Akbar S. Ahmed
Brookings Institution Press 592pp, ?25.95
ISBN 9780815727583
Published 28 February 2018