Islam

The refugee crisis experienced by Europe over recent years has generated widespread concern over migration across various European countries. This concern has also fuelled nationalist sentiments amongst European citizens, who fear that their ways of life stand to be displaced or eroded by others. In particular, concerns surrounding the presence and role of Islam in Europe remain acute. Over recent years, hostilities between marginalised Muslim communities in Europe and others who oppose Muslim practices have continued to spiral. Issues such as the war in Syria, terrorist attacks on European soil, the integration of Muslim communities in Europe, and Turkey’s accession into Europe remain heavily contested and highly debated. The present chapter investigates representations of Islam in six European countries, namely Greece, Italy, Malta, Romania, France and the UK. The study involved the analysis of randomly selected articles published in various newspapers in these six countries over a number of years. The findings demonstrate the trajectory of representations of Islam over time, with issues concerning violence and oppression remaining salient in recent years. The findings further demonstrate a polarisation whereby the plight of refugees is recognised, whilst the weariness of Islam as a threat to European values remains. The chapter concludes by reviewing implications for policy targeting the spiral of conflict between non-Muslim and Muslim communities in European countries.